The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) successfully conducted the third session of its flagship training initiative, “CyberSecureGov: Cyber Guidelines Initiative”. This session, part of National CERT’s ongoing cybersecurity capacity-building efforts, brought together key stakeholders from Pakistan’s government institutions to tackle the nation’s evolving cybersecurity challenges.
The training was attended by representatives from various government departments, including the Ministry of Industries & Production (MoI&P), the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Ministry of IT and Telecom Pakistan (MoITT), NADRA, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and National Forensic Agency (NFA) under the Ministry of Interior. Together, these agencies focused on enhancing institutional cybersecurity measures through risk identification and mitigation strategies aimed at strengthening the government’s digital defenses.
Strengthening Government Cyber Defenses
The session provided an opportunity for attendees to delve into key cybersecurity governance issues, addressing how government institutions can better prepare for, prevent, and respond to cyber threats. The discussions highlighted the importance of a unified approach to managing cybersecurity, ensuring that all government entities align their efforts in response to the growing volume and sophistication of cyber risks.
Dr. Mehreen Afzal, Director of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), led the session with a presentation that emphasized the importance of adopting cohesive cybersecurity frameworks. Dr. Afzal shared actionable insights from National CERT’s Cybersecurity Implementation Guidelines, outlining specific steps for managing vulnerabilities and proactively identifying risks within government systems.
Building Institutional Cyber Resilience
The session also featured a presentation by Mr. Khurram Javed, Director of Capacity Building at National CERT. Mr. Javed highlighted the importance of institutional resilience and effective cybersecurity planning, providing participants with practical tools and methodologies to address the increasing complexity of cybersecurity threats. His focus on institutional preparedness and risk mitigation strategies gave attendees a clearer understanding of how to build stronger, more resilient digital infrastructures within their respective agencies.
Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
The CyberSecureGov initiative serves as a crucial platform for fostering collaboration among Pakistan’s government organizations. By promoting dialogue and the exchange of best practices, it aims to elevate the cybersecurity capabilities of public sector institutions, enabling them to tackle emerging cyber threats with enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.
National CERT remains committed to strengthening Pakistan’s cyber resilience and will continue to host additional training sessions under the CyberSecureGov initiative. These sessions will expand the reach of the program, ensuring that a wider range of government institutions are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to safeguard Pakistan’s digital infrastructure.
As Pakistan continues to navigate the complex digital landscape, initiatives like CyberSecureGov play a pivotal role in creating a secure, resilient government cybersecurity ecosystem. National CERT’s efforts are a key component of the broader national strategy to fortify cybersecurity governance and risk management across public sector organizations.
