With a rise in ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and data leaks across India, the government has strengthened its cybersecurity initiatives. One of the key pillars of this effort is CERT-In—India’s national agency responsible for responding to and preventing cyber incidents.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through what CERT-In empanelment means, why it matters to businesses like yours, and what to expect in a CERT-In audit.
What Does CERT-In Stand For?
CERT-In stands for the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team. It operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
CERT-In, the national nodal agency, is responsible for managing everything from:
- Cyber threat detection
- Incident response
- Early warning alerts
- Policy guidance for cybersecurity practices
Their main responsibility is to make sure India’s digital infrastructure stays secure including both government systems and private companies.
If there’s a cyberattack or breach in your organization, CERT-In is the authority you must notify.
What Is CERT-In Empanelment?
CERT-In empanelment is a formal recognition given by the CERT-In to cybersecurity companies that meet specific standards for conducting security audits, information system audits and assessments like VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing).
So, when someone says their organization is CERT-In empanelled, it means they have been officially approved by CERT-In to carry out audits and assessments that meet national cybersecurity guidelines.
If your business needs a security audit—for compliance, regulatory, or internal reasons—you’ll need to hire a CERT-In empanelled auditor to do it.
In short, CERT-In empanelled means that the organization has successfully met the technical, procedural, and operational criteria set by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. This recognition authorizes the organization to conduct cybersecurity audits in accordance with national standards and guidelines.
Who Is a CERT-In Empanelled Auditor?
Now, if you’re wondering, who is a CERT-In empanelled auditor, here’s what you need to know:
A CERT-In empanelled auditor is a cybersecurity firm officially recognized by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to perform security audits and assessments.
These auditors are not just regular VAPT firms. They go through a strict approval process by the CERT-In. They follow certain quality standards, and their audit reports is preferred by institutions like RBI, SEBI to assess organizations for threats, misconfigurations, and vulnerabilities.
What do CERT-In empanelled auditors do?
To understand what is the function of CERT-In, you must consider CERT-In empanelled auditors as your cybersecurity advisors who are officially recognized by CERT-In, a Indian government agency. Their job isn’t just about running some tools and handing over a report — they dive deep into your systems to find hidden risks, and more importantly, guide you on how to fix them effectively so that you stay compliant and secure.
To begin with, they conduct Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing (VAPT) — this means they scan your entire IT infrastructure to detect weaknesses and even simulate real cyberattacks to see how well your systems hold up. This helps you uncover loopholes before someone with malicious intent does.
Kindly note that while penetration testing is part of many audits, not all CERT-In audits include full-scale simulations. The scope is defined by the client and auditor agreement.
They also perform information security audits across your infrastructure, whether it’s your cloud setup, internal network, or customer-facing applications. The audit covers everything from configuration issues and outdated software to access controls and data exposure risks.
One of their key roles is to help your organization meet important cybersecurity compliance requirements. CERT-In auditors understand frameworks accepted by regulators like RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and ensure you meet those expectations with the right processes and documentation in place. If you’re in banking, insurance, or stock market industries, security audits aren’t optional—they’re a must.
- RBI expects banks and NBFCs to regularly audit cybersecurity controls.
- SEBI requires brokers, mutual funds, and depositories to follow strict cyber resilience rules—audits are a big part.
- IRDAI also urges insurers to run audits and take a risk-based approach to stay protected.
These audits are often done by CERT-In empanelled auditors to ensure compliance.
Beyond identifying problems, they also provide a detailed report that explains not just the issues, but their possible business impact. They prioritize what should be fixed first and provide practical, step-by-step remediation guidance that your tech team can follow easily.
Additionally, CERT-In empanelled auditors help you improve your incident response preparedness. They’ll review your existing response plans (or help you create one) so that in case of a breach, your team knows exactly what to do and whom to report to— especially important since CERT-In requires cyber security incident reporting within six hours.
Some auditors also offer ongoing consultation and retesting, ensuring that once vulnerabilities are fixed, the changes are verified and your systems are secure again.
In short, a CERT-In empanelled auditor is your trusted cybersecurity partner, they help you see your IT environment through the lens of a hacker—and then show you how to fix the weak points.
In short, CERT-In empanelled auditors:
- Conduct Vulnerability Assessments & Penetration Testing (VAPT)
- Perform Information Security Audits for systems, applications, and networks
- Help businesses meet cybersecurity compliance and reporting guidelines
- Provide detailed reports highlighting risks and how to fix them
Why Do You Need a CERT-In Auditor?
You might be thinking, why do I need a CERT-In auditor when my IT team is already monitoring our systems?
Here’s why:
1. Compliance Requirements
Many industries in India—like finance, telecom, healthcare, and government contractors—must get their audits done by CERT-In empanelled auditors to meet regulatory mandates.
If your company handles sensitive data or operates in a regulated sector, skipping this step could lead to penalties or delays in certifications.
2. Stronger Security Posture
Even with the best IT team, internal reviews may miss critical flaws. A CERT-In auditor brings an external expert perspective, backed by tools, experience, and real-world testing methods.
3. CERT-In Compliance Obligations
Any entity in India whether individual, companies or government bodies that engages in digital activities within or related to India must follow certain compliances for an example 70 B of IT Act, 2000.
CERT-In auditor checks whether or not your organization is following these critical compliances. If your organization suffers a cyber incident, you’ll often be required to report the details to CERT-In within 6 hours, maintain a log for minimum 180 days.
If a breach happens, it helps you to appear to be abiding by rules and thus avoid legal issues. Thus, when you engage with a CERT-In empanelled vendor for a security audit — you save your time, effort, and reduce legal risk.
4. Peace of Mind
When a certified professional validates your security environment, you know your systems are being checked against the quality standards which helps you to stay focused on your business goals and company mission without the constant worry of unprecedented breach or hacking.
Still unsure Why your business may need a CERT-In Empanelled Auditor? Here’s a quick checklist. If you said “yes” to any of them, you should think about one:
- Do you handle customer PII (personal Identifiable information) or financial data?
- Are you a fintech, e-commerce, or health tech startup?
- Do you handle sensitive data or integrate with bank APIs?
- Are you working with banks, NBFCs, insurance firms, or stock exchanges?
- Is your infrastructure linked to critical sectors like defence, energy, or public utilities?
- Are you planning to work with government clients or bid for tenders?
- Do you need to prove to clients that your systems are secure and CERT-In audit compliant?
- Are you required to meet cybersecurity regulations from RBI, SEBI, or IRDAI?
- Want a “Safe to Host” certificate or host on NIC infrastructure?
- Looking to strengthen customer trust with a CERT-In empanelled audit?
If you said yes to even one of these, you may need a CERT-In empanelled auditor to assess, document, and improve your cybersecurity readiness.
These auditors don’t just help with paperwork—they help you build trust, prevent data loss, and show clients and stakeholders that you take security seriously.
What to Expect in a CERT-In Audit?
If you’re preparing for a CERT-In audit, it’s natural to have questions. What do they assess? What should you prepare? And yes—how much does it cost?
A CERT-In audit is not just a checklist exercise. It’s a deep-dive security review done by CERT-In empanelled auditors to assess how secure your infrastructure, applications, and processes really are.
Scope of the Security Audit:
The scope depends on your organization’s type and size. Typically, the security audit covers internal networks, external-facing systems, web apps, databases, firewalls, endpoint protection, and even physical security controls (for critical infrastructure).
Types of Assessment Services Offered by CERT-In empanelled Vendors:
A CERT-In empanelled security audit follows structured and thorough methods to evaluate your organization’s cyber defenses. Here are the key Assessment Services involved (but it is not limited to below points):
1. Vulnerability Assessment (VA)
Scans your IT systems (servers, apps, networks) for known vulnerabilities using automated tools and manual techniques.
2. Penetration Testing (PT)
Simulates real-world attacks to check if vulnerabilities can be exploited. Includes both external and internal tests.
3. Configuration Review
Reviews your system, network, and application settings to ensure secure configurations are in place.
4. Risk-Based Assessment
Identifies and prioritizes risks based on the sensitivity of data, exposure level, and potential business impact.
5. Policy & Compliance Check
Verifies if your security policies and controls align with industry standards (ISO 27001, PCI-DSS) and regulatory guidelines (RBI, SEBI, IRDAI).
6. System Audit Report (SAR)
A System Audit Report (SAR) is a mandatory document that specific entities—especially those dealing with payment data—must submit to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to comply with its data localization and cybersecurity directives.
Kindly note that the SAR requirement might not apply to companies who do not handle the particular kinds of data specified by the RBI or that do not function as payment system providers.
7. Digital Forensic Readiness Audit
Assesses the effectiveness of your incident detection and logging mechanisms to ensure suspicious activities are captured and acted upon.
8. Safe-to-Host Certification (if applicable)
Checks if your systems are ready for deployment on public or government infrastructure—often required for NIC hosting.
What You Need to Prepare before a security audit by a CERT-In Empaneled Auditor?
- Inventory of assets and networks
- Access to key systems (as per agreed scope)
- Security policies and SOPs
- Team availability for interaction with auditors
What is CERT-In Certification Cost?
First of all, there is no such thing as CERT-In certification. Most of the time, the security audit certification issued by CERT-In empanelled company is falsely misinterpreted as CERT-In certification by clients. There’s no fixed security audit cost, as prices vary based on the size, complexity, and scope of the assessment.
It’s best to reach out to a CERT-In empanelled auditor for a customized quote. Keep in mind, this is not a one-time expense since many organizations plan annual security audits to stay compliant and secure.
And yes, you can always refer to the list of CERT-In empanelled vendors on the CERT-In website to choose your auditing partner. Look for ones with experience in your industry and strong technical expertise.
A successful CERT-In security audit helps you improve, show compliance, and build trust with stakeholders.
Final Thoughts
We all know that in the present technology-driven world, cyberattacks are no longer limited to big tech companies or government bodies. Whether you’re running a startup, a hospital, or an e-commerce site—your business is at risk if it’s connected to the internet and in a time when cyber threats are rising fast and regulations are getting stricter, CERT-In empanelment stands as a mark of trust, credibility, and capability.
Whether you’re a business preparing for an audit or a cybersecurity vendor looking to get empanelled, understanding the role and value of CERT-In is essential.
For organizations handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries, working with a CERT-In empanelled auditor ensures your systems meet the highest standards of security and compliance. It’s not just about checking off boxes; it’s about protecting your reputation, customers, and future.
Looking for expert help?
CERT- In has empanelled Peneto Labs to conduct information security auditing services.
At Peneto Labs, we believe no company should suffer from Cyber Attacks. We specialize in CERT-In aligned security assessments, VAPT services, and security audit.
Top 150+ brands such as Aditya Birla Capital, Mannapuram Foundation, Federal Bank, GEOJIT, LYCA, Dhanalakshmi Bank and NCDEX in the banking, finance and tech sector trust us for their cybersecurity needs. One of the reasons to choose us is that we don’t compromise on quality and whether you’re preparing for your first audit or need to renew compliance, our team of expert consultants is here to guide you every step of the way.
Let’s talk about securing your digital assets. Reach out to Peneto Labs for a FREE scoping call today!