The Certified Cyber Crisis Management Professional (CCMP) program, hosted by the FCRF (Future Crime Research Foundation) Academy in collaboration CERT-In, concluded this week after an intensive month-long journey that saw over 500 participants from across the cybersecurity and governance spectrum come together. Attendees included officers from law enforcement, defence establishments, regulatory agencies, banking institutions, corporate CISOs, cybersecurity professionals, and civil servants—marking a rare congregation of public and private expertise focused on cyber crisis readiness.
From institutional response structures to post-breach recovery playbooks, the CCMP course covered an entire lifecycle of crisis preparedness and response, addressing the growing need for a structured, coordinated response mechanism in an age of digital vulnerabilities.
A Distinguished Roster of Cybersecurity Thought Leaders
The program was privileged to host a diverse and esteemed lineup of speakers from across domains, including cybersecurity, governance, policy, risk management, and law enforcement:
- Dr. Gulshan Rai – Former National Cybersecurity Coordinator
- AVM Dr. Devesh Vatsa, VSM – Advisor, Cybersecurity & Critical Technologies, DSCI-NASSCOM
- Prof. Triveni Singh (Ex-IPS), Chief Mentor – FCRF
- Christian Lees – Chief Technology Officer, Resecurity (USA)
- Steve Jackson – Senior Vice-President of Growth, Binalyze (UK)
- Sh. Subodh V. Akulwar – Director and Scientist ‘F’, CERT-In
- Ashutosh Bahuguna – Scientist ‘E’, CERT-In
- Omveer Singh – Former Director and Scientist ‘F’, CERT-In
- Prof. (Dr.) Charru Malhotra – Professor, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA)
- Ram Kumar G – Cybersecurity and Risk Leader, Global Automotive Company
- Aditya P S – Founder and CEO, Terraeagle
- Prashant Mehta – Head of Cyber Resilience and ESG, Mitkat Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd.
- Lt. Cdr. Mandeep Kumar (Retd.) – CEO and Founder, Chaos Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
- Navaneethan M – Chairman and CEO, Cywayz
- Smith Gonsalves – Cybersecurity Expert
- Sanskriti Grover – Deputy Manager, Cybersecurity, Mahindra Defence Systems Limited
Their collective perspectives covered the breadth and depth of national cybersecurity strategy, crisis response planning, zero-day incident management, digital forensics, cyber law, communication strategies during breaches, and public-private sector cooperation.
Comprehensive Curriculum Anchored in Real-World Needs
The course curriculum spanned a wide array of themes designed to enhance institutional capabilities in handling complex cyber incidents. Key modules included:
- Institutional Crisis Response Roles
- Crisis Management Lifecycle & Tabletop Exercises
- How to Report Cyber Incidents to CERT-In
- Post-Incident Management
- Cyber Crisis Communication Protocols
- Toolkit, Mock Drills & Evaluation
- Understanding NCIIPC Guidelines for Critical Sectors
- Recovery Planning & Policy Integration
- Governance, Trust & Inter-Agency Collaboration
The sessions were conducted through a mix of live expert lectures, interactive discussions, real-case exercises, and scenario-based walkthroughs aligned with CERT-In’s national cyber crisis response mandate.
What’s Next: CDPO Course Registration Opens August 5
FCRF Academy has announced that it will return with another flagship programme—Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO)—from August 5, 2025. The CDPO course is designed for those managing data governance, privacy laws, and regulatory compliance in digital ecosystems.
Bulk enrolment inquiries or early interest in the CDPO course can be directed to research@futurecrime.org or WhatsApp at +91 9807910000.
With the enforcement of India’s landmark Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), the role of a Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO) has become a legal and strategic necessity for organizations handling personal data. The Act mandates that Significant Data Fiduciaries appoint a dedicated DPO based in India to oversee data governance, compliance reporting, grievance redressal, and engagement with the Data Protection Board. The stakes are high—with non-compliance penalties reaching up to ₹250 crore—and the need for trained professionals is urgent.
With the growing scale and sophistication of cyber threats, programs like CCMP signal a significant step toward institutional cyber maturity. As India strengthens its digital backbone, capacity-building initiatives like this continue to lay the foundation for a more secure and resilient future.