Govt Creates New Team to Fight Cyberattacks

The federal government is establishing a Federal Computer Emergency Response Team (Federal CERT) to bolster cybersecurity and shield federal government systems from cyberattacks. The National CERT has initiated the hiring process for a director and cybersecurity experts to staff the new organization. Federal CERT will address cybersecurity concerns impacting federal ministries, divisions, departments, and other government entities, as well as autonomous and semi-autonomous public-sector bodies operating under federal control.

The Federal CERT will function as a Sectoral CERT under the National CERT, governed by the Government CERT, and will facilitate coordination of cybersecurity efforts among federal institutions. It will facilitate information sharing on cyber threats and monitor potential attacks, coordinating responses to cybersecurity incidents. Responsibilities of the Federal CERT encompass security audits, vulnerability assessments, malware analysis, incident response, and system recovery assistance following cyber incidents.

Federal institutions are required to report cybersecurity incidents to their Sectoral CERT and the National CERT within an hour of detection, in accordance with the Computer Emergency Response Team Rules, 2023. Compliance data and information on cybersecurity incidents will be aggregated for semi-annual reporting to the Prime Minister. The establishment of the Federal CERT aims to fortify cybersecurity defenses across public institutions and safeguard federal digital infrastructure from cyber threats.