National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in collaboration with, the Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) under the Department of Electronics & IT, Government of Kerala, has organized a three-day Cyber Security Workshop for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), Deputy CISOs, and Technical Officers of the Government of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram from November 12–14, 2024. The workshop has brought together over 100 participants from various state departments.

Importance of cybersecurity for Kerala’s digital infrastructure
Shri Sandip Kumar, IAS, Director of KSITM has inaugurated the workshop. In his address, he highlighted the vital importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding the digital infrastructure and e-governance services within Kerala. “Cybersecurity and Data Privacy are core mandates for KSITM, essential for protecting government services and citizen-centric digital platforms across Kerala,” he remarked. Emphasizing the need for departments to enhance cybersecurity preparedness, Shri Kumar underscored KSITM’s commitment to building resilient defenses within government operations, equipping CISOs and Deputy CISOs with critical skills to address and mitigate evolving cyber threats.

Key Objectives of the Workshop:

1. Raising Awareness: Highlighting key cybersecurity issues, emerging cyber threats, and secure e-governance frameworks.
2. Cyber Resilience Ecosystem: Deepening understanding of cyber resilience and exploring the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity.
3. Knowledge of Cyber Suraksha Kendra: Educating participants on the significance of Cyber Suraksha Kendra for protecting state-level e-governance systems.
4. In-Depth Training on Data Protection: Offering extensive sessions on the Data Protection Bill (DPDP Act 2023), application security, and endpoint security.
5. Cyber Crisis Management Plans (CCMP): Training attendees on developing CCMPs to ensure effective responses to cybersecurity incident 
6. Identity and Access Management: Addressing critical challenges in securing digital systems within government departments.

Boosting cybersecurity awareness and capacity among state governments

The workshop is a significant part of NeGD’s broader State Capacity-Building Workshops initiative, aimed at boosting cybersecurity awareness and capacity among state governments. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s mission to create a cyber-resilient public sector, fortifying digital infrastructure and enhancing e-governance resilience across states. Through this program, NeGD aims to equip states with practical skills, strengthen India’s collective cybersecurity posture, and contribute to a digitally secure India under the Digital India initiative.

This event reaffirms Kerala’s dedication to advancing cybersecurity measures and safeguarding its digital assets amid the rapidly growing digital landscape.