CICRA / CII Security Audit
Compliance audit for Critical Information Infrastructure providers under NCIIPC and CERT-In obligations.
Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) Security Audit
Section 70 of the Information Technology Act 2000 empowers the Central Government to designate computer resources as Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) — systems whose disruption or destruction would have a debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health, or safety. The National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is the nodal agency for CII protection, overseeing sectors including energy, finance, transport, telecommunications, government, and strategic enterprises.
Organisations designated as CII providers face the most demanding cybersecurity obligations in India — mandatory incident reporting to both CERT-In and NCIIPC, compliance with NCIIPC sector-specific guidelines, and alignment with the National Cyber Security Policy. Intelliroot's CII security audit addresses the full obligation landscape, combining our CERT-In empanelment with deep knowledge of NCIIPC guidelines and the classified CII threat landscape to deliver an audit that satisfies both regulatory requirements and national security-grade cybersecurity expectations.
Why CII Security Demands the Highest Standard
National Security Implications
CII designation means your systems are considered nationally critical. A successful cyberattack on CII can trigger national security responses, Parliamentary scrutiny, and significant reputational damage — the stakes are categorically higher than standard enterprise cybersecurity.
Nation-State Threat Actors
CII operators are explicitly targeted by nation-state actors and advanced persistent threat groups. NCIIPC's threat intelligence covers adversary capabilities and tactics specifically directed at Indian CII sectors — your audit must reflect this elevated threat landscape.
Dual Incident Reporting Obligations
CII organisations must report cybersecurity incidents to both CERT-In (within 6 hours per the 2022 Directions) and NCIIPC. Maintaining the operational capability to meet both obligations simultaneously requires specific processes and investment that our audit directly evaluates.
Sector-Specific Requirements
NCIIPC issues sector-specific guidelines for each CII sector (energy, finance, transport, telecom) that go beyond general cybersecurity requirements. Compliance requires an auditor with knowledge of both the general NCIIPC framework and your sector's specific obligations.
What the CII Security Audit Covers
CII Governance & Policy
- CII protection policy and governance framework
- NCIIPC reporting relationship and liaison process
- National Cyber Security Policy alignment
- Senior management accountability for CII obligations
Technical Protection Controls
- Network segmentation and air-gap assessment
- Vulnerability assessment of CII systems
- Industrial control system (ICS/OT) security where applicable
- Supply chain security for CII components
Threat Intelligence & Monitoring
- Threat intelligence integration from NCIIPC/CERT-In
- Nation-state threat actor coverage in security monitoring
- Anomaly detection for CII-specific attack patterns
- Sector-specific threat landscape review
Incident Response & Reporting
- CERT-In 6-hour reporting capability assessment
- NCIIPC incident notification process review
- Cyber crisis management plan assessment
- Sector regulator coordination procedures
Our CII Audit Approach
CII Designation Review & Regulatory Mapping
Review the scope of the CII designation notice, identify all systems and assets covered by Section 70 obligations, and map applicable NCIIPC sector guidelines and CERT-In Directions to the entity's specific profile.
Governance & Policy Assessment
Evaluate the CII protection governance framework, NCIIPC liaison arrangements, senior management accountability structures, and alignment of the IS policy with National Cyber Security Policy requirements and NCIIPC guidelines.
Technical Security Assessment
Conduct VAPT of CII systems, review network segmentation and access controls, assess OT/ICS security where applicable, and evaluate supply chain security for hardware and software components in CII systems.
Threat Intelligence & Incident Response Review
Assess threat intelligence integration from NCIIPC and CERT-In feeds, review incident detection capability against CII-relevant threat actor TTPs, and evaluate the dual CERT-In/NCIIPC incident reporting process through tabletop exercise.
Report & Classified Findings Handling
Issue the CII security audit report with appropriate handling classification for sensitive findings. Deliver a prioritised remediation roadmap that addresses the highest-risk non-compliances while respecting the classification requirements for CII vulnerability information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deliverables
CII Security Audit Report
Comprehensive security audit report signed by CERT-In empanelled auditor, with findings mapped to NCIIPC guidelines, IT Act Section 70, and applicable sector-specific requirements — handled with appropriate classification controls.
NCIIPC Control Gap Assessment
Detailed gap assessment against sector-specific NCIIPC guidelines, with risk ratings, evidence references, and remediation recommendations prioritised by national security impact.
Incident Reporting Readiness Review
Assessment of the dual CERT-In and NCIIPC incident reporting capability, including process documentation, escalation chains, notification templates, and tabletop exercise outcomes.
Threat Landscape Briefing
Sector-specific threat intelligence briefing covering nation-state actor TTPs, known CII-targeted campaigns, and recommended defensive priorities based on the current CII threat environment.
Remediation Roadmap
Prioritised remediation plan addressing the highest-severity CII security gaps, with effort estimates, implementation guidance, and alignment to NCIIPC and CERT-In compliance obligations.
Request a Security Assessment
Tell us about your environment and security objectives. We'll design a bespoke assessment and deliver a detailed proposal within 48 hours.