The three-day national annual cybersecurity conference, CERT-In SAMVAAD 2025, was inaugurated on May 19 at Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. Organized by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) in collaboration with SkillsDA, the event brings together over 300 delegates, including government officials, regulators, industry leaders, and information security auditing organizations.
The conference aims to strengthen India’s cybersecurity audit ecosystem and enhance the capabilities of empanelled auditing bodies through discussion, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Leaders stress innovation, resilience in cybersecurity
Delivering the keynote address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), highlighted the urgent need for innovation in cybersecurity auditing, enhanced risk assessments, capacity building, and greater attention to emerging technologies.
He emphasized that the evolving nature of cyber threats calls for a collaborative and strategic approach, adding that initiatives like SAMVAAD 2025 offer valuable opportunities for audit organizations to modernize practices and contribute to a cyber-resilient India.
Director General of CERT-In, Dr. Sanjay Bahl, in his welcome address, noted that this is the first global conference dedicated solely to the auditing community. He detailed CERT-In’s efforts in developing a robust framework for cybersecurity resilience, including the empanelment of organizations to conduct audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing.
Expert insights on threats and technology
Dr. Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director of IIT Madras, underlined the growing need for cyber resilience, especially as India’s critical infrastructure becomes increasingly targeted. He stressed that effective frameworks, models, and architectures are essential for ensuring continuity of essential services during cyber incidents.
Highlighting risks posed by technologies like AI, 5G/6G, and quantum computing, Dr. N. Subramanian, Executive Director of SETS, expressed optimism that the conference would aid in developing comprehensive security strategies to address these new challenges.
Principal Secretary of the Government of Tamil Nadu, Brajendra Navnit, shared insights into the state’s cybersecurity initiatives and commended CERT-In for organizing a timely and nationally significant platform. He called for audits that go beyond checklists and address deeper systemic risks to digital systems and sensitive data.
Industry-regulator dialogue and technical deep dives
The conference also featured a high-level panel discussion on ‘Cybersecurity Audits & Regulatory Expectations: Bridging the Gap’, moderated by S.S. Sarma, Director Operations, CERT-In. The session included representatives from regulatory bodies who shared practical insights for audit organizations on aligning with compliance frameworks and expectations.
Over the next two days, the event will feature more than 70 presentations across parallel technical and management tracks. The management stream will cover governance, human factors in cybersecurity, stakeholder communication, and C-suite risk management. Meanwhile, the technical track will explore audit automation tools, next-gen tech security (IoT, AI/ML, blockchain, and quantum), and Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) implementation.
Sessions will also address strategies for continuous auditing in complex environments like cloud systems, APIs, and operational technology.
Driving future-focused audit transformation
SAMVAAD 2025 aims to help auditing professionals stay ahead of the curve by equipping them with knowledge on the latest tools, automation techniques, and adaptive methodologies. These insights are expected to enhance audit quality and help organizations better navigate India’s dynamic cybersecurity landscape.
The conference, which will run until May 21, is being attended by senior dignitaries from both central and state governments, along with industry experts and representatives from over 300 CERT-In empanelled information security auditing organizations.