WEF’s report highlights CERT-In’s cybersecurity initiatives

In a proud moment for India’s cybersecurity community, the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report by has featured a case study lauding the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) for its groundbreaking initiative to enhance cybersecurity resilience in cooperative banks. This is also a landmark acknowledgement of India’s cybersecurity efforts.

The effort, spearheaded by CERT-In’s Director-General Dr. Sanjay Bahl, has been recognized for addressing the growing sophistication of cyber threats faced by cooperative banks, particularly those serving rural and agricultural communities.

CERT-In helping build cyber resilience

Indian cooperative banks play a vital role in driving financial inclusion and supporting grassroots-level growth. However, their resource limitations, lack of trained staff, and inadequate incident response mechanisms have made them highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. 

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Having identified these challenges, CERT-In introduced a well-planned eight-month program involving 40 cooperative banks across the country. The program aimed to build cybersecurity incident-management capabilities among bank officers through rigorous cyber drills.

The initiative was designed around the four pillars of resilience: anticipate, withstand, recover, and evolve. Through a series of structured exercises, participants were encouraged to critically analyze and solve problems related to cyber incidents. The program not only imparted technical skills but also instilled a culture of critical thinking and adaptability among participants.

The cyber drills were mapped to measurable parameters, and the results were striking. Banks showed significant improvement in their cumulative resilience, as measured through weighted summation across the four pillars. The initiative ensured these banks were better prepared to withstand and recover from potential cyberattacks, reinforcing public confidence in their operations. 

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