J&K Govt Bans Pen Drives, WhatsApp for Official Use
In a move aimed at strengthening cybersecurity in the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir government has banned the use of pen drives on official devices across all Administrative Departments in Civil Secretariat, Jammu and Srinagar, and in Deputy Commissioners’ offices in all districts. The government has also prohibited the use of public messaging apps like WhatsApp and unsecured services for official work.
The decision was taken to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive government data and to ensure the security of official information. The ban will come into effect from March 1, 2023, and all government officials and employees have been instructed to adhere to the new guidelines.
According to the order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), all government departments, offices, and institutions must ensure that their official devices, including computers, laptops, and tablets, are not used with pen drives, USB drives, or other external storage devices. The order also prohibits the use of public messaging apps like WhatsApp, Viber, and Telegram for official communication.
The GAD has directed all administrative departments to ensure that their official devices are connected to the internal network only and not to any external network or device. The order also emphasizes the importance of using secure communication channels and protocols for official communication.
The decision to ban pen drives and unsecured apps is seen as a significant step towards strengthening cybersecurity in the Union Territory. With the increasing threat of data breaches and cyber attacks, the government is taking measures to ensure the security of official information and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The ban on pen drives and unsecured apps is also expected to improve the overall efficiency and productivity of government offices. By prohibiting the use of public messaging apps like WhatsApp, officials will be encouraged to use secure communication channels and protocols for official communication, which will help to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has been taking several measures to strengthen cybersecurity in the Union Territory. In recent years, the government has launched several initiatives to improve the security of official information and prevent data breaches.
The government has also been working to improve the overall cybersecurity infrastructure in the Union Territory. In 2022, the government launched a cybersecurity awareness campaign aimed at creating awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and the measures that can be taken to prevent data breaches.
The campaign, which was launched in collaboration with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (ICCCC), aimed to create awareness about the importance of using strong passwords, updating software and operating systems regularly, and being cautious when using public Wi-Fi networks.
The government has also been working to improve the security of official devices and networks. In 2021, the government launched a project aimed at improving the security of official devices and networks. The project, which was launched in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), aimed to improve the security of official devices and networks by implementing advanced security measures.
The project, which was launched in collaboration with the NIC, aimed to improve the security of official devices and networks by implementing advanced security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption. The project also aimed to improve the security of official data by implementing advanced data protection measures such as data masking and data encryption.
The decision to ban pen drives and unsecured apps is seen as a significant step towards strengthening cybersecurity in the Union Territory. With the increasing threat of data breaches and cyber attacks, the government is taking measures to ensure the security of official information and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
As the government continues to take measures to strengthen cybersecurity in the Union Territory, it is essential that all government officials and employees are aware of the importance of cybersecurity and the measures that can be taken to prevent data breaches. By working together, we can ensure the security of official information and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
