Karnataka to upgrade Aadhaar authentication security system to boost cyber resilience

BENGALURU: The state government has announced an upgrade of the Hardware Security Module (HSM) that powers Aadhaar authentication services across state departments, in a move aimed at strengthening digital governance, cyber security, and service reliability.

Home, IT & BT, and e-Governance Minister Priyank Kharge said the upgrade is a preventive technology enhancement to ensure higher security, better reliability, and continued compliance with national security standards.

“Digital public infrastructure is the backbone of citizen-centric governance. The Government is continuously investing in strengthening critical digital systems to ensure that essential public services remain secure, reliable and resilient”, the minister said in a statement.

The HSM is a critical component of the state’s digital ecosystem as it securely stores encryption keys used for Aadhaar authentication. On average, 10 to 12 lakh Aadhaar authentication requests are processed daily across various government departments in Karnataka.

As part of the upgrade, the latest security patches, bug fixes, and OEM-supported enhancements will be incorporated to improve overall system performance.

To minimise disruption, the maintenance activity will be carried out after office hours, between 6 pm and 6 am on July 31, August 1 and August 2. The government has made arrangements to ensure that the impact on public services remains minimal during this period.

“The government remains committed to building a secure, trusted and future-ready digital ecosystem. Strengthening cyber resilience and safeguarding citizens’ digital data will continue to remain our highest priority”, Priyank Kharge added. (ANI)