MHA's cyber division to hold first meet

New Delhi, Dec 7 : The Home Ministry's newly-formed Cyber and Information Security (CIS) division will hold its first two-day meeting here with officials concerned of 39 states and Union Territories (UTs) from December 12.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba is likely to address experts from these states and UTs at the meeting, aimed at notifying the National Information Security Policy and Guidelines formulated to ensure data safety.

In the backdrop "WannaCry" ransomware computer virus in May that affected computers of key public services and businesses across the world and also reportedly crippled many computers in Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, the Ministry formed CIC and Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Radicalisation (CTCR) Divisions to exclusively deal with emerging security challenges such as radicalisation and cybercrime.

The latest National Crime Records Bureau data revealed around 12,187 cybercrime-related cases were reported in 2016, an increase of 7.55 per cent over 2015.

Ministry sources said state authorities would be urged to create public awareness on cybersecurity.

"The cybercrime cells in states and UTs need to be proactive. During the two-day discussion we will form groups to share the best practices in the field," the official said.

A review of cyber forensic training and investigation labs will also be held in Kerala, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Jammu and Kashmir, he added.