During the meeting, CM Dhami directed officials to complete the scanning of the data centre and ensure that all important websites and online services are up and running by Monday
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a high-level meeting to review the malware attack that temporarily shut down the state’s data centre. The attack, which disrupted various online services, has prompted swift action from the state government.
During the meeting, CM Dhami directed officials to complete the scanning of the data centre and ensure that all important websites and online services are up and running by Monday. “It should be ensured that all websites start operating by Monday,” he emphasized.
Nitesh Jha, the State Information Technology Secretary, provided a detailed update on the situation. He clarified that no data had been lost due to the malware, which had affected 11 out of 1,378 virtual machines housed at the Information Technology Development Agency’s (ITDA) data centre. The centre has undergone multiple scans over the past two days, and many key services, including the e-office portal and the CM helpline, have already been restored.
As part of the response, CM Dhami announced the formation of a ‘Cyber Security Task Force’ to prevent similar incidents in the future. He emphasized that the state will collaborate with leading agencies from the Government of India to strengthen the security of the State Data Centre.
To further safeguard digital infrastructure, Dhami instructed officials to conduct a thorough security audit of the data centre and its associated websites. He also called for the establishment of a Disaster Recovery Centre to ensure the secure retrieval of data for various government departments in case of future threats.
Dhami took a firm stance on accountability, instructing a review of the ITDA’s technical partner. He said, “If any negligence is found, action should be taken against the company.” Additionally, he urged the ITDA to make sure antivirus systems in every government office are kept up to date, to minimize the risk of further cyber attacks.
The malware attack, which occurred on a government holiday, forced some departments to revert to manual processes. Tasks such as the verification of ration card holders were disrupted as a result.
With online services being restored, the state is taking proactive steps to fortify its cyber infrastructure and avoid future incidents of this nature.
