

HYDERABAD: The city's IT hub isn't just decoding data or counting its export figures these days. It's also, rather aggressively, beefing up its security both online and offline. Right from training guards manning the towering premises of tech companies dotting the landscape of Cyberabad, to joining hands with the state government to enhance the monitoring system of the hi-tech hub, its 'safe keepers' are busy doing all it can to ensure that the city's western corridor is free of every 'bug'. Reason: To protect 'Brand Hyderabad' from taking any beating in the future.

"To have a foolproof security plan in place is essential. It helps build confidence in our clients spread across the globe," said Bharani Kumar Aroll, secretary, Society for Cyberabad Security Council. Recollecting the days of the Telangana agitation, he said that the world outside had then fallen prey to a "misplaced perception" of the city being in a state of turmoil.

"It is not that the IT sector had stopped functioning during that time, but people far removed from the scene of action were concerned. It took a toll on the image of Hyderabad. Hence, we are now leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the city's image does not suffer any more and security plays a vital part in protecting that," he pointed out.

Perhaps that explains why the 'dormant' security council has only recently undergone a rejig and come back with more vigour. On the revamped team's agenda are programmes aimed at strengthening Emergency Response Procedures (ERP) of IT firms so that they are able to effectively tackle security crises. Also under focus are sensitizing the security staff of every company in that belt, improving women safety standards in Cyberabad, boosting the 24x7 monitoring system and increasing the level of alertness among techies about cyber crimes.

Currently, the IT hub is under the strict surveillance of 47 high definition CCTV cameras, and the security council is in the process of adding 80 more. The 'project' has, in fact, already got the nod of the state government, which is sponsoring it. And if that's not all, the tracker-fitted 'She Shuttle' service, restricted to two buses at present, is also on its way to expansion.

"The increased attention to security is very evident. Not only have frisking and checking at entry points of IT offices become stricter now, there is also extra care being taken to protect data and cyber breaches. This, possibly, is rooted in the exponential growth that Hyderabad's IT sector is experiencing. With new companies trooping in and the existing ones continuously expanding their operations in the city, security has become the topmost priority for every firm," said Rajesh Ranjan, a techie who has been working in the city for 12 years. That the workforce too is fast getting bigger is also a critical factor, he added.

Roughly four lakh employees travel for work every day to the Cyberabad region that houses well over 1,000 IT/ITeS companies along with 500 to 700 start-ups. The total worth of exports from the tech hub is close to a staggering Rs 65,000 crore.

"We are stepping up our efforts to make people in the Cyberabad region more security-conscious. People often consider police checking an inconvenience. It is this attitude that we are attempting to change," said C V Anand, Cyberabad police commissioner, adding, "Due to the presence of several global IT giants, a security issue in this region might ruffle one too many feathers across the world. We are forming new plans and launching new activities to ensure that we are prepared when posed with an actual crisis situation."

QUOTES

1. The increased attention to security is very evident. Not only have frisking and checking at entry points of IT offices become stricter now, there is also extra care being taken to protect data and cyber breaches Rajesh Ranjan, techie

2. Due to the presence of several global IT giants, a security issue in this region might ruffle one too many feathers across the world C V Anand, Cyberabad police commissioner

3. To have a foolproof security plan in place is essential. It helps build confidence in our clients spread across the globe Bharani Kumar Aroll, secretary, Society for Cyberabad Security Council

