The Hindu Business Line : Tech cos beef up security; conduct evacuation drills

Hyderabad, Dec. 7 “Got a pass? Wear it. Don’t let other’s sneak into your office.” This message, prominently displayed on the campus of a leading IT major here, conveys the increased focus on security by IT companies in the wake of the attacks in Mumbai.

IT companies in Hyderabad, a major IT hub providing employment to over 1.5 lakh professional, is giving unprecedented focus to preventing entry of unauthorised men or materials into campuses and offices.

High stakes

“It is important because a single episode involving terrorists can take the development clock of IT industry here back by five years,” Mr B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, Infotech Enterprises Ltd, told Business Line.

“Security has become very tight. We are also conducting evacuation drills and giving daily training to security personnel with retired army officials,” he said.

The employees have been told to be on a constant vigil to report anything suspicious by pop-up messages and alert notices on walls and workstations.

Incidentally, the two-day meeting on Information Security organised by Data Security Council of India (an arm of National Association of Software and Services Companies) laid significant emphasis on physical security too. Mr Som Mittal, President of Nasscom, said that the industry has significantly strengthened internal security.

Stepped-up surveillance

Mr Sanjay Bahl, Chief Security Officer of Microsoft Corporation (India), felt that physical security is one of the many important components that forms a part of a good security mechanism. Microsoft is keeping vigil on its premises across multiple locations using latest technology.

“We have decided to increase surveillance in the campuses and screen the movements of vendors and visitors very carefully. We have also decided to review our preparedness and share best practices,” Mr Narasimha Rao, Vice-President and Centre Head of Infosys, Hyderabad, told Business Line.

Satyam Computers too has beefed up security. Mr S.V. Krishnan, Global Head (Human Resources) of Satyam Computer Services, said: “Our security personnel are checking cars of all associates carefully.”

The company also keeps a vigil on people’s movements across projects — watching the movement of people to places other than where they are supposed to go.

“We are going to approach the Government and police to make dedicated Rapid Action Forces available to help out companies in particular and civil society in general face such incidences,” Mr M. Narasimha Rao, President of Hyderabad Software Exporters Association, said.