DoT marks National Cyber Security Awareness Month with industry webinar

Around 250 participants, including DoT field units, telecom and internet service providers, attended the webinar, where DG Sunita Chandra stressed collective cybersecurity responsibility and Addl. DG Suresh Puri highlighted Telecom-CSIRT and readiness initiatives

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is observing October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and in line with this initiative, the Director General Telecom (DGT HQ) hosted a comprehensive webinar on 24th October 2025. The event aimed to foster cyber awareness and resilience across India’s digital ecosystem, bringing together experts, professionals, and participants from the telecom sector to discuss emerging threats, governance challenges, and strategies for building phishing-resilient organizations.

Key industry insights on cyber threats

The webinar was attended by around 250 participants, including representatives from DoT field units, Telecom Service Providers, and Internet Service Providers. The session was graced by Sunita Chandra, Director General Telecom, and Suresh Puri, Additional Director General, DGT HQ, along with senior officials from DoT HQ. DG Telecom emphasised the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring cybersecurity, while the Addl. DG highlighted ongoing measures, including the commissioning of the Telecom-CSIRT and readiness initiatives across DoT field units.

Cybersecurity expert Dr. Rohit Gautam highlighted phishing as one of the most damaging forms of cyberattack, responsible for nearly 90% of breaches worldwide. He detailed the impact of human-centric attacks, including phishing, vishing, and deepfake-enabled frauds, noting global economic losses exceeding $9.5 trillion annually. Key takeaways for attendees included identifying social engineering tactics, spotting suspicious messages, and understanding AI-powered phishing methods.

Strengthening cyber resilience through governance

Industry expert Abhijit Tripathy underscored the role of Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) in organizational cyber resilience, explaining how people, processes, and technology must work together to protect enterprises. Meanwhile, Sampat Ray focused on the growing threats in mobile-based cyber attacks, including AI-enabled malware, fake apps, vishing scams, and deepfake audio phishing, offering practical measures to mitigate such risks.

The webinar successfully reinforced the importance of collective responsibility, informed decision-making, and sustained vigilance in safeguarding India’s telecom infrastructure against evolving cyber threats.