![Ownership Battle: IT vs. Home Affairs for CERT-In Ownership Battle: IT vs. Home Affairs for CERT-In](https://varindia.com/storage/news/2024/07/9NtAf1AQazqHsaXg72bwcGlCxmgWwncBUqXyOTlW.jpg)
TWO KEY ministries, Information Technology and Home Affairs, are making a strong pitch for the ownership of Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In), the country's nodal cybersecurity watchdog. At present, Cert-In comes under the administrative control of the IT Ministry.
CERT-In is a critical for handling cybersecurity threats and incidents. The competition between these ministries underscores the importance of cybersecurity in national security and digital governance. The decision on which ministry will oversee CERT-In could have significant implications for the country's approach to cybersecurity management and policy.
According to sources, the Information Technology Ministry and the Home Affairs Ministry have been discussing the control of CERT-In for over a year. The Home Affairs Ministry argues that integrating CERT-In under its authority would enhance law enforcement's investigative capabilities in cyberspace due to its enforcement powers. Conversely, the IT Ministry contends that CERT-In’s responsibilities, such as incident reporting and alerting organizations about malware, are highly technical and extend beyond mere law enforcement purposes.
The debate between the Information Technology Ministry and the Home Affairs Ministry over the control of CERT-In highlights the complexities of managing cybersecurity. The Home Affairs Ministry emphasizes the need for CERT-In’s technical expertise to bolster law enforcement capabilities, while the IT Ministry insists that CERT-In’s primary role is technical, focused on enhancing security infrastructure rather than conducting investigations. A senior government official noted that CERT-In lacks search and seizure powers, limiting its capacity to perform full-scale investigations independently.
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