NCSOC Operations Awareness Session for Ministry of Finance

Sri Lanka CERT, together with the National Cyber Security Operations Center (NCSOC), conducted an awareness session for the Ministry of Finance focused on NCSOC operations, current operational status, and the key benefits of onboarding to the National Cyber Security Operations Center. The session was aimed at strengthening cybersecurity coordination across critical government financial institutions and supporting a smooth onboarding process to the national cyber defense framework.

Event Overview

The awareness session marked an important engagement with one of the country's most critical government ministries. Discussions covered the present operational status of the NCSOC, the value it brings to onboarded institutions, and the current challenges faced during the onboarding process. Officials emphasized the importance of strengthening coordinated cybersecurity operations across government institutions to ensure timely threat detection, response, and resilience.

Purpose of the Awareness Session

The session was organized to provide the Ministry of Finance with a clear understanding of NCSOC's capabilities and the operational advantages of onboarding. It aimed to address common onboarding concerns, clarify technical and procedural requirements, and promote stronger collaboration between the Ministry and the national cybersecurity ecosystem.

Key Focus Areas

• NCSOC operations and current operational status
• Key benefits of onboarding to the National Cyber Security Operations Center
• Current challenges encountered during the onboarding process
• Strengthening coordinated cybersecurity operations across government institutions
• Enhancing collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and NCSOC

Alignment with the National Cyber Security Strategy

The awareness session aligns with Sri Lanka's National Cyber Security Strategy (2025–2029), which prioritizes secure digital transformation, advanced cyber governance, and unified protection of critical government infrastructure, including the financial sector.

Session Conducted By

The session was conducted by Dr. Kanishka Karunasena - Chief Executive Officer (Sri Lanka CERT), Mr. Mahinda Kandapahala - Chief Information Security Officer (SLCERT), Mr. Charuka Damunupola - Lead Information Security Engineer (Sri Lanka CERT), Mr. Senalike Devalawatte - Manager, Information Security (Sri Lanka CERT) along with the wider NCSOC team. Active discussions took place on improving the onboarding experience, addressing operational challenges, and strengthening cybersecurity coordination across government institutions.

Conclusion

The successful completion of the awareness session reflects the ongoing efforts of Sri Lanka CERT and NCSOC to support government institutions in their cybersecurity journey. Engaging key ministries such as the Ministry of Finance is a critical step toward building a unified, resilient, and well-coordinated national cyber defense ecosystem.