NCERT (Pakistan’s National CERT) successfully concluded its two-day training program on Cybersecurity Compliance and Auditing for Pakistan’s government sector. Held on May 14th and 29th, 2024, at the Nawaz Shaheed Auditorium, Military College of Signals, NUST, Rawalpindi, the program underscores NCERT’s commitment to strengthening the cybersecurity posture of government organizations throughout the country.

Led by Dr. Haider Abbas (TI), Director General of National CERT, the training aimed to align participants with Pakistan’s National Cybersecurity Policy, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and ISO 27001 compliance standards. It covered critical information assurance topics like critical asset identification and valuation, threat and vulnerability identification, risk assessment methodologies, gap analysis, risk mitigation strategies, and risk treatment plans.

The sessions utilized real-world case studies to provide practical guidance for ministries to effectively implement national cybersecurity policies, deploy international standards, and adhere to best practices outlined by NIST and ISO 27001. 

The program attracted a diverse group of participants, including representatives from various government organizations and students from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).

In a unique initiative, NUST students will now collaborate with government agencies to assist in implementing these cybersecurity standards. This collaboration fosters knowledge transfer and empowers students to contribute to building sustainable and robust cybersecurity programs within Pakistan’s government sector.