CS reviews cyber security measures to safeguard J&K’s digital assets

Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the Cyber Security Action Plan for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), focusing on enhancing the region’s defenses against cyber threats and safeguarding critical digital infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by top officials from various departments, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting digital assets and promoting cyber hygiene. The administration is implementing a combination of rapid-response measures, structural reforms, and long-term capacity-building initiatives to ensure the continuous delivery of e-Governance services. The Chief Secretary highlighted the importance of securing the IT infrastructure and reviewed the Cyber Security Contingency Plan (CSCP). A proposal for further enhancements has been submitted to the Ministry for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Significant progress has been made in securing devices, with over 4,500 equipped with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions and more than 2,300 using Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) tools. VPN access has been restricted to multi-factor authenticated users, and 140 out of 239 government websites have been restored following security audits in compliance with CERT-In and OWASP standards. The meeting also addressed the merger of departmental data centers into a centralized State Data Centre (SDC), expected to be completed within six months to ensure uniform security standards. Plans are underway to augment the SDC in Jammu, including the establishment of a dedicated Network Operations Centre (NOC) and Security Operations Centre (SOC) for real-time cyber threat monitoring. Thirteen departments have submitted their IT infrastructure details for comprehensive mapping, and various security measures, such as secure web protocols for video conferencing and the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, are being implemented. The meeting underscored the importance of awareness and training, with initiatives like Cyber Jagroota campaigns and workshops being conducted to educate employees on safe cyber practices. The Chief Secretary commended the progress made and urged departments to expedite pending measures to enhance J&K’s cyber resilience.