By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, NOV 22, 2024: THE Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, observed the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) with the theme #CyberJagruk Nagrik, emphasising on the shared responsibility of safeguarding online information and promoting a culture of cybersecurity.

The NCSAM was successfully conducted in collaboration with regulators and financial institutions throughout October 2024, via a campaign dedicated to educating individuals and organisations about the importance of protecting themselves in the digital world.

This initiative aimed to foster a culture of digital vigilance, and enhance cyber hygiene practices among employees, customers, and the public and served as a reminder that every digital user plays a vital role in securing their data and preventing breaches.

Further, this department conducted a host of events to educate, engage and empower the individuals, which are as follows:

- Dedicated cybersecurity awareness sessions for officials of various departments to provide individuals with practical tips and resources to stay secure online. Topics included strong password management, identifying phishing attempts, and safeguarding personal information.

- Participated in a Tabletop Exercise organised by CERT-In on October 22, 2024.

- Director General of CERT-In delivered an awareness session on October 24, 2024, that was chaired by the DFS Secretary. Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, RBI, IRDAI, PFRDA, as well as MDs, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) from Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Public Sector Insurance Companies (PSICs), and Public Sector Financial Institutions (PSFIs) attended the event.

- In collaboration with NPCI, DFS released a video on cyber financial fraud awareness on 24.10.2024, and also amplified on social media.

- A Cyber Awareness quiz competition in collaboration with C-DAC for all DFS officials and staff.

Throughout October, all the Regulated Entities under DFS conducted a series of events aimed at raising awareness about cybersecurity best practices, including webinars, workshops and social media campaign. The main activities included:

178 awareness sessions and 86 workshops/webinars, engaging over 46,000 participants.

132 crore SMS and 3.3 crore emails sent with cybersecurity tips.

Daily webinars on cyber hygiene, digital security, and phishing prevention.

Implemented creative engagement activities like cybersecurity-themed desktop wallpapers, Data Detox Days, and mascot-driven awareness campaigns.

Organised competitions, including crosswords and quizzes, to create a fun learning experience.

As part of customer and community engagement, a broader audience was reached out through:

Cybersecurity tips via push notifications on mobile apps and digital displays at public venues such as metro stations and ATMs.

Cybersecurity radio jingles.

Themed campaigns addressing scams such as ticket fraud, investment traps, and parcel scams.

Micro-campaigns on social media platforms emphasising safe digital practices, such as securing Wi-Fi, updating passwords, and protecting OTPs.

A "Cyber Netra" comic booklet for a light-hearted approach to educating employees.

Unique community engagements, including cybersecurity awareness booths at public events and a Cyber Safe Horizon webinar streamed on social platforms.

- A quishing drill that evaluated employees' ability to recognise malicious QR codes.

The DFS remains committed to fostering a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem, ensuring safe digital banking practices for all stakeholders, including the citizens of this country.