It started like any other Monday. I was sipping my third cup of coffee when one of our junior devs ran in, pale-faced: “Sir, our client dashboard has been hacked—admin controls were exposed.”
I thought he was joking. He wasn’t.
That single breach compromised sensitive data across three clients. The nightmare? It could’ve cost us a key government contract. But here’s the twist: it was preventable.
Had we undergone a CERT-In empanelled VAPT audit, the vulnerability would’ve been caught and patched.
According to CERT-In’s 2023 report, over 15 lakh cybersecurity incidents were reported—many involving businesses that assumed they were too small to be targeted. Spoiler: they weren’t.
That breach was my turning point. We partnered with Prgenix for VAPT, fixed our flaws, and eventually passed all compliance checks. Today, I’m sharing that story and the exact blueprint—so you don’t have to learn the hard way.
Why CERT-In Empanelled VAPT Services Matter More Than Ever?
1. Compliance is Law—Not a Checklist
The Government of India made it crystal clear in the 2022 directive:
Any entity operating digital systems, especially in critical sectors like BFSI, Healthcare, Energy, or e-Governance, must undergo Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing (VAPT) through CERT-In empanelled auditors.
Failing to do so can result in:
- Regulatory penalties
- Legal liabilities under Section 70B of the IT Act
- Project disqualification (Govt. tenders, PSUs, etc.)
- Public trust erosion
2. CERT-In Empanelled = Officially Recognized, Legally Valid
Many vendors offer “VAPT.” But only those empanelled by CERT-In are recognized by:
- Indian Government & PSU procurement policies
- Large enterprise vendor onboarding standards
- Global compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC2)
Only empanelled auditors can:
- Submit compliance reports to CERT-In
- Help close regulatory observations
- Issue valid risk assessment certifications
3. VAPT: Not Just Testing, But Simulated Defense
VAPT is not a checkbox exercise. It’s an ethical hackathon—performed on your systems to detect how an attacker could break in.
- VA (Vulnerability Assessment): Uses automated scans to detect known flaws
- PT (Penetration Testing): Uses real-time exploitation attempts to test defense readiness
Combined, they simulate real-world attack vectors like:
- SQL injection, XSS, CSRF
- Broken authentication, exposed APIs
- Cloud misconfigurations, zero-day vulnerabilities
How Prgenix Delivers CERT-In Empanelled VAPT Like No One Else?
Step 1: Pre-Audit Readiness & Gap Assessment
Before we dive into the tests, our team runs a full spectrum audit on your IT landscape:
- Web apps
- APIs & Mobile apps
- Servers, firewalls, DNS & cloud infrastructure
- Endpoint devices
We benchmark against CERT-In’s 2023 compliance checklist, OWASP Top 10, and your industry-specific risks.
Step 2: Hybrid Testing – Manual + Automated
We deploy tools like Nessus, Acunetix, Burp Suite, Nikto and combine them with manual efforts:
- Business logic flaws
- Authorization bypass
- Hidden URL endpoints
- Backend misconfigurations
All findings are CVSS-ranked, with exploitability and remediation risk clearly mapped.
Step 3: Patch Guidance + Retesting
Our team doesn’t just hand over a report—we walk your developers through:
- Secure coding best practices
- Hotfixes & patch scripts
- DevSecOps integrations (GitHub, Jenkins)
Once fixes are applied, we run a full retest to ensure zero residual risk.
Step 4: Final Report & CERT-In Ready Documentation
- Executive Summary (for CXOs)
- Vulnerability Matrix (for Tech Heads)
- Compliance Evidence Pack (for regulators)
- Official CERT-In Auditor Submission Kit
Prgenix coordinates with empanelled auditors to fast-track your certification.
How a Chennai SaaS Startup Landed a PSU Deal Post-VAPT?
Company: Mid-stage SaaS firm in legal tech
Challenge: Disqualified from PSU bid due to lack of CERT-In VAPT certification
Engagement: 14-day express audit with Prgenix
Process:
- Discovered insecure API handling in client dashboard
- Patched 7 critical & 12 high-risk flaws
- Completed CERT-In empanelled audit with partner firm
- Documentation and compliance signed off in 3 days
Outcome:
- Requalified for ₹8.2 Cr tender
- Gained 2 new NBFC clients within 45 days
- Boosted Series A funding confidence with investor-grade security posture
How to Prepare for a CERT-In VAPT Audit?
1. Map All IT Assets
You can’t protect what you don’t know. Maintain an updated asset inventory: servers, endpoints, cloud buckets, APIs, mobile apps.
2. Educate Your Developers
Over 80% of critical vulnerabilities trace back to insecure code. Just one OWASP workshop can slash attack surfaces. Prgenix offers tailored training for dev teams.
3. Set a VAPT Cadence
Best practice:
- Startups: Once every 6 months
- Enterprises: Quarterly
- Regulated Sectors (BFSI, Govt.): Monthly + post-deployment
4. Avoid Generic Vendors
Insist on CERT-In empanelled partnerships. If they can’t show you their empanelment ID—run.
FAQs: People Also Ask
1. What is a CERT-In empanelled auditor?
An organization officially authorized by CERT-In to conduct cybersecurity audits, including VAPT, for critical infrastructure, government, and private sector compliance.
2. How long does a CERT-In empanelled VAPT take?
For typical mid-size firms: 2–4 weeks
Urgent audits can be completed in 7–10 days with Prgenix’s rapid-track program.
3. Is CERT-In certification mandatory?
Yes—for organizations dealing with digital infrastructure in regulated sectors. Others are strongly recommended to comply voluntarily to mitigate legal risks.
4. What makes CERT-In VAPT different from normal VAPT?
Only CERT-In VAPT is legally recognized by Indian regulatory authorities. Plus, it follows stricter protocols and documentation standards.
5. How do I verify if a vendor is CERT-In empanelled?
Visit www.cert-in.org.in > Empanelled Auditors List. Or just ask Prgenix—we only work with officially listed partners.
Cyber Defense Is No Longer a Luxury—It’s a Duty
Cybersecurity isn’t about fear. It’s about resilience.
And if you’re handling user data, financial transactions, or SaaS services—you owe it to your stakeholders to protect their trust.
CERT-In empanelled VAPT services aren’t just about compliance—they’re about proving your business is battle-ready.
I’ve been through the fire. If you want to stay ahead, now is the time to act.
SECURE YOUR BUSINESS TODAY