I’ll never forget the gut punch of that morning. It was August last year when our servers suddenly went silent. Emails bounced, our CRM crashed, and one of our biggest clients messaged: “Your site’s down. Is everything okay?”
It wasn’t.
We had suffered a ransomware attack—files encrypted, data held hostage, and operations crippled. The worst part? It could’ve been prevented with proper VAPT and CERT-In-aligned controls.
According to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), cyber incidents in India grew by 15% in just one year, crossing 14 lakh cases in 2023. That number includes everything from phishing attacks to critical infrastructure breaches.
That was our wake-up call—and the reason we turned to Prgenix for CERT-In Certification and VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing) services. This article shares that journey, unpacks the what-why-how of certification and testing, and gives you a blueprint to protect your business—before it’s too late.
Why CERT-In Certification & VAPT Services Matter?
1. Cybersecurity Isn’t Optional Anymore—It’s Regulatory
India’s regulatory framework has shifted rapidly in recent years. Under the CERT-In April 2022 directive and updated 2023 guidelines, any organization that handles user data, offers digital services, or connects with government infrastructure must:
- Report cybersecurity incidents within 6 hours.
- Maintain logs for 180 days.
- Mandatorily undergo VAPT audits and risk assessments.
- Appoint a compliance officer.
Failing to meet these requirements can result in penalties under Section 70B of the IT Act, suspension of licenses, or worse—public reputational damage.
2. What CERT-In Certification Means?
CERT-In Certification is not a one-time compliance badge. It validates that your systems meet minimum security baselines—like secure coding, patch management, firewall integrity, and data access protocols.
While CERT-In doesn’t directly “certify” every private entity, it accredits empaneled auditors (like Prgenix partners) to conduct evaluations. These certifications are often required to:
- Bid for government or PSU projects.
- Partner with global enterprises.
- Maintain compliance with IT Act and DPDP 2023 regulations.
3. What is VAPT—and Why It’s Non-Negotiable?
Think of VAPT like a simulated heist. A white-hat team mimics hacker behavior to:
- Discover vulnerabilities.
- Exploit them in a controlled manner.
- Recommend fixes before malicious actors do.
There are two sides:
- VA (Vulnerability Assessment): Scans for known threats.
- PT (Penetration Testing): Attempts to exploit systems like a hacker.
When combined, VAPT gives a holistic risk profile—across web apps, APIs, servers, mobile apps, and cloud infra.
How Prgenix Helps You Get CERT-In Compliant with VAPT?
Step 1: Readiness Audit
Before anything official, our team conducts a gap assessment. This includes:
- Reviewing existing security policies.
- Mapping your infrastructure.
- Identifying non-compliance zones.
Our proprietary checklist covers 75+ parameters aligned with CERT-In directives, ISO 27001, and DPDP 2023.
Step 2: VAPT Execution (Manual + Automated)
We use both automated scanners (Burp Suite, Nessus, Acunetix) and manual techniques to:
- Analyze OWASP Top 10 risks (like SQLi, XSS, CSRF).
- Check session hijacking and privilege escalations.
- Run stress tests and exploit attempts in sandbox environments.
Step 3: Detailed Reporting & Fix Support
You get a full audit report with:
- Executive summary for CXOs.
- Technical deep dives for developers.
- CVSS severity scores.
- Action plan (with patch timelines).
We also work with your tech team to implement fixes securely—fast.
Step 4: Certification Submission
Once you’re secure, we help submit final compliance documentation to an empaneled CERT-In auditor, including:
- Incident response policy
- System hardening reports
- Log retention evidence
- VAPT closure report
Case Study: How a Delhi Fintech Got Certified in 21 Days?
Client: Mid-size fintech firm, B2B lending platform
Challenge: Failed to qualify for a PSU lending tender due to missing cybersecurity audit
Action by Prgenix:
- Conducted urgent gap analysis
- Completed full-stack VAPT in 6 working days
- Fixed critical vulnerabilities (including exposed admin panel)
- Facilitated CERT-In empaneled certification through our partner
- Submitted compliance documentation before deadline
Result:
- Successfully won the ₹12 Cr tender
- Gained long-term partnerships with two NBFCs
- Boosted valuation by 8% during investor round
How to Prepare for Your VAPT & CERT-In Journey?
1. Build an Asset Inventory First
Start with what you own: servers, domains, apps, databases, APIs. Many VAPT failures begin with unlisted or orphaned assets.
2. Train Your Developers
90% of vulnerabilities are in code. A single session on OWASP can reduce risks significantly. We offer this as a workshop add-on.
3. Get a Custom VAPT Scope
Don’t settle for generic scans. Your scope should match your business use case—e.g., if you run a hospital, test HIPAA-aligned parameters too.
4. Conduct VAPT Quarterly
Hackers evolve. A one-time test is like locking your door once and never checking again. We offer quarterly and half-yearly retainer plans.
FAQs: People Also Ask
1. Is CERT-In Certification mandatory for private companies?
No, but if you’re in critical sectors (like BFSI, healthcare, telecom, SaaS), it’s highly recommended and often contractually required.
2. How much time does a VAPT and CERT-In process take?
Typically 2–4 weeks end-to-end. Prgenix has expedited workflows to complete audits in as little as 7 working days.
3. Who can issue CERT-In Certification?
Only CERT-In empaneled auditors can issue official compliance letters. Prgenix partners with several of them to streamline the process.
4. How often should VAPT be done?
Best practice: every quarter or after any major code/deployment change. Annual testing is the absolute minimum.
5. What tools are used in VAPT?
We use a hybrid approach:
- Automated: Nessus, Acunetix, Burp Suite
- Manual: Custom exploit scripts, source-code analysis, business logic testing
Don’t Wait for a Breach to Take Action
I learned this the hard way: cybersecurity isn’t about IT—it’s about trust. Trust from your clients, regulators, and investors. Getting certified with CERT-In and securing your systems with VAPT is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s survival.
If you’re a founder, CTO, or compliance officer, this is your call to action.
READY TO GET CERT-IN CERTIFIED