The Jammu and Kashmir government has banned pen drives and unsecured platforms in government offices to strengthen cyber security. Instructions have been issued to use the secure GovDrive cloud platform, with permission granted in special cases.
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued a significant order aimed at further strengthening cyber security. Under this order, the use of pen drives is now completely prohibited on official computers in administrative departments, including the Civil Secretariat and all district Deputy Commissioner offices. The government states that this step will help protect sensitive information, prevent data leaks, and prevent unauthorized access.
Ban on WhatsApp and Unsecured Platforms Too
The government has clarified that public messaging platforms like WhatsApp or unsecured online services like iLovePDF cannot be used to share government or confidential documents. This measure has been taken to maintain data sovereignty and prevent cyber security breaches.
Permission Only in Special Circumstances
However, the use of pen drives will be permitted in certain special circumstances. If a department requires a pen drive for essential work, it can request permission for up to 2–3 pen drives through a formal application. For this, the Head of Department must send the application to the State Informatics Officer (SIO) of the National Informatics Centre (NIC). After approval, the pen drive must be submitted to the NIC cell, where the process of re-configuration, authorization, and registration will be completed.
GovDrive as a Secure Alternative
The government has emphasized the adoption of a secure cloud-based platform called "GovDrive" as a replacement for pen drives and unsecured platforms. This platform provides every government official with 50 GB of secure storage, including centralized access and synchronization across various devices.
Instructions to Keep Sensitive Information Confidential
The order states that all technical information such as ICT architecture diagrams, system configurations, vulnerability assessments, IP addressing, and strategic technical plans should be kept confidential. These will be shared only through approved secure channels. This directive will be implemented under the Ministry of Home Affairs' Information Security Guidelines and the rules of CERT-In.
Warning of Action for Non-Compliance
The government has issued a clear warning that disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned officials for non-compliance with these rules. The order has come into effect immediately, and all departments have been asked to implement these guidelines with priority.
Instructions for Officers and Employees
All government officers and employees are instructed to stop using pen drives and unsecured platforms. They must use only GovDrive or other approved secure means. Heads of Departments must ensure that all employees under them have started following the new rules.
