NCERT, HEC Join Hands to Boost Cybersecurity in Universities

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) have collaborated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cybersecurity measures within the higher education sector, encompassing universities. A pivotal aspect of this agreement involves the creation of the Pakistan Education & Research Network (PERN)/HEC, functioning as the Education Sector Computer Emergency Response Team (EduCERT).

This initiative will furnish universities and higher education institutions in Pakistan with a dedicated platform for cybersecurity coordination, information exchange, and response to emerging threats. EduCERT, operating under PERN, will act as a unified cybersecurity hub for Pakistan’s higher education sector, facilitating cyber threat detection, incident coordination, information sharing, security consciousness, and institutional cyber resilience.

Additionally, it will facilitate universities in sharing threat intelligence, cybersecurity insights, and best practices, fostering more coordinated efforts to prepare for and respond to evolving cyber threats across the higher education sector. Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, HEC Chairman, emphasized that bolstering cybersecurity in higher education institutions is crucial for safeguarding digital infrastructure, academic systems, and institutional data.

He underscored the significance of collaborative efforts, prompt information sharing, and enhanced institutional capabilities to tackle evolving cyber threats. The HEC Chairman expressed confidence in EduCERT providing a formal framework for universities to cooperate and improve their cybersecurity readiness.