NCSSP 2025: Shaping India’s Next-Gen Cybersecurity Leaders

This August, India will witness a strategic leap in its cyber defense posture as Hyderabad hosts Cohort 7 of the National Cyber Security Scholar Program (NCSSP) - a first-of-its-kind, government-backed leadership initiative endorsed by CERT-IN, the Ministry of Defence, MeitY, and the Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC).

Kicking off on August 21, 2025, the three-day immersive residential event is not just another training-it's a launchpad for cybersecurity leaders who want to influence national strategy, drive organizational resilience, and lead critical infrastructure defense.

From Boardrooms to Battlefields: The Future Cyber Leaders of India Begin Here

Whether you're a senior bureaucrat, military officer, CISO, or corporate executive, NCSSP offers an unmatched techno-managerial experience that blends:

• Real-world simulations at airports, power plants, and security operation centers
• Off-grid survival and hardware hacking modules to test leadership under pressure
• Cross-sector collaboration with experts from the Indian Navy, Google, Infosys, CERT-IN, IITs, and law enforcement
• Access to the Phygital Cyber Range™, the world's largest platform for simulating cyberattacks on smart cities
• The 24/7 Cyber Range Labs offer over 750 scenarios designed to enhance your offensive and defensive skills

Why NCSSP Is India's Most Elite Cybersecurity Leadership Program

• Backed by National Security Agencies: CERT-IN, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Education co-endorse the program. Dr. Sanjay Bahl, Director General of CERT-IN, has been instrumental in shaping India's cybersecurity vision. "We are not waiting for cyber threats to strike. We are creating a resilient nation by building a skilled and trusted ecosystem of professionals across all sectors," Dr. Bahl noted in a previous engagement with digital leaders.
• Only 30 Spots Per Cohort: Exclusivity ensures personalized mentorship, lifelong alumni support, and peer collaboration that extends well beyond the program.
• Certified by the National Security Database (NSD) : Graduates are empaneled as "National Cyber Assets" under the prestigious NSD initiative.

Designed for Decision-Makers

Learn not just how cyberattacks happen-but how to prepare your board, shape budgets, and craft response strategies that matter.

CERT-IN's active involvement in capacity-building initiatives like NCSSP reflects its deep commitment to future-focused leadership. Dr. M.S. Vijayraghavan, a respected voice in cyber policy, praised the agency: "CERT-IN has played a crucial role in building India's cybersecurity posture. Its commitment to capacity building, rapid response, and global collaboration is unmatched. Programs like NCSSP reflect that forward-looking mindset."

What's New in 2025? Off-Grid Privacy Beast Mode

This year, Cohort 7 will camp overnight in forest environments while learning:

• HAM Radio Operations & IoT Hacking
• RF and Lockpicking Simulations
• Urban Survival Skills for Cyber Crisis Leadership

In today's threat landscape, cybersecurity encompasses more than just coding; it necessitates resilience under real pressure.

Rajshekhar Pullabhatla, founder of ISAC, said, "Off-grid training isn't about discomfort; it's about recalibration. It's about rewiring how our leaders think, react, and lead in environments of chaos."

"Cybersecurity doesn't exist in silos anymore," adds Group Captain Aanand Naidu (Retd), Executive Director at ISAC. "NCSSP equips you to navigate through any digital challenge, be it ransomware or state-sponsored attacks."

Graduates of NCSSP Have Gone On To:

• Lead cyber operations in Fortune 500 firms like Google, TCS, Microsoft, and Infosys
• Launch their own cybersecurity startups, think tanks, and training companies
• Serve as advisors to ministries, law enforcement, and public sector units

As a scholar, you will receive lifetime alumni access to industry visits, free technical workshops, and a peer-supported crisis response network.

Who Should Apply?

• CISOs and security architects in large organizations
• IAS, IPS, and PSU officers responsible for homeland and digital security
• This programme is supported by faculty or deans who are involved in driving cybersecurity or AI education.
• Armed forces personnel transitioning to civilian leadership roles
• Executives working at Security Operations Centres (SOCs), Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), financial technology companies (fintechs), and Critical Infrastructure Industries (CIIs) are encouraged to apply now.

Apply now: https://isacfoundation.org/national-cyber-security-scholar/