CERT-In and BITS Pilani Launch Cybersecurity Program to Strengthen India’s Digital Defence

New Delhi, Jul 11 (KNN) In a major push to bolster India’s cybersecurity workforce, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has partnered with BITS Pilani to launch a professional development program in cybersecurity.

The initiative aims to equip professionals across government, public sector undertakings, and industry with critical cyber skills to address growing digital threats.

As the national cyber incident response agency under Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000, CERT-In plays a vital role in securing India’s digital infrastructure through incident response, prevention, and cyber resilience programs.

This collaboration marks the first formal MoU where CERT-In joins hands with a premier academic institution to directly contribute to large-scale cybersecurity capacity building.

The 8-week Professional Development Program will be delivered by BITS Pilani through its Centre for Research Excellence in National Security (CRENS) at the Hyderabad campus, with support from its technology partner Rapifuzz.

The curriculum has been designed with guidance from CERT-In, ensuring relevance to evolving cybersecurity challenges.

Starting July 19, 2025, the program is open to professionals from all sectors, including those without a coding background. Topics include network security, cryptography, legal frameworks, threat management, and cloud and mobile security.

The hybrid format combines online learning, interactive case studies, and a capstone project, ending with a physical valedictory session.

CERT-In Director General Dr. Sanjay Bahl emphasized that the program reflects India’s commitment to developing a highly skilled cyber workforce, essential in today’s digital and quantum era.

Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, added that cybersecurity is not just a tech challenge but a national imperative.

This initiative showcases a strong academia-industry-government synergy to build future-ready cybersecurity professionals.

(KNN Bureau)