- INFRA CYBERWISE–2026 at IITRAM flags urgent need for resilient digital infrastructure amid rising cyber threats
Two-day Gujarat government-supported workshop blends industry insights, real-world policing and academic rigor
Experts train students and professionals on cybercrime prevention, data protection and infrastructure security
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, FEB 2
INFRA CYBERWISE–2026, a two-day workshop on Infrastructure Cybersecurity, successfully concluded at the Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Management (IITRAM), Ahmedabad. Supported by CAWACH Kendra, Government of Gujarat, the programme was organised by the Cyber Club, IITRAM, bringing together leading voices from industry, academia and law enforcement to address emerging cyber threats to critical infrastructure.
The workshop focused on strengthening awareness, skills and preparedness in securing digital and physical infrastructure systems, at a time when cyberattacks on public utilities, enterprises and institutions are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Delivering the inaugural address, Chief Guest Dr Soumya Maity, Distinguished Product Security Leader at Dell Technologies, underlined the strategic importance of cybersecurity in national infrastructure.
“Cybersecurity is no longer an optional layer—it is mission-critical for infrastructure resilience. As systems become interconnected, the responsibility on skilled professionals to anticipate, design and defend secure architectures has never been greater,” Dr Maity said.
Guest of Honour Dhaval Shukla, PSI, Cyber Crime Branch, Government of Gujarat, drew from real investigation experiences to highlight the human and operational impact of cybercrime.
“Most cybercrimes exploit basic lapses in awareness. Strong preventive mechanisms, timely reporting and digital hygiene can stop a majority of frauds before damage is done,” Shukla noted, urging students to become informed first responders in cyberspace.
Setting the academic context, Prof. Axay Mehta, Dean (Academic Affairs), IITRAM, highlighted the institute’s growing focus on cyber and digital technologies.
“At IITRAM, we are integrating cybersecurity thinking into infrastructure education. Platforms like INFRA CYBERWISE bridge theory, policy and practice—preparing students for real-world challenges,” Prof. Mehta said.
Welcoming the participants, Dr Prasun Tripathi, Coordinator, Cyber Club, IITRAM, outlined the vision behind the workshop.
“Our objective was to create a hands-on, awareness-driven forum where students and professionals learn directly from industry leaders and enforcement agencies about safeguarding critical infrastructure,” Dr Tripathi said.
The workshop featured technical sessions by eminent speakers from academia, industry and government agencies, covering infrastructure cybersecurity fundamentals, cyber threats to critical infrastructure, phishing and ransomware prevention, safe email and online practices, mobile and social media security, data privacy, and emerging cybercrime trends. Practical insights and real-world case studies made the sessions highly interactive and relevant.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Ravi Bhandari, Associate Head, Computer Science and Engineering Discipline, IITRAM, acknowledging the contributions of dignitaries, speakers, faculty members, students and volunteers in making INFRA CYBERWISE–2026 a success.
