National e-Governance Division Hosts CISO Workshop on Cyber Security as Part of “Cyber Surakshit Bharat” Initiative

New Delhi: The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), organized a significant workshop titled ‘Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Workshop on Cyber Security’ in New Delhi on September 18, 2024. This event, part of the “Cyber Surakshit Bharat” initiative, saw participation from over 250 CISOs, Deputy CISOs, frontline IT officers, and senior officials from various Ministries and State Departments.

Keynote Address and Strategic Insights

The workshop was inaugurated by prominent dignitaries including S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY; Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary of MeitY; Savita Utreja, Group Coordinator (Cyber Security) at MeitY; and Nand Kumaram, President & CEO of NeGD. Their addresses underscored the government’s commitment to fostering a secure digital ecosystem through robust capacity building and collaborative efforts.

In his keynote address, Secretary MeitY S. Krishnan emphasized the necessity of establishing independent information security verticals within organizations. He highlighted the need to balance confidentiality with threat intelligence sharing and to secure digital applications from the design stage. He also stressed the importance of continuous learning to safeguard systems across both government and society.

Introduction of ‘Cyber Swachhata’ Initiative

Abhishek Singh introduced the “Cyber Swachhata” initiative during his inaugural address, likening it to the Swachhata Abhiyan. He highlighted the importance of cleansing systems of malware and developing robust cyber crisis management plans, akin to disaster management frameworks, as part of the broader Digital India campaign.

Focus on Trends and Innovations

Nand Kumaram, President & CEO of NeGD, underscored the importance of CISO workshops in light of the continuous transformation in hardware and software domains. He encouraged participants to engage actively and share their diverse experiences. Savita Utreja provided crucial insights into enhancing the nation’s cyber security framework, emphasizing the need for all organizations to appoint CISOs and adopt a proactive approach to identifying assets, detecting threats, and improving resilience.

Ongoing Training and Capacity Building

The CISO Workshop aimed to offer valuable strategies to help CISOs stay ahead in securing digital landscapes. The agenda covered critical topics, including the latest cyber security trends, innovations in artificial intelligence, and zero-trust architecture.

Since its launch in 2018, the CISO training program has been a successful Public-Private Partnership (PPP) collaboration, conducting 45 deep-dive training sessions that have benefited over 1,662 CISOs, Additional CISOs, Deputy CISOs, and frontline IT officers across India. The program aims to raise awareness about cybercrime and equip organizations with the knowledge and tools required to defend against cyber threats proactively.