Islamabad, Pakistan. National Cyber Emergency Response Team successfully organized a specialized cybersecurity capacity building training at its headquarters, bringing together officials from across the federal government to strengthen information security practices and institutional readiness.
The training, titled ISMS From Compliance to Business Confidence, was attended by nominated representatives from 25 federal ministries and their attached departments, along with professionals from National CERT itself. This broad participation ensured cross departmental engagement and knowledge exchange at a time when public sector organizations are increasingly required to manage digital risk alongside service delivery and governance obligations. Structured in accordance with National CERT Training Guidelines, the session was designed to move beyond checklist based compliance and focus on embedding Information Security Management Systems as a strategic function that supports trust, accountability, and operational continuity. The interactive format allowed participants to contribute their own institutional experiences, challenges, and expectations, creating an environment where policy, operations, and risk perspectives could be discussed in a practical and collaborative manner.
The session was delivered by Mr Salman Mushtaq Qureshi, Distinguished Research Fellow at National CERT, who shared extensive insights on ISMS concepts and their application within complex public sector environments. His discussion covered international standards, governance alignment, and risk based implementation approaches that allow organizations to adapt security controls to real operational needs. Through scenario driven discussions and real world examples, participants explored how information security frameworks can support informed decision making rather than functioning as isolated technical requirements. The emphasis remained on aligning security objectives with organizational mandates, enabling leadership confidence, and strengthening institutional resilience through structured risk assessment and continuous improvement practices.
Participants also examined how effective ISMS implementation can support sustainable governance by improving visibility into information assets, defining accountability, and enhancing response readiness. The dialogue highlighted the importance of leadership ownership, inter departmental coordination, and continuous capacity development in maintaining security programs that remain effective over time. By focusing on value creation, the session reinforced the idea that cybersecurity is not only a technical responsibility but a management function that underpins public trust and service reliability. Attendees were encouraged to translate the concepts discussed into actionable initiatives within their respective ministries, taking into account organizational maturity, resource availability, and regulatory expectations.
Mr Khurram Javed, Director Capacity Building, and Mr Syed Imran Haider, Assistant Director Training, acknowledged the active participation of attendees and emphasized the importance of sustained capacity building efforts across government institutions. They highlighted that strengthening human capital and institutional understanding remains central to improving national cyber resilience. National CERT reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government organizations through targeted training programs, structured knowledge sharing, and collaborative engagement. These initiatives aim to contribute to a secure and resilient digital ecosystem for Pakistan, where information security practices are integrated into everyday governance and operational decision making.
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