US signs cybersecurity agreement with India

The U.S. and Indian governments signed an agreement on Tuesday in New Delhi to increase the sharing of information on cybersecurity and terrorism.

The memorandum of understanding signed by Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute and Indian Department of Information Technology Secretary R. Chandrashekhar fulfills a pillar of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue launched in July 2009.

The agreement establishes best practices for sharing critical cybersecurity information and expertise between the two nations through the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), which serves as the operational arm of DHS's cyberdivision.

Both nations will be able to coordinate with each other on a broad range of technical and operational cyber-issues and share information on attacks. The goal of the strategic dialogue is to advance global security and counter-terrorism.

During a speech in New Delhi on Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai last week and pledged greater cooperation between the two nations on a host of counterterrorism issues including cybersecurity.

"The United States joined India in this Strategic Dialogue because we believe — as President Obama has said — that the relationship between India and the United States will be a defining partnership in the 21st century," Clinton said.

"The stakes are high. So it is critical that this dialogue lead to concrete and coordinated steps that each of our governments take to produce real results that make a difference in our people’s lives."

Aside from security, Clinton emphasized the need to reduce trade barriers between the two nations, and touted the potential of the civil nuclear agreement signed by the two nations.

"I look forward to the day when the computers of a school in Gujarat are powered by a reactor designed in America," Clinton said.

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