TCS, Tech Mahindra to help CSRC

CHANDIGARH, INDIA: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS ) and Tech Mahindra have joined hands with the city based Cyber Security Research Center (CSRC) housed in Punjab Engineering College, for research and application of Cyber Security Software and Technologies.

Sandeep Oberoi, head of information and risk management products, TCS, told that the purpose of the partnership is to provide guidance.

"We are basically mentors, and we will be proposing the center to devise the objectives to follow. Broadly, we will be guiding them for enhancing research, awareness and capacity building measures for increasing manpower in the field of cyber security research," said Oberoi.

Prem Chand, vice president, Tech Mahindra indicated that the company would help the center in capacity building and also helps students in research projects in Cyber Security once the company begins operations in full flow in the IT Park here.

The companies are proposing to give a roadmap to the center to train the students under various topics like bank security, assistance to police personnel and possibly the defence sector also. Further, in terms of capacity building of manpower, the companies may work on the model where the second year B Tech and M Tech students can do research on cyber security for their thesis.

Prof Sofat, co-ordinator of CSRC, said, "The US-based Carnegie Mellon University will be approached to improve the existing skill set and generate more manpower by training."

Cyber Security has assumed a lot of significance as the quantum of online transactions has increased substantially. Revelations from the largest private sector bank in the country are clear indicators of the threats that online banking faces.

The increasing threats have brought to limelight the weak infrastructure in India to counter cyber crimes. While Bangalore and Pune are way ahead in the field of IT, Chandigarh seems to be lagging behind. However, Prof Sofat says the process has already begun.

"Chandigarh police wants us to train police personnel to specialize in handling cyber crimes. For this, NASSCOM will be helping us in getting adequate hardware, software and industry linkages."