CYBERSECURITY • DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE • DIGITAL GOVERNANCE

Building digital systems that are secure, resilient and trusted.

Dr. Saibal Sarkar is a cybersecurity and digital infrastructure expert with about 40 years of experience shaping e-government, critical ICT infrastructure and citizen-centric digital services across India.

PhDSecurity & Forensics in e-Governance
40+Years of ICT experience
FIEInstitution of Engineers (India)
Dr. Saibal Sarkar
Advisor, Cybersecurity Digital Infrastructure & Cyber-Security Expert
Former senior NIC leadership State Data Centre leadership Port ICT modernisation Cybersecurity & digital forensics e-Governance transformation

ABOUT

From ports to State Data Centres to citizen platforms.

Dr. Saibal Sarkar has led large-scale public-sector technology initiatives involving State Data Centres, port logistics systems, statewide connectivity, risk assessment and citizen-service platforms while managing multi-crore budgets, advising senior government stakeholders and guiding diverse technical teams.

His work spans the design, implementation and security of complex digital ecosystems in resource-constrained environments. His current focus is on bringing this experience into international advisory engagements, helping governments and development partners strengthen digital infrastructure, cyber resilience, policy frameworks and institutional capacity.

“Resilient, inclusive, and well-governed digital systems are essential for empowering nations.”

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Where experience meets emerging technology.

01

Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

Data-centre security, audit readiness, resilience planning, incident handling, log preservation and forensic collaboration, with experience aligned to ISO 27001:2022 and ISA/IEC 62443 concepts.

02

Digital Infrastructure

Planning, architecture, implementation and governance of complex ICT environments spanning networks, servers, applications, data centres and operational teams.

03

e-Governance & Digital Transformation

Citizen-centric platforms, statewide ICT strategy, policy rollout, service delivery, automation and large-scale government technology programmes.

04

IT / OT Cyber Risk

Cybersecurity gap and risk assessment for manufacturing environments, including IT/OT segmentation, privileged access, remote access, resilience and incident readiness.

05

AI & Emerging Technology

Exploration and practical application of AI-enabled solutions in agriculture, healthcare administration, policing and government process automation.

06

Advisory & Capacity Building

Policy frameworks, DPRs, RFPs, vendor evaluation, implementation guidance, executive advisory and professional training in cybersecurity and digital governance.

SELECTED IMPACT

Technology programmes at scale.

100+

Applications hosted

State Data Centre leadership under the National e-Governance Plan.

66

Square miles

Optical-fibre and ICT modernisation programme at Haldia Dock Complex.

600

Police stations

Centralized Integrated Police Application (CIPA) work across West Bengal.

7

Years of SDC operations

West Bengal State Data Centre operated with minimal downtime.

CAREER

Four decades of public-sector technology leadership.

2021–2022

Dy. Director General & State Informatics Officer — NIC, West Bengal

Directed state-wide NIC operations across 18 districts; led citizen platforms, AI PoCs and election-process automation.

2019–2021

Head — National Port Projects, NIC HQ

Led digital transformation at Kolkata, Haldia, Ennore and Chennai ports; designed a faceless trade-documentation system and supervised ERP rollouts.

2017–2019

Dy. Director General & State Informatics Officer — NIC, Arunachal Pradesh

Established VSAT-based communications and computing systems and expanded e-District, finance and healthcare services.

2011–2017

Sr. Technical Director & SDC Lead — NIC, West Bengal

Led the State Data Centre, hosting 100+ applications and supporting ISO 20000/27001-based audits and statewide ICT initiatives.

2003–2011

Technical Director → Sr. Technical Director — NIC

Directed statewide digitisation projects including CIPA for 600 police stations and court information systems.

1999–2003

Head — NICSI West Bengal

Led the corporate wing's West Bengal operations and delivered a 66-square-mile optical-fibre network and Java-based ERP for Haldia Dock Complex.

1998–1999

Principal Systems Analyst → Technical Director — NIC

Delivered systems for Commercial Taxes, Public Service Commission and Cooperatives while supporting statewide NIC infrastructure.

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

Researching the foundations of secure e-Governance.

PhD research focus: Security and Forensics in e-Governance.

2022

Fuzzy-based Security Risk Assessment of e-Government Data Centres in Indian Context

Inderscience — Electronic Government

2022

A Practical Approach to Protecting e-Government Data Logs for Security and Forensics

BJIT — Springer (accepted)

2021

Security Ontology in e-Government Data Centre

Inderscience — Electronic Government

2016

Secure E-Governance: From Observation to Policy Formulation

IEEE Conference

2015

State Level Policy Framework on Digital Forensics for e-Governance

IEEE Conference

2005

Architecture of a configurable Centered Discrete Fractional Fourier Transform processor

IEEE Conference

EDUCATION & RECOGNITION

Academic foundation.

PhDSecurity and Forensics in e-Governance
National Institute of Technology, Durgapur · 2018–2021
M.E.Electronics & Telecommunication (Computer Science)
Jadavpur University, Kolkata · 1985–1987
B.E.Electrical Engineering (Digital Electronics)
Bengal Engineering College (now IIEST Shibpur), Calcutta University · 1980–1984

Selected recognitions.

  • Five consecutive promotions within NIC, culminating in State Informatics Officer roles.
  • Independent charge of NICSI West Bengal for more than three years.
  • Achieved ISO 27001:2011 for the West Bengal State Data Centre.
  • Selected as State Head of NIC in Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.
  • Recognised for operating the West Bengal State Data Centre for seven years with minimal downtime.

ADVISORY • SPEAKING • RESEARCH

Let's build secure, resilient digital ecosystems.

Available for short-term or retainer advisory assignments worldwide, particularly with governments, development partners and organisations working on digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital governance and capacity building.