Since its launch, Cybersmart Bharat has engaged nearly 11,000 students across schools in Bengaluru, through structured, interactive sessions that address the real digital challenges young people face today. From online peer pressure and unsafe content to cyber hygiene, identity protection, and responsible technology use, the programme has focused on building awareness that is practical, relatable, and empowering. The response from schools, parents, and community stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, affirming the need for such conversations at a time when children are navigating increasingly complex digital environments with limited guidance.

The Bengaluru experience revealed a broader imperative: digital risk cannot remain an urban conversation. Across rural and semi-urban India, access has outpaced awareness, leaving critical gaps in understanding and safety. Cybersmart Bharat now expands to close these gaps where awareness is needed most.

To support this next chapter, SISA has entered into a partnership with Unnati, a non-governmental organization with deep roots in community engagement and youth development. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on January 19, 2026, in the presence of the SISA Board of Directors, marking a shared commitment to scale the programme thoughtfully and responsibly. Mr. Ramesh Swamy, CEO of Unnati, joined the signing to underscore the collective intent behind the initiative.

“For many young people in rural and semi-urban communities, the digital world arrives without context or protection. Cybersmart Bharat addresses that gap directly. We are glad to partner with SISA because they understand how today’s digital and payments ecosystems can be misused and the real harm that misuse can cause. Bringing that insight into classrooms and communities is what makes this initiative critical. Together, we are helping young people build safer digital habits that carry into their homes and everyday lives,” said Mr. Ramesh Swamy, CEO, Unnati.

The expanded programme will continue to focus on building cyber awareness and hygiene among students, while also introducing them to the broader world of cybersecurity as a discipline. By exposing young learners to concepts of digital responsibility, critical thinking, and emerging career pathways in cybersecurity, Cybersmart Bharat aims not only to protect, but to inspire.

Speaking on the expansion, Dharshan Shanthamurthy, Founder and CEO, SISA, said, “Cybersmart Bharat was conceived as more than a one-time campaign. It is a long-term movement that must evolve alongside India’s digital growth. As technology reaches deeper into our communities, resilience has to begin with awareness — especially among the young. As a country, we are connecting faster than we are educating. Cybersmart Bharat exists to close that gap, through sustained efforts that build awareness, responsibility, and resilience, starting with young people and extending into families and communities.”

For SISA, this expansion is about shaping everyday digital choices as they are formed. Because the future of cybersecurity will not be defined by technology alone. It will be defined by awareness — reaching every child, in every corner of the country.

About SISA  

SISA is a Leader in Cybersecurity Solutions for the Digital Payment Industry. As a Global Payment Forensic Investigator of the PCI Security Standards Council, we leverage forensics insights into preventive, detective, and corrective security solutions, protecting 1,000+ organizations across 40+ countries from evolving cyberthreats. Our suite of solutions from AI-driven compliance, advanced security testing, agentic detection/ response and learner focused-training has been honoured with prestigious awards, including from Financial Express, DSCI-NASSCOM and The Economic Times. With commitment to innovation, and pioneering advancements in Quantum Security, Hardware Security, and Cybersecurity for AI, SISA is shaping the future of cybersecurity. In the quantum space, we offer Quantum Risk Assessments, QBOMs (Quantum Bill of Materials), and strategic Quantum Briefing Sessions—helping organizations prepare for the next wave of cyber threats through deep forensics intelligence. 

For more information about our solutions and how they can revolutionize cybersecurity for digital payments, visit  www.sisainfosec.com or contact mediaconnect@sisainfosec.com