IT&E dept selects MAKAUT as cyber security knowledge partner

Kolkata: The state Information Technology & Electronics (IT&E) department has selected Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) as its knowledge partner for cyber security.

"It is a part of the state government's strategy to have centres of excellence for emerging technologies like Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and cyber security, where academic institutions, industry, government and other stakeholders can work hand in hand. We feel that academic institutions can take up a leading role in bringing all stakeholders under an umbrella. So, we have selected MAKAUT as a knowledge partner for cyber security," a senior official of the IT&E department said.

The university, which runs a number of courses on cyber security, has plans to set up a centre of excellence in this regard, where a consortium of leading institutions can be formed to provide lessons on tackling cyber threats. "We are looking for a land to set up the centre," MAKAUT vice-chancellor Saikat Maitra said.

It may be mentioned that the university imparts training to Kolkata Police and officials of some nationalised banks on several aspects on cyber threats and security at present, at its Salt Lake campus.

It may be mentioned that in the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cybersecurity held earlier this month, the state IT department held a workshop on how to make simple cross-checks to prevent spreading of fake news.

The state government has already come up with a Cyber Security Centre of Excellence for the purpose of collection, analysis and dissemination of information related to cyber security. The website https://cybercrime.gov.in can be used to report, even anonymously, cyber crime complaints relating to women.

"We have decided to develop some simple dos and don'ts for guidance of people and departments when cyberattacks happen, especially in critical infrastructures like power, traffic, transportation, metros, airports etc.," the IT department official said.

The department has also published a tender, seeking applications from institutions who want to help set up a helpline for cyber crime victims. The Mamata Banerjee government believes that around one lakh new cyber security jobs can be created annually.