Hyderabad, October 07, 2025: In response to India’s growing cybersecurity needs, EC-Council ,creator of world-renowned Certified Ethical Hacker credential (CEH) has partnered with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to launch a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing cybersecurity awareness, skills, and workforce readiness.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed between EC-Council and CII, marking a significant step in uniting global certification expertise with India’s leading industry body to accelerate national cybersecurity readiness.
India’s digital economy is expanding at an unprecedented pace, bringing with it heightened risks of cybercrime, digital fraud, and the misuse of emerging technologies. In his Independence Day 2025 address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted cybersecurity as central to the nation’s pursuit of technological self-reliance, calling for secure systems and solutions built through India’s own talent. The initiative between EC-Council and CII advances this vision by preparing professionals with globally benchmarked expertise while building indigenous strength to safeguard the country’s digital ecosystem.
Through this partnership, EC-Council and CII will jointly drive initiatives aimed at:
- Building cybersecurity skills across industry, academia, and government.
- Creating awareness on emerging cyber threats and resilience strategies.
- Promoting talent development programs to prepare India’s workforce for global cybersecurity challenges.
- Supporting the Government of India’s vision of a secure, digital-first economy.
This partnership aligns with the Government of India’s efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity framework. The National Cyber Security Policy 2025 ,currently under development, focuses on creating a “safe, secure, trusted, resilient, and vibrant cyberspace” for India. It emphasizes improving cybersecurity audits, fostering innovation, and building a skilled workforce, addressing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Additionally, the Union Budget 2025 has allocated over ₹1,900 crore for cybersecurity initiatives, marking an 18% increase from the previous budget’s allocation. This significant funding boost underscores the government’s commitment to combating digital fraud and addressing the rising threat of cybercrime
Jay Bavisi, Group President, EC-Council said, “India’s digital economy is growing rapidly, but with this growth comes an increasing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals. This partnership will help bridge the skills gap and provide critical training to those who might otherwise not have access to cybersecurity education.”
The National Cyber Challenge will be a key part of the initiative, offering hackathons and CTF events to engage young talent and provide them with mentorship and hands-on experience in the cybersecurity field. The Scholarship Fund will provide 1,000 underserved individuals with access to CEH certification, a globally recognized credential, empowering them with the expertise needed to pursue successful careers in cybersecurity.
Mr. Sougata Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, CII, stated, “In today’s digital world, cybersecurity is no longer optional, it’s a necessity. Recognizing cybersecurity as both a critical need and a major job creator, this collaboration will help curb threats across sectors while empowering India’s workforce with cutting-edge skills. Our partnership with EC-Council will enable businesses, educational institutions, and professionals across India to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge and skills, ensuring that the workforce is prepared to address the evolving threats of tomorrow.”
By combining CII’s reach across industries with EC-Council’s globally recognized expertise in ethical hacking and cybersecurity certification, this partnership lays the groundwork for a long-term strategy to strengthen India’s position as a secure and digitally empowered economy.
About EC-Council
EC-Council is the creator of the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program and a leader in cybersecurity education. Founded in 2001, EC-Council’s mission is to provide high-quality training and certifications for cybersecurity professionals to keep organizations safe from cyber threats. EC-Council offers over 200 certifications and degrees in various cybersecurity domains, including forensics, security analysis, threat intelligence, and information security.
An ISO/IEC 17024 accredited organization, EC-Council has certified over 350,000 professionals worldwide, with clients ranging from government agencies to Fortune 100 companies. EC-Council is the gold standard in cybersecurity certification, trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and leading global corporations.
For more information, visit: www.eccouncil.org
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