Srinagar, June 24: The Information Technology Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, in collaboration with the Directorate of IT & SS, University of Kashmir, today organized a State-Level Consultative Workshop on “Strengthening Cybersecurity Frameworks for State Data” at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar. The workshop brought together senior government officials, cybersecurity experts, academic leaders, and representatives from key institutions to deliberate on emerging cyber threats, data protection obligations, and strategies for securing government data assets.
The workshop was inaugurated with an inaugural ceremony and felicitation of dignitaries. The event commenced with an introduction by Dr. Abdul Hafiz Shah, Special Secretary to Government, Information Technology Department, who highlighted the importance of a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem and the need for coordinated efforts among government departments and institutions to safeguard critical digital infrastructure.
Addressing the gathering, SaurabhBhagat, Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Information Technology Department, emphasized the Government’s commitment towards strengthening cyber resilience, adopting robust security frameworks, and ensuring secure digital governance in the Union Territory. He stressed the significance of proactive cybersecurity measures in an increasingly data-driven governance environment.
The workshop also featured a presidential address by Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, who underscored the critical role of academic institutions in fostering cybersecurity awareness, research, innovation, and capacity building.
A technical session was delivered by Dr. Marshal R., Scientist D, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), who provided valuable insights into the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape, national cyber security initiatives, incident response mechanisms, and best practices for securing government systems and networks.
The workshop included presentations by key stakeholders, including Jaskaran Singh Modi, State Informatics Officer (SIO), NIC J&K, who shared perspectives on strengthening digital governance infrastructure and cybersecurity preparedness; Dr.Maroof Naieem Qadri, Director, IT&SS, University of Kashmir, who highlighted the role of academia in cybersecurity capacity building and collaborative research; and Muneer Hassan Kongwani, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), J&K Bank, who presented industry perspectives and best practices in cybersecurity governance and risk management.
A dedicated session was conducted by a representative of the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) covering national cybersecurity initiatives, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, associated obligations, and departmental accountability mechanisms for safeguarding citizen data.
The post-lunch session comprised thematic breakout group discussions involving participants from various government departments, educational institutions, and technical organizations. The discussions focused on identifying challenges, sharing best practices, and formulating actionable recommendations to strengthen cybersecurity governance, incident response preparedness, data protection compliance, and capacity-building initiatives across departments.
The workshop concluded with group presentations and report-back sessions, during which participants presented key recommendations and action points. The event concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks by Dr.MaroofNaieemQadri, Director, IT&SS, University of Kashmir.
The workshop marks another significant step in Jammu & Kashmir’s ongoing efforts to build a secure, resilient, and future-ready digital governance ecosystem, aligned with national priorities for cybersecurity, data protection, and trusted digital services.
