Certifying Trust The Pertinence of STQC in the Indian Security and Surveillance Landscape

1. CERTIFYING TRUST: THE PERTINENCE OF STQC IN THE INDIAN SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE LANDSCAPE

2. Standards are not merely guidelines; they are the foundation of trust in a rapidly evolving technological world. In India, the IoTSCS Essential Requirements (ER) Certification for Security administered by STQC under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has emerged as a cornerstone of credibility in the surveillance industry. It assures quality, security, and compliance with the stringent requirements of the nation’s digital ecosystem. For security and surveillance products, the certifications by STQC-certified labs signify a commitment to excellence, especially in combating cyber threats and ensuring adherence to the Public Procurement Order (PPO) and BIS Compulsory Registration Order (CRO) guidelines.

3. REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS GOVERNING CCTV CERTIFICATION • CCTV manufacturers and suppliers in India are now subject to two key regulatory frameworks that dictate compliance requirements: • Public Procurement Order (PPO): This order governs government procurement and prioritizes compliance for public sector projects. • BIS Compulsory Registration Order (CRO): This scheme applies to all products in the Indian market, setting broader standards for general sales. • Both frameworks aim to ensure cybersecurity compliance, but they differ in scope, timelines, and mandates.

4. WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS (ER) CERTIFICATION FOR SECURITY ABOUT? The ER Certification is more than a mark of quality; it’s a comprehensive evaluation of a product's ability to withstand the challenges of the modern security landscape. In the surveillance industry, it focuses on critical domains like cybersecurity standards, safeguarding against vulnerabilities like unauthorized access, hacking, or data breaches and supply chain mitigations. Security testing evaluates the resistance of hardware and software to cyber threats and unauthorized access, while supply chain verification ensures compliance with PPO guidelines for essential requirements. Together, these measures create a fortified framework for ensuring the reliability and integrity of surveillance solutions.

5. OBJECTIVES OF THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS (ER) CERTIFICATION • The primary objectives of the ER Certification in the surveillance sector include: • Enhancing Cybersecurity: Ensuring that surveillance systems are resilient to cyber threats and unauthorized intrusions. • Promoting Trust: Providing assurance to stakeholders that certified products meet stringent quality and security benchmarks. • Compliance with PPO & CRO Guidelines: Verifying the supply chain to ensure adherence to the Essential Requirements (ERs) outlined by the government. • Boosting Indigenous Manufacturing: Encouraging Make-in-India initiatives by certifying products developed within the country.

6. SCOPE OF ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS (ER) CERTIFICATION • In the surveillance industry, the scope of the ER Certification encompasses: • Security Testing: Assessing hardware and software for vulnerabilities, resistance to cyberattacks, and ensuring robust data encryption. • Supply Chain: Trusted supply chain verification to ensure that the critical components are sourced from trusted source and are not counterfeited. • Certification of Registration of OEMs (CRO): Certified by BIS and tested by STQC Labs, to ensure the testing should be conducted as per government guidelines and build trust. • For instance, surveillance systems employed in traffic management projects - such as ANPR cameras at toll booths or facial recognition systems in airports - rely on the ER Certification to guarantee their performance and reliability.

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