Strengthening cybersecurity skills in government departments: NeGD and MeitY launch 43rd CISO Training Program

New Delhi: The 43rd Chief Information Security Officers’ (CISOs) Deep Dive Training Programme has begun, organised by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This program is part of the ‘Cyber Surakshit Bharat’ initiative, which intends to raise awareness about cybercrime and improve the skills of CISOs and frontline IT staff in government departments.

The training program is taking place from April 8th to 12th, 2024, at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) in New Delhi. Participants from various states, including Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, are attending. Senior officials from MeitY, NeGD, and IIPA were present at the inaugural session.

The main goal of the training is to give CISOs a thorough understanding of cyber-attacks and introduce them to the latest security technologies, and help them apply this knowledge to create strong digital infrastructures for their organisations as well as the public. The training also focuses on understanding legal aspects, forming cybersecurity policies, and developing effective crisis management plans for cyber incidents.

The program aims to increase awareness, improve skills, and empower government departments to create a cyber-secure environment. It supports the Digital India initiative by educating participants on cyber safety and ensuring smooth delivery of government services to citizens. It also offers complete information on cyber security to assist government departments in maintaining their online safety and security.

The CISO training is a special collaboration between the government and industry consortium under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. It started in 2018, and since then the NeGD has organised 43 batches of CISO deep-dive training programs. This programme has helped more than 1,604 CISOs and frontline IT officials until April 2024.