Chennai, 31st August 2024: The National Cyber Security Conference, organized in collaboration with the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration, was held at Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai. This significant event was an initiative of the National Cyber Security Research Council (NCSRC) in association with AICTE and Tamil Nadu Open University.
The conference began with a warm welcome address by Ms. Srinidhi from the National Cyber Security Research Council. This was followed by the inaugural address delivered by Prof. S. Arumugam, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Open University, who set the tone for a day dedicated to the critical issue of cyber security.
Hon’ble Dr. Kalanidhi Veerasamy, Member of Parliament for Chennai North Constituency, graced the event as the Chief Guest. In his address, Dr. Veerasamy shared his personal experiences with cybercrime, emphasizing how it can affect anyone—regardless of their education or background. He stressed the need for every department to have dedicated cyber security members and urged the public to advocate for the establishment and regulation of cyber security departments across all sectors in the country.
The felicitation address was delivered by Prof. G. R. SenthilKumar, Registrar of Tamil Nadu Open University, followed by insightful speeches from esteemed guests. Hon’ble Justice K. N. Basha, former Judge of the Madras High Court, Hon’ble Dr. Justice S. Vimala, former Judge of the Madras High Court, and Thiru Kumar Jayant, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of the IT and Digital Services Department, highlighted the importance of raising awareness about cyber security and discussed the government’s latest initiatives aimed at safeguarding the public.
A special address was given by Dr. E. Khalieraj, Director of NCSRC, who is recognized as the driving force behind this event. Dr. Khalieraj emphasized the urgent need to protect the nation from cyber threats and the importance of individual vigilance in defending against various forms of cyber-attacks. He urged attendees to report cyber issues promptly rather than ignoring them. Dr. Khalieraj also called for a unified global cyber law to streamline processes and advocated for increasing and officially recognizing cyber volunteers in India, noting that the current number is insufficient to support effective cyber investigations.
Dr. Khalieraj’s efforts were strongly supported by G. Anirudh Balaji, Executive Director, Corporate and Public Sector, NCSRC, who played a key role in ensuring the event’s success. The conference proved to be an eye-opener for the hundreds of students who attended, providing them with valuable insights into the world of cyber security.
Special thanks are also due to Dr. Anantharamakrishnan Senthivel, Ph.D., Coordinator at Tamil Nadu Open University, for his crucial support in providing the venue and assisting the NCSRC with the event.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ms. J. Jeevitha, marking the end of a highly informative and impactful conference.