Friday, July 11, 2025

Strengthening Cyber Resilience in Uttarakhand: One-Day Workshop Brings Together Key Education and IT Officials


Dehradun, 11 July 2025 In a crucial step toward building cyber resilience within the education sector and strengthening digital hygiene across government systems, the Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA), under the guidance of Shri Nitesh Jha, Secretary (IT), Government of Uttarakhand, successfully hosted a one-day workshop on "Recent Trends in Cyber Crimes" at the CSI Auditorium, Dehradun. The workshop was also live-streamed via Zoom to ensure participation from across the state.

The workshop formed part of ITDA’s Cyber Awareness Program, aiming to sensitize key stakeholders in the government to the growing threats in cyberspace and equip them with practical strategies to enhance cybersecurity.



Among the notable participants were representatives from the Directorate of School Education, SCERT Uttarakhand, and the Directorate of Secondary Education. Key education officials included:

  • Pankaj Sharma, DD Representative, Directorate of School Education

  • Mukesh Bahuguna, CAO, Representative, DG School Education, Uttarakhand

  • Ramesh Prasad Badoni, ICT Lead, SCERT Uttarakhand

ThThese education leaders engaged deeply with cybersecurity experts to explore the implications of digital threats on educational institutions and to discuss collaborative strategies for securing school networks and online learning systems.

Arun Bisht, Assistant General Manager (AGM), ITDA, hosted and coordinated the workshop, ensuring smooth execution and cross-departmental collaboration through his proactive efforts.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Gaurav Kumar, Director, ITDA, followed by an insightful contextual overview by Tirth Pal Singh, Additional Director, ITDA. Both speakers emphasized the pressing need for government departments to fortify their IT infrastructure and promote a culture of cyber hygiene.

The keynote session, led by Rahul Mishra, Cybersecurity Advisor to the UP Police and an acclaimed expert in the field, shed light on the alarming rise in cybercrimes and the importance of proactive defense strategies. His presentation resonated strongly with participants from the education sector, highlighting vulnerabilities specific to educational platforms and data privacy.


Ashish Upadhyay, AGM Cyber Security, ITDA, led members of the CERT Uttarakhand team—Shivam, Rajat, and Rishab—in delivering further technical sessions. Members of the CERT Uttarakhand team, Shivam, Rajat, and Rishab, provided a detailed overview of state-level cybersecurity initiatives, along with actionable tips and tools for securing government data systems.

Over 125 officials participated in person, and more than 50 government offices joined virtually, reflecting widespread commitment to digital security across departments.


The workshop concluded with an engaging interactive Q&A session, facilitating direct dialogue between cybersecurity experts and attending officials.

This collaborative effort represents an important step in Uttarakhand’s journey toward creating a secure, aware, and digitally empowered governance framework, particularly within the education system. ITDA reaffirmed its commitment to providing continued support and capacity-building programs for all departments to counter evolving cyber threats effectively.