U.S. signs cybersecurity pact with India

The United States and India signed an agreement on Tuesday designed to ensure the two countries collaborate on cybersecurity efforts.

The non-binding memorandum of understanding was signed by in New Delhi by Jane Holl Lute, deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and R. Chandrashekhar, secretary of India's Department of Information Technology.

Many cybersecurity experts say more international collaboration is needed because existing legal procedures are often too slow to combat cyberthreats.

"Through this arrangement, the respective governments and broader cybersecurity communities in both the United States and India will have the ability to coordinate with their counterparts on a broad range of technical and operational cyber issues," DHS said in a statement.

Under the program, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and DHS' United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team will exchange cybersecurity information and expertise.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano agreed to the pact during a trip to India in May. The agreement is designed to fulfill one of the pillars of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue, established on July 20, 2009.