An assessment of cyber security and resilience of the National Digital Health Mission of India

The healthcare sector has undergone a transformation driven by the adoption of digital technology. Digital strategies have become the principal mechanism for delivering high-quality, cost-effective healthcare at scale. The Indian Government is also rapidly deploying the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), launched in September 2021. ABDM is the flagship programme of the Indian Government, which has become the standard platform for healthcare delivery and allied services, including insurance management. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated digital adoption, making dependence on digital infrastructure both pervasive and unavoidable. Ensuring cybersecurity and resilience is therefore fundamental to uninterrupted healthcare delivery. This paper examines cyber resilience and cybersecurity within ABDM, with specific reference to its architecture and governing policies. A rigorous assessment of cyber resilience and cybersecurity, encompassing potential threats and attack vectors, is essential to the programme’s long-term success. We conclude that ABDM’s success is intrinsically linked to robust cybersecurity and resilience. Further work is required to develop a comprehensive framework for ABDM cyber resilience and security that is applicable across all ecosystem partners.