Whether you run a tech startup, a financial institution, or an e-commerce platform, ensuring compliance with CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) guidelines are key to protecting your data, systems, and customer trust. This guide will help you understand how to check if your company meets CERT-In compliance requirements and what steps you should take if it doesn’t.
What Is CERT-In Compliance?
CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team – India) is the national nodal agency under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It monitors, responds to, and manages cybersecurity incidents across the country. To strengthen India’s cybersecurity posture, CERT-In has made it mandatory for organizations to:
- Report cybersecurity incidents within six hours of detection.
- Maintain logs for a minimum of 180 days.
- Enable real-time cooperation with CERT-In officials.
- Conduct regular Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT).
Compliance ensures that your business operates safely in a threat-heavy digital environment and avoids regulatory penalties.
7 Step Guide to Check CERT-In Compliance of Your Business
Here is a step-by-step guide to check whether your organization is compliant to guidelines laid by CERT-In:
1. Audit Your Current Security Posture
Start with a detailed review of your IT infrastructure. Evaluate your network, applications, and endpoints for existing vulnerabilities. If you haven’t done a VAPT recently, schedule one immediately with a CERT-In empanelled company.
2. Review Log Retention and Monitoring Practices
CERT-In mandates organizations to store logs for 180 days, even for cloud-hosted systems. Check if your logging mechanisms are active and tamper-proof. Use SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) tools to centralize and monitor logs effectively.
3. Assess Your Incident Response Plan
You must have a documented and tested incident response plan (IRP). It should define roles, responsibilities, and escalation steps in case of a breach. A weak or outdated IRP indicates non-compliance.
4. Verify Data Localization and Cloud Compliance
If your business uses cloud services, ensure your provider stores logs and customer data in India as per CERT-In rules. Many global cloud platforms now offer India-based data centers to help with compliance.
5. Ensure Timely Incident Reporting
Organizations must report cyber incidents like ransomware, phishing, or data breaches within six hours to CERT-In. Review your escalation procedures to ensure this requirement can be met without delay.
6. Check Employee Awareness and Training
Human error remains a major cause of cyber incidents. Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training to educate employees on phishing, data handling, and reporting protocols.
7. Work With a CERT-In Empanelled Partner
The most reliable way to verify compliance is to work with a CERT-In empanelled cybersecurity firm. These auditors conduct in-depth assessments, identify gaps, and guide you to achieve full compliance aligned with CERT-In.
Common Compliance Mistakes Businesses Make
Many companies assume compliance means installing antivirus software or firewalls. But CERT-In compliance goes far deeper. Some common mistakes include:
- Ignoring log retention policies.
- Delayed incident reporting.
- Engaging with unprofessional cybersecurity vendors for audits.
- Neglecting application-level security testing.
- Lack of employee cybersecurity training.
Avoiding these mistakes helps ensure your business meets both technical and procedural requirements.
Why CERT-In Compliance Matters?
Non-compliance can result in penalties, reputational damage, and even service suspension. More importantly, compliance demonstrates your business’s commitment to data protection, trust, and transparency. It also strengthens relationships with clients, especially in sectors like:
- Banking and FinTech
- Healthcare and Insurance
- Government and Public Sector
- eCommerce and SaaS
- Cloud and IT Infrastructure
Achieve CERT-In Compliance with Peneto Labs
Peneto Labs has been empanelled by CERT-In to conduct information security auditing services. Peneto Lab helps businesses meet all regulatory requirements efficiently. We provide:
- Comprehensive VAPT services for web, mobile, and cloud applications.
- Compliance readiness assessments and audit support.
- Safe-to-Host certification for secure deployments.
- Detailed remediation reports and guidance to fix vulnerabilities.
When you hire us, our cybersecurity experts ensure that your organization not only achieves CERT-In compliance but also maintains strong cybersecurity hygiene across systems.
Final Thoughts
CERT-In compliance is a crucial part of your cybersecurity framework. Regular assessments, continuous monitoring, and expert guidance from a CERT-In empanelled auditor help your business stay secure, compliant, and trusted. If you’re unsure about your company’s compliance status, now is the right time to act. Contact Peneto Labs to assess, secure, and certify your systems for full CERT-In compliance.