CERT-In Cybersecurity Audit for MSMEs in India - Mandatory Compliance & ₹1 Crore Penalty Explained

The CERT-In Cybersecurity Audit is now a mandatory compliance requirement for MSMEs in India. As per Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000, every MSME must undergo an annual cybersecurity audit by a CERT-In empanelled auditor.

Schedule CERT-In Audit

Overview

The CERT-In Cybersecurity Audit is now a mandatory compliance requirement for MSMEs in India. As per Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000, every Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) must undergo an annual cybersecurity audit by a CERT-In empanelled auditor.

This regulation aims to protect businesses from rising cyber threats. But failure to comply can result in penalties up to ₹1 crore, imprisonment, loss of government contracts, and severe reputational damage. That’s where ISECURION comes in - as one of India’s trusted cybersecurity companies, we specialize in guiding MSMEs through CERT-In audits, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, compliance consulting, and remediation support.

CERT-In Empanelled

Annual audits • VAPT • Remediation

Why CERT-In Cybersecurity Audit Matters for MSMEs

Safeguard Customer Data

Protect customer data, financial assets and avoid data breaches.

Avoid Heavy Penalties

Non-compliance risks penalties up to ₹1 crore and legal action.

Business Continuity

Ensure resilience, backups, and recovery to keep operations running.

Scope of Work

IT Asset Inventory & Network Security

Centralized asset inventory, network segmentation, firewall and VPN review.

Endpoint & Mobile Security

Antivirus/EDR, device controls and secure mobile policies.

Patch & Vulnerability Management

Programmatic patching, vulnerability scans and annual VAPT verification.

Governance, Policies & Access Controls

Password policies, MFA, role-based access and oversight mechanisms.

Data Protection, Backup & Recovery

Encrypted backups, BCP/DR drills and recovery testing.

Third-Party & Vendor Risk Management

Vendor assessments, contracts review and third-party controls.

What ISECURION Reviews in Your CERT-In Audit

Firewall, VPN & Wi-Fi Configs

Review rules, segmentation and secure Wi-Fi best practices.

Patch Management

Policy checks, update cycles and missing critical patches.

Logs & Retention

Log retention verification (180-day minimum) and monitoring health.

Employee Awareness

Training records, phishing readiness and awareness program checks.

Incident Response

IRP review, tabletop exercises and CERT-In 6-hour reporting readiness.

Vulnerability Audits

Annual VAPT, remediation verification and risk scoring.

Scope of the 15 CERT-In Cybersecurity Controls

1. Effective Asset Management

Centralized IT asset inventory.

2. Network & Email Security

Firewalls, VPNs, SPF/DKIM/DMARC.

3. Endpoint & Mobile Security

Licensed antivirus and mobile protection.

4. Secure Configurations

OS, server & application hardening.

5. Patch Management

Timely OS, application & firmware updates.

6. Incident Management

IRPs & breach reporting.

7. Logging & Monitoring

Retaining and monitoring logs for 180 days.

8. Awareness & Training

Bi-annual cybersecurity training.

9. Third Party Risk Management

Vendor security checks.

10. Data Protection, Backup & Recovery

Encrypted backups, BCP/DR drills.

11. Governance & Compliance

Security policy, oversight & adherence.

12. Robust Password Policy

Strong password controls and MFA.

13. Access Control & Identity Mgmt

Role-based access & least privilege.

14. Physical Security

Controlled access to critical infrastructure.

15. Vulnerability Audits & Assessments

Annual VAPT with remediation.

ISECURION’s 4-Phase CERT-In Audit Methodology

1. Pre-Audit Gap Analysis

Compare current posture against the 15 CERT-In controls.

2. Audit & Validation

Detailed technical & policy assessment by empanelled auditors.

3. Remediation Guidance

Step-by-step fixes, remediation plans and validation.

4. Final Certification

Official audit report & certification for CERT-In submission.

Deliverables – What You Will Receive

Comprehensive Audit Report

Detailed findings, severity and remediation actions.

Remediation Support

Guided fixes and verification assistance before submission.

CERT-In Certification

Signed certificate by authorized auditors for compliance.

Future Advisory

Ongoing roadmap for regulatory changes and improvements.

Policy & Procedure Templates

Ready-to-use templates to meet audit evidence requirements.

Training Records

Employee training plans and evidence of awareness sessions.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with CERT-In’s cybersecurity audit can lead to a ₹1 crore penalty under IT Act Section 70B, imprisonment up to 1 year for responsible officers, loss of eligibility for government contracts, and reputational loss.

Why Choose ISECURION - Trusted Security Experts

CERT-In Empanelled Experts

Authorized auditors experienced with MSME needs.

End-to-End Compliance

From gap analysis to certification and advisory.

Trusted by Banks & Startups

Experience across financial and technology sectors.

Beyond Compliance

Focus on real-world resilience, not just checklists.

What ISECURION Needs from You

Inventory & Documentation

Full IT asset inventory, policies, network diagrams, firewall configs and system logs.

People & Processes

Employee training records, incident handling processes and a single point of contact.

FAQs on CERT-In MSME Cybersecurity Audit

All MSMEs in India, as defined under the MSME Act, that meet the CERT-In criteria must comply and undergo an annual audit by a CERT-In empanelled auditor.

Non-compliance can result in fines up to ₹1 crore, imprisonment of responsible officers, loss of government contracts, and reputational damage.

At least once a year by a CERT-In empanelled auditor - more frequently if your environment changes significantly.

ISECURION provides end-to-end audit services: gap analysis, technical audit, remediation guidance, and final certification with minimal disruption.

No - CERT-In audit verifies compliance with the 15 controls and regulatory requirements. VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing) is a technical exercise to find vulnerabilities; we recommend both for best results.

Typically: IT asset lists, network diagrams, firewall configs, patch reports, backup logs, training records, policy documents, and system logs (180 days or as mandated).

Duration depends on scope and size - typically 2 to 4 weeks for MSMEs (including gap analysis and remediation planning).

Yes - after remediation we prepare the official audit report and assist with the CERT-In submission process.

Startups that meet the MSME criteria should comply. We help evaluate classification and prepare the required evidence.

Contact ISECURION for a Pre-Audit Gap Analysis - we will list required documents, schedule scans, and prepare a remediation roadmap.

Related Services

Don’t risk a ₹1 crore penalty - Get Compliant Now

Contact ISECURION for a quick pre-audit gap analysis and end-to-end CERT-In audit support.

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