The Data Security Council of India (DSCI), in collaboration with Rockwell Automation, has inaugurated an Operational Technology (OT) Cyber Security Lab at the DSCI premises at the Nasscom campus in Noida. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s cyber security preparedness across critical infrastructure, smart manufacturing, supply chains and industrial environments as operational systems become increasingly digital and interconnected.
The lab was inaugurated by Sarit Maheshwari, CEO of NTPC Green Energy Limited and NTPC Renewable Energy Limited; Lt. Gen. Rakesh Kapoor, Former Deputy Chief of Army Staff; and Dr R Ranjana, Director – Future Technologies, DRDO. The event was attended by Stephen Ford, Global CISO, Rockwell Automation; Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director – India, Rockwell Automation; and Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, along with senior industry stakeholders.
The OT Cyber Security Lab has been set up to address rising cyber risks stemming from the convergence of IT and OT systems in industrial and infrastructure environments. It will enable research, testing and experimentation on OT-specific cyber security challenges, helping organisations assess vulnerabilities and strengthen security practices in real-world industrial contexts.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sarit Maheshwari said that as isolated systems become more connected, cyber security must be embedded at the design stage itself. He added that initiatives like the OT Cyber Security Lab will provide startups and industry players access to platforms that support innovation and strengthen the overall OT ecosystem.
Designed as a national-level facility, the lab will allow industry players and startups to test and validate cyber security solutions against real-world OT use cases in a controlled environment. It will also support training and capacity building by offering hands-on exposure to OT security architectures, tools and threat scenarios for professionals working in critical sectors.
Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, said the lab reinforces DSCI’s focus on securing operational technology environments that underpin critical infrastructure and smart manufacturing. He noted that the facility will enable startups to innovate and validate solutions in realistic settings, helping address complex OT security challenges and improving national preparedness against cyber threats.
Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India, highlighted that as India accelerates digitalisation of critical operations, OT resilience has become a strategic imperative. He said the collaboration with DSCI brings global OT security expertise into an India-ready framework, enabling organisations to assess risk, validate controls and build resilient operations at scale through rigorous testing and training.
The OT Cyber Security Lab will serve as a collaborative platform for industry, startups and stakeholders to address emerging cyber threats targeting industrial and infrastructure systems. Developed and commissioned in partnership with Rockwell Automation, the facility combines DSCI’s ecosystem-driven approach with global industrial cyber security expertise to enhance India’s readiness against OT-focused cyber risks.
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