In response to the Indo-Pak Cyber Threat Advisory and the growing wave of cyber threats stemming from recent geopolitical tensions, the Government of Goa is taking swift and decisive steps to safeguard its digital infrastructure and the interests of its citizens.
A new circular issued by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (ITE&C) outlines a set of urgent cybersecurity measures aimed at protecting public digital services and sensitive data from potential breaches and attacks. These measures are part of a proactive response to national advisories from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
All government departments, corporations, and autonomous bodies have been instructed to immediately implement these safeguards. This begins with a rigorous adherence to previously issued Cyber Safety Guidelines, followed by a comprehensive security audit of all websites, applications, and critical digital systems. Goa Electronics Limited (GEL), the State Designated Cybersecurity Agency, will lead these audits and ensure regulatory compliance across departments.
As part of these heightened precautions, departments must disable all unused internet-facing ports, services, and software. Additionally, systems will be fortified with updated antivirus, anti-malware, and endpoint protection software. To further prevent unauthorised access, multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now mandatory for all administrative and remote access systems. Incident response protocols and data backup policies will also be revised to ensure readiness in the event of a cyber emergency.
A key highlight of the advisory is the geo-blocking of network traffic. All departments are directed to immediately block all inbound and outbound internet traffic to and from Pakistan and other regions marked high-risk. This restriction applies to government websites, portals, APIs, and mission-critical digital services. Departments will work closely with their internet service providers and network teams to enforce these controls without delay.
To maintain round-the-clock vigilance, a 24×7 Cyber Control Room—CyMAC (Cyber Multi Agency Centre)—has been set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This central hub is tasked with rapidly addressing threats including cyber espionage, terrorism, and the misuse of emerging technologies.
The Government of Goa is also calling on citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report any signs of cybercrime. This includes website defacement, denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, phishing or fraudulent email campaigns, data breaches, or any unauthorized system access. All such incidents must be reported to Amit Bandekar, Cyber Security Practitioner, Department of ITE&C, at +91 9011370468.
As digital services continue to power daily life in Goa, ensuring their security is more than just a technical issue—it’s a matter of public trust. These urgent cybersecurity and geo-blocking measures reflect the government’s strong resolve to protect both citizens and systems in an increasingly complex cyber landscape, stated a press release.
