Budget expectations: McAfee wants more grants for data security

BANGALORE, INDIA: Over time, the Indian government has adequately provided concessions and provisions to the IT services and products industry owing to its significance from India's GDP standpoint. As a company leading the charge in the Indian security technology industry, McAfee has listed some expectations from the Union Budget 2013-2014.

They include:

1. Clarity around treating software as goods (subject to VAT) or as service (and subject to service tax).

2. The Minimum Alternate Tax levied on SEZs which is severely affecting foreign investments in India must be discontinued or reduced drastically. This would lend strategic benefits and ensure continued thrust on investments from companies with a long term focus on India.

3. The last year's budget witnessed the Finance Minister's support to roll out UID in 50 districts: This will act as a catalytic force that will not only enable financial inclusion, but also help the rural populous in gaining identity and for the daily wage workers. We would also like to take this opportunity in assuring our support to the government's UID project and assistance required in the security requirements for the program.

4. As India has witnessed sophisticated cyber crime cases affecting both enterprises and consumers, it has become increasingly important for us to have an evolved security system in place. Entities such as CERT have been playing a pivotal role in enhancing the security of India's communications and information infrastructure through proactive action and user awareness, we would expect the Union Budget to apportion more grants to ensure secure data access for all Indians