ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced its Security Operations Center (SOC) to bolster cybersecurity measures, safeguard critical information assets, and ensure rapid incident response. This initiative is intended to enhance the Commission’s operational resilience against cyber threats.

According to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, the SOC was inaugurated by the Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar. The initiative was commended for its emphasis on cybersecurity. The ceremony was attended by SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, Commissioners Imtiaz Haider, Muzzafar Ahmed Mirza, Zeeshan Khattak, and other senior officials.

The SOC will conduct constant surveillance of SECP’s networks, endpoints, servers, and private cloud environments. It is financed by Karandaaz Pakistan, acting as the implementing agency for the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The Center’s operations are facilitated by Inara Technologies, Pakistan, and supported by REWTERZ through a Managed Security Services Provider agreement, ensuring alignment with international standards and best practices.

In a separate discussion, SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu updated the NADRA Chairman on the Commission’s IT advancements, infrastructure upgrades, and the integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies aimed at improving service delivery and business facilitation.

Additionally, SECP plans to integrate the Security Operations Centers of Capital Markets Institutions (CMIs) into a sector-wide framework. This integration is expected to foster threat intelligence sharing and coordinated incident response, reinforcing the Commission’s proposed role as a Sectoral Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Sectoral SOC.