Working for Government in Cyber Security
Sense of Satisfaction, Top Level Contacts, Insights into decision maker’s perspectives, National Level Visibility, Trend Identification are some of the perks of working with Government in Cyber Security.
Which organizations currently manage cyber security?
In my previous blog, have mentioned, India’s structure of Cyber Security. Most of them work closely with Private Players by using their manpower and products.
How to get into Government?
0. Develop Skillset that Government Requires
Keep an eye on RFPs floated by recruiting agencies. Typically, you need excellent concept explanation skills, convincing skills and of course cyber security skillset to provide justice.
Based on my experience, I have figured out ways you get into government. There could be additional ways too which can be commented upon.
- Consultancy Services Firms:
CERT-In empaneled firms provide cyber security and forensic services to Government Department & Agencies. Large projects are handled by well known cyber security consultancy firms which include Big 4’s (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), McKinsey, Boston Consulting etc.
Big4’s have dedicated vertical for Government services. They provide services to Central & State Ministries, Government Departments, Public Sector Enterprise companies, Banks etc in various domain like Audits, Pentest, Forensics, Compliance, Strategy, System Integration, Security Operation Center, Red Teaming, Advisory etc.
2. Indirect Recruitment
Government hires manpower from various companies. One of such companies is BECIL Ltd, a public sector enterprise companies. Manpower are totally managed by department, unlike consultancy firms. These are contractual arrangement and generally are perpetual contracts with minor increments yearly.
NICSI is also a large player to hire contractual manpower in Government departments.
3. Direct Recruitment
Prepare for Civil services examination of Central and State Government. IB, RAW, RBI, MHA, NCIIPC, MeitY etc are long list of departments that deal in cyber security.
4. Government Colleges
Trust is an important virtue to get inside Government. There are many universities which are Government funded which can be used as an entry gate. Get your B.Tech/M.Tech in Cyber Security/Forensics. Some of examples are National Forensic Sciences University, IIT Kanpur (C3i), Rashtriya Raksha University, CDAC Institutes, DRDO Institutes, Amrita University (not govt but takes projects).
5. External Services
RVDP | NCIIPC is an excellent place to submit vulnerabilities in critical systems of India. In NCIIPC’s monthly newsletter, researchers get mentioned and there is a yearly connect for the same.
State Government has institutions where people can be involved. Ex. Karnataka’s CySEK is an excellent initiative.
6. State Police
Have contacts with your local state police by offering them probono services. Register as Cyber Volunteer of MHA as Expert and help them as and when required. Every state has their own Cyber Cell and with every increasing cyber crime cases, you can get inside. State Police have started hiring experts in forensics. There are PPP model like Kerala Cyber Dome that works to secure cyber space with State Police.
If you are planning to enter Government to help system improve, it does not matter where or what you work, you are helping Government. Ex. when you work in a cyber security solution development company, you are helping safeguard India’s data who uses the solution. It may be indirect but you are helping them
Closing note:
Government needs good subject matter experts in Cyber Security. I suggest taking a jump only after gaining sufficient overall experience in the field so as to be able to answer any damn query. Life is not that easy as it seems in Govt. Department especially in terms of Work Culture. But Satisfaction is at its Peak !
