IIT Madras & IDBI Bank Launch Cybersecurity Lab to Boost Healthcare Security

The ‘IDBI—IITM Secure Systems Lab’ (I2SSL) was officially inaugurated on 31 July 2024 at the IIT Madras campus. 

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has joined forces with IDBI Bank to establish a new cybersecurity lab focused on enhancing security measures in critical sectors, particularly in healthcare. 

The ‘IDBI—IITM Secure Systems Lab’ (I2SSL) was recently inaugurated at the IIT Madras campus. 

The newly launched I2SSL aims to address the growing cybersecurity challenges faced by sectors heavily reliant on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), including healthcare. 

As the integration of ICT into healthcare services continues to expand, the need for robust cybersecurity solutions becomes increasingly critical. 

The lab will develop market-ready intellectual properties (IPs) to safeguard these systems from potential cyber threats.

Highlighting the initiative's significance, Rakesh Sharma, MD and CEO of IDBI Bank, stated, “The rapid advancement of technology in critical sectors, especially healthcare, demands rigorous security measures. Our partnership with IIT Madras underscores our commitment to enhancing cybersecurity across vital industries.”

Lab’s Role in Enhancing Healthcare Security

The I2SSL will focus on various aspects of cybersecurity, including system evaluation, vulnerability research, and developing test cases for system hardening. 

The lab’s primary objective is to provide practical solutions for real-time cybersecurity management, crucial for sectors like healthcare where data protection is paramount.

The lab will also support research in secure systems engineering, offering a platform for students and researchers to engage in projects, capture the flags (CTFs), and hackathons. 

This hands-on approach aims to cultivate a deeper understanding of cybersecurity challenges and solutions among the next generation of professionals.

Commenting on the same, Prof V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, said, “Our collaboration with IDBI Bank will play a crucial role in fortifying cybersecurity measures in healthcare and other essential sectors. By focusing on comprehensive security solutions, we aim to address both theoretical and practical challenges in cybersecurity.”

Recent Initiatives by IIT Madras

In addition to the new cybersecurity lab, IIT Madras recently launched other significant initiatives to improve healthcare. On 15 April 2024, the institute introduced India’s first ‘medical device calibration facility on wheels’. This facility is part of IIT Madras' ‘Anaivarukkum IITM’ initiative, which seeks to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality nationwide.

Moreover, earlier in the year, IIT Madras collaborated with the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) to develop an AI model for determining a fetus's age during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. This project, under the ‘Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes—DBT India Initiative’ (GARBH-Ini) program, aims to provide accurate assessments to support better prenatal care.