PANAJI
The Goa government has constituted a dedicated Cyber Security Incident Response Team (GOA-CSIRT) to strengthen the security of its digital infrastructure amid growing cyber threats targeting government systems and public services. An advisory committee comprising 11 members has also been set up to supervise the functioning of GOA-CSIRT.
The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C) issued a notification that the new State-level body will function as the nodal agency for detecting, responding to and mitigating cyber incidents affecting public information technology infrastructure across Goa, while coordinating with national cybersecurity agencies.
As per the details, the team will respond to cyber threats and incidents involving all public IT infrastructure in the State. Its role will include preventing major cyber incidents and protecting critical digital assets that support the delivery of government services.
Apart from handling cybersecurity incidents, GOA-CSIRT has also been entrusted with carrying out security assessment audits across government departments, autonomous bodies and public sector organisations. The team will examine government websites, web applications and backend systems, identify vulnerabilities and certify them once the required security measures have been implemented.
The notification stated that the team will also issue cybersecurity advisories, promote cyber hygiene and ensure that government organisations comply with prescribed security standards for public information technology infrastructure.
As part of its broader mandate, GOA-CSIRT will coordinate with national agencies, including the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre. It will also oversee the preparation and implementation of a Cyber Crisis Management Plan, which will include continuous monitoring of system logs, vulnerability assessments and measures to strengthen the State's cyber resilience.
The advisory committee, meanwhile, will be chaired by the DITE&C Secretary.
