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INDUSTRY FACT FILE · EDUCATION, EDTECH & RESEARCH
Applicable Cybersecurity Services and Codec Networks Bundles for Education
How Codec Networks services and bundled service models help universities, school chains, coaching and edtech platforms, examination bodies and research organisations resolve their threats and meet CERT-In, DPDP, examination-integrity, regulator and sponsor expectations.
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In this document 1. Our approach 2. Mapping threats to services 3. Codec Networks service catalogue for the sector 4. Codec Networks bundles for the sector 5. Sector programmes built from the bundles 6. Packages: Foundation, Assurance and Continuous Resilience 7. Regulatory requirement-to-bundle mapping 8. Threat-to-bundle coverage matrix 9. Delivery methodology and deliverables 10. Why Codec Networks 11. Annex: indicative commercial ranges |
1. Our approach
Education needs assurance that respects the academic calendar and the people it serves. Codec Networks works on four principles:
- Students first: every control is judged by what it does for the privacy and safety of students, children and candidates.
- Calendar-aware: testing, upgrades and exercises planned around admissions, examinations and results, never during them.
- Assume compromise: make ERP, LMS and examination systems recoverable, monitored and rehearsed.
- Prove it: findings mapped to CERT-In, DPDP, examination-integrity expectations, UGC and AICTE requirements and ISO/IEC 27001 so regulators, sponsors and investors can rely on them.
2. Mapping threats to services
The table maps the 18 threats identified in Document 4 of this set to the Codec Networks services that help mitigate them.
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Threat / challenge |
Applicable Codec Networks services |
Intended outcome |
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Ransomware halting operations |
Segmentation, backup and restore testing, EDR validation, managed SOC |
Institutions that keep running and recover fast |
|
Student and parent data breaches |
Data mapping, portal and API testing, cloud posture review, DPDP programme |
Protected records, lawful processing |
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Examination and paper compromise |
Examination-system assessment, role and integrity audits, vendor assurance |
Examinations that survive scrutiny |
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LMS and exam platform vulnerabilities |
LMS and test-engine testing, patch validation, role reviews |
Trustworthy platforms |
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Account takeover |
Identity and MFA review, phishing simulation, takeover detection |
Fewer compromised accounts |
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Fee and scholarship fraud |
Payment controls, brand monitoring, parent and student awareness |
Families protected |
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Research IP theft and espionage |
Data classification, segmentation, threat hunting, collaborator agreements |
Research kept inside the lab |
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Cloud and app misconfiguration |
Cloud posture management, exposure monitoring, DevSecOps |
Hardened tenants and apps |
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Children's data misuse and tracking |
Privacy-by-design review, SDK assessment, consent design |
Child-safe platforms |
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Insider record tampering |
Access reviews, integrity controls, audit trails, forensic readiness |
Accountable records |
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Vendor and SaaS compromise |
Vendor assessments, contract clauses, access brokering |
Resilient supply of platforms |
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Proctoring and centre manipulation |
Proctoring and centre technology review, device hardening, monitoring |
Fair examinations |
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Defacement and DDoS at peak times |
Web hardening, DDoS readiness, surge monitoring |
Portals that stay up on results day |
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Campus Wi-Fi and BYOD exposure |
Segmentation, NAC, Wi-Fi assessment |
Contained campus networks |
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Legacy and unpatched systems |
Vulnerability management, compensating controls, upgrade planning |
Reduced exposure |
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Credential and certificate fraud |
Certificate integrity, DigiLocker and APAAR integration security |
Verifiable credentials |
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Weak detection and response |
Managed SOC, playbooks, IR retainer |
Reliable 6-hour reporting |
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Backup and recovery failure |
Backup review, immutable copies, restore drills |
Proven recovery |
3. Codec Networks service catalogue for the sector
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Service line |
Sector-relevant services |
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Security Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing |
Campus, cloud and examination-system assessments; LMS, ERP, portal, app and API testing; Wi-Fi and lab network reviews |
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Application & platform security |
Secure SDLC for edtech products, API security, SDK and privacy review, DevSecOps integration |
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Examination integrity assurance |
Question-bank, CBT, proctoring, evaluation and result-system controls; centre technology review; pre-cycle testing and leak drills |
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Data privacy & protection |
DPDP programmes for student, parent, staff and children's data; consent and parental-verification design; DPO-as-a-Service |
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Research protection |
Research data classification, segmented lab and HPC networks, collaborator and sponsor security agreements, threat hunting |
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Information security audit & compliance |
CERT-In-aligned audits, ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 readiness, UGC, AICTE and board evidence packs, SEBI disclosure support |
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Third-party and vendor risk |
LMS, ERP, proctoring, hosting and payment vendor assessments; contract clauses; access brokering |
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24/7 Managed SOC & threat monitoring |
Campus, cloud and examination monitoring, account-takeover and scraping detection, admissions and results surge coverage |
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Cyber forensics & incident response |
Breach, leak and tampering investigations, malware RCA, 6-hour reporting and DPDP intimation support |
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Awareness & simulation |
Phishing simulation for staff, faculty and students, parent scam awareness, leadership and examination-crisis tabletop exercises |
4. Codec Networks bundles for the sector
Eleven of the twelve bundles in the Codec Networks Bundled Service Models apply directly to education, edtech and research organisations; the Global Cyber Back-Office SPV Program (Bundle 12) is offered separately for international clients.
Figure 6: Codec Networks bundles applied to the sector.
|
Bundle |
Name |
Sector-relevant scope |
Best suited for |
Key deliverables |
|
B1 |
Cyber Assessment & VAPT Assurance Program |
Campus, cloud, LMS, ERP, portal and examination-system assessments |
All institutions and platforms |
Assessment reports, retests and closure tracker |
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B2 |
Application, API & DevSecOps Security Program |
Admission portals, LMS, apps, APIs, test engines and proctoring testing; secure SDLC |
Edtech, coaching, examination bodies, universities |
Application and API risk reports |
|
B3 |
Cloud, Infrastructure & Zero Trust Security Program |
Cloud posture, identity and MFA, campus segmentation, backup architecture |
All institutions and platforms |
Architecture review and remediation roadmap |
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B4 |
Regulatory Cybersecurity Audit & Compliance Assurance Program |
CERT-In-aligned audits, regulator and board evidence, SEBI disclosure support |
Universities, boards, examination bodies, listed companies |
Audit report, gap matrix, evidence tracker |
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B5 |
GRC, ISO, SOC 2 & Cyber Maturity Program |
ISO/IEC 27001 for institutions, SOC 2 for edtech vendors, policy frameworks |
Institutions and vendors formalising security |
Maturity scorecard, policies, evidence packs |
|
B6 |
Data Privacy, DPDPA & Data Protection Program |
Student, parent and children's data protection with consent and parental verification |
Schools, coaching, edtech, universities ahead of May 2027 |
Privacy gap assessment, consent design, roadmap |
|
B7 |
Managed SOC, MDR & Continuous Threat Monitoring Program |
24x7 managed SOC with surge coverage for admissions and results |
Multi-campus institutions, platforms, examination bodies |
SOC reports, MTTD/MTTR |
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B8 |
Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Malware RCA Program |
Breach, leak and tampering investigations; 6-hour reporting |
Any organisation facing an incident |
Forensic report, RCA, reporting support |
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B9 |
Third-Party Risk Management & Supply Chain Cyber Risk Program |
LMS, ERP, proctoring, hosting and payment vendor assessments |
All institutions and examination bodies |
Vendor risk register and assessments |
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B10 |
Cyber Simulation, Awareness, Tabletop & Crisis Readiness Program |
Phishing simulation, parent awareness, leak and ransomware exercises |
Leadership, examination, IT and academic teams |
Exercise reports and playbooks |
|
B11 |
Emerging Technology, AI, Web3 & Future Security Program |
AI tutors, proctoring analytics, research AI and HPC security |
Edtech platforms and research organisations |
Risk assessment and controls |
5. Sector programmes built from the bundles
Codec Networks packages the catalogue bundles into six education and research programmes.
|
Programme |
Built from bundles |
Challenges addressed |
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Student Data Privacy Programme |
B6, B2, B3 |
DPDP, children's consent, portal and cloud exposure |
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Examination Integrity Programme |
B1, B2, B9, B10 |
Question banks, CBT, proctoring, vendors and drills |
|
Research Protection Programme |
B3, B7, B9 |
Classification, segmentation, hunting, collaborators |
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Campus Resilience |
B3, B10, B8 |
Segmentation, backups, playbooks and exercises |
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Edtech Platform Assurance |
B2, B5, B11 |
App and API security, SOC 2, AI features |
|
Managed SOC & Response |
B7, B8 |
Detection, response and 6-hour reporting |
6. Packages: Foundation, Assurance and Continuous Resilience
|
Package element |
Foundation |
Assurance |
Continuous Resilience |
|
Typical organisation |
Schools, colleges and coaching institutes |
Universities, school chains and edtech platforms |
Examination bodies, research organisations and listed edtech |
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Testing |
B1: campus and portal assessment |
B1 + B2: LMS, app and API testing |
B1 + B2 + B10: continuous testing and red teaming |
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Audit and GRC |
B5: policy pack and board evidence |
B4: annual independent audit + B5 |
B4 + B5 + B9: audit, ISO 27001 or SOC 2 and vendor programme |
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Privacy and cloud |
B6: privacy quick assessment + B3: backup review |
B6: DPDP programme + B3: cloud and identity |
B3 + B6 + B11: segmentation, DPDP, AI and research security |
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Monitoring and response |
IR retainer (B8) |
B7: managed SOC + B8 |
B7: SOC with threat hunting + B8 |
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Reporting |
Compliance checklist and parent communication |
CISO and management reporting |
Board, regulator and sponsor reporting |
7. Regulatory requirement-to-bundle mapping
|
Requirement (source) |
How Codec Networks helps |
Bundle |
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Cyber incidents to CERT-In within six hours; 180-day logs (CERT-In Directions) |
Managed SOC, IR retainer and reporting support |
B7, B8 |
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Risk-based independent cyber audits (CERT-In audit guidelines, 2025) |
Independent campus, cloud and application audits |
B4, B1 |
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Student, parent and staff personal data; children's consent and no tracking (DPDP) |
DPDPA programme with consent and parental verification |
B6 |
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Examination integrity and prevention of unfair means (Public Examinations Act) |
Examination-system testing, integrity controls, vendor assurance |
B2, B1, B9 |
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Institutional, affiliation and accreditation conditions (UGC, AICTE, boards) |
Policies, evidence packs, ISO/IEC 27001 |
B5, B4 |
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Quarterly cyber incident disclosure by listed companies (SEBI LODR) |
Incident records and disclosure support |
B4, B8 |
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Grant, sponsor and collaboration security clauses (contracts) |
Research protection and collaborator assurance |
B3, B9 |
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Customer and investor security evidence (school contracts, diligence) |
SOC 2 and ISO 27001 readiness, VAPT reports |
B5, B2 |
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Auditor eligibility and independence Where a regulator, standard or contract requires CERT-In empanelled or independent auditors, Codec Networks—CERT-In empanelled for information security auditing services—confirms eligibility and independence in each proposal. |
8. Threat-to-bundle coverage matrix
|
Threat / challenge |
Primary bundle |
Supporting bundles |
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Ransomware halting operations |
B3 |
B7, B10, B8 |
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Student and parent data breaches |
B6 |
B2, B3 |
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Examination and paper compromise |
B1 |
B2, B9, B10 |
|
LMS and exam platform vulnerabilities |
B2 |
B1, B7 |
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Account takeover |
B3 |
B10, B7 |
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Fee and scholarship fraud |
B10 |
B2, B7 |
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Research IP theft and espionage |
B7 |
B3, B9 |
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Cloud and app misconfiguration |
B3 |
B2 |
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Children's data misuse and tracking |
B6 |
B2, B9 |
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Insider record tampering |
B1 |
B7, B8 |
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Vendor and SaaS compromise |
B9 |
B3, B7 |
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Proctoring and centre manipulation |
B1 |
B2, B7 |
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Defacement and DDoS at peak times |
B3 |
B7 |
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Campus Wi-Fi and BYOD exposure |
B3 |
B1 |
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Legacy and unpatched systems |
B1 |
B3 |
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Credential and certificate fraud |
B2 |
B5 |
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Weak detection and response |
B7 |
B8 |
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Backup and recovery failure |
B10 |
B3 |
“Primary” and “supporting” indicate suggested combinations, not guaranteed mitigation or complete coverage.
9. Delivery methodology and deliverables
Figure 7: The Codec Networks delivery methodology.
Typical deliverables include campus, cloud, LMS, portal, app and examination-system assessment reports with retests, a DPDP gap assessment with data map and consent design, an examination-integrity review with pre-cycle test results, a research-protection review with segmentation design, a vendor risk register, a CERT-In-aligned audit report, ISO 27001 or SOC 2 evidence packs, crisis playbooks and exercise reports, and managed SOC reporting.
10. Why Codec Networks
- CERT-In empanelled for information security auditing services, and empanelled with NICSI for application audit and compliance services (start-up category).
- Certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018.
- Full stack: VAPT, regulatory audit, managed SOC, forensics, privacy and Board advisory from one partner, so findings, monitoring and closure stay connected.
- Education depth: LMS, ERP, examination systems, children's apps and research networks assessed with calendar-aware methods and mapped to DPDP, examination-integrity expectations and ISO/IEC 27001.
- Recognised frameworks and tools: OWASP ASVS/MASVS and API Top 10, MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, ISO 27001 and PCI DSS; tools such as Burp Suite, Nessus, Metasploit, Prowler and leading SIEM/EDR platforms.
- Certified people: CEH, OSCP, CPENT, CISA, ISO 27001 LA/LI, CHFI, CTIA and ECIH professionals.
Annex: Indicative commercial ranges
For internal sales reference only—remove this annex before sharing externally. Ranges are taken from the Codec Networks Bundled Service Models and are subject to scoping, asset counts, frequency and service levels.
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Bundle |
Package examples and indicative ranges |
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B1 VAPT Assurance |
Essential ₹1.5–5 lakh; Professional ₹5–15 lakh; Enterprise ₹15–40 lakh; Annual retainer ₹25 lakh–₹1.5 crore |
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B2 AppSec & DevSecOps |
API Quick Check ₹2–6 lakh; AppSec Professional ₹8–20 lakh; DevSecOps Maturity ₹12–35 lakh; Secure SDLC retainer ₹3–15 lakh/month |
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B3 Cloud & Zero Trust |
Cloud Essential ₹3–8 lakh; Professional ₹8–25 lakh; Enterprise ₹25–75 lakh; Continuous assurance ₹2–10 lakh/month |
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B4 Regulatory Audit |
Gap review ₹5–15 lakh; Full regulatory audit ₹15–50 lakh; Multi-framework audit ₹30 lakh–₹1.25 crore; Annual retainer ₹3–20 lakh/month |
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B5 GRC, ISO, SOC 2 |
ISO readiness ₹5–15 lakh; ISO implementation ₹15–45 lakh; SOC 2 readiness ₹15–60 lakh; GRC retainer ₹2–12 lakh/month |
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B6 Privacy & DPDPA |
Quick assessment ₹3–10 lakh; Implementation ₹10–40 lakh; DPO-as-a-Service ₹2–8 lakh/month; Privacy retainer ₹3–15 lakh/month |
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B7 Managed SOC |
Starter ₹2–5 lakh/month; Professional ₹5–15 lakh/month; Enterprise ₹15–50 lakh/month; co-managed per FTE/shift |
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B8 Forensics & IR |
Triage ₹3–15 lakh; Full investigation ₹15–75 lakh; Ransomware response ₹25 lakh–₹1.5 crore; IR retainer ₹5–50 lakh/year |
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B9 TPRM |
₹25,000–₹2 lakh per vendor; batch pricing for 50–500 vendors; retainer ₹3–25 lakh/month |
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B10 Simulation & Tabletop |
Awareness ₹1–5 lakh; Phishing simulation ₹2–10 lakh; Tabletop ₹5–20 lakh; Cyber war-game ₹15–75 lakh; Annual retainer ₹10 lakh–₹1 crore/year |
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B11 Emerging Tech |
AI/LLM risk review ₹5–25 lakh; Smart contract audit ₹5–50 lakh; Emerging tech retainer ₹5–25 lakh/month |
Talk to Codec Networks
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Contact Codec Networks Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi: 507, 5th Floor, New Delhi House, Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001 Gurugram: 707, 7th Floor, Silverton Tower, Golf Course Extension Road, Sector 50, Gurugram – 122018, Haryana Landline: 011 430 496 96 | 011 437 522 99 Mobile: +91 99716 76124 | +91 88007 88220 | +91 88003 31124 Email: mktg@codecnetworks.com Web: www.codecnetworks.com |
Note: Service scope, deliverables, monitoring coverage and service levels are confirmed during engagement scoping. Services support risk reduction and assurance but do not guarantee prevention of all cyber incidents or regulatory compliance. Regulatory references are summaries; confirm against the official instruments applicable to each entity.