National Cyber Defence Research Centre (NCDRC)

What National Cyber Defence Research Centre (NCDRC) does

National Cyber Defence Research Centre (NCDRC), operating as National Cyber Security Standards (NCSS), is an India-registered non-profit founded in 2012 and headquartered at Connaught Place, New Delhi. Its mission is to position India as a Cyber Security Capital by 2035 by developing national cybersecurity standards, frameworks, and reference content; establishing a countrywide network of National Cyber Security Research & Development (NCSR&D) Centres in educational institutions (currently 350+, targeted at 500+ by 2027); and convening corporates, government, academia, professionals, and students around training, certification, and policy advisory work. Core products include the National Cyber Crime Reference Handbook (published in three editions, 2014/2016/2018), a three-month online Certificate in Cybersecurity course (INR 48,380 including GST), and Cyber Security Guidelines, alongside an annual National Cyber Security Standards Summit, workshops, hackathons, and faculty development programs. NCDRC does not develop or license proprietary software technology; its underlying "platform" is an India-wide community of member institutions and the published reference content it disseminates.

Name

National Cyber Defence Research Centre (NCDRC)

Legal name

National Cyber Security Standards

Website

https://ncdrc.res.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

India-based non-profit national cybersecurity standards body operating 350+ research centres across Indian educational institutions, offering tiered memberships, certification courses, and the National Cyber Crime Reference Handbook to corporates, government, professionals, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Standards and Education

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Services-Services, Nec (8900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cyber Defense & Information Security (National Security) (BPAIAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA), Privacy, Data Protection & Cyber Governance (GRC) (BPAHAFAF), Phishing, Social Engineering & Business Email Compromise (BEC) Training (EDABAGAB)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity standards
• Cybersecurity education
• Professional training programs
• Cybersecurity research
• Reference publications

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Certificate in Cybersecurity Course: NCSS offers a three-month Certificate in Cybersecurity online course at INR 48,380 (including 18% GST). This is a one-time fee covering course materials, instruction, and completion certificate.
2. Corporate Membership Fees: Corporate organizations pay membership fees to join NCSS, receiving benefits including official training partnership status, 30% concession on courses/conferences/summits/workshops, NCSS logo usage rights, cyber threat support from technical team, and complimentary basic cyber awareness program for up to 100 employees.
3. Associate/Professional Membership Fees: Individual professionals pay membership fees to join NCSS. Benefits include e-certificate of membership, cybersecurity digital books, 20% concession on conferences/programs/events, opportunity to publish technical papers/articles in NCSSS books/e-magazines, and NCSSS logo usage on profile.
4. Student Membership Fees: Students pay subscription fees to join NCSS as student members, gaining access to networking with corporate leaders, community building, executive training sessions, and membership certificates.
5. NCSR&D Centre Institutional Membership Fees: Academic institutions, research organizations, government agencies, and private sector companies pay fees to establish National Cyber Security Research & Development Centres. Benefits include academic council membership consideration, 30% discount on cybersecurity courses, annual cybersecurity validation certificate for accreditation bodies (AICTE, UGC, NAAC, NBA, NMC), and NCSS logo usage.
6. Conference and Event Revenue: NCSS organizes the annual National Cyber Security Standards Summit, workshops, and specialized programs. Members receive discounts on these events. Non-specified fees for summits, conferences, and workshops serve as a revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

National Cyber Defence Research Centre (NCDRC), operating as National Cyber Security Standards (NCSS), sells tiered membership subscriptions (Corporate, Associate/Professional, Student, and Institutional NCSR&D Centre), a three-month Certificate in Cybersecurity online course, and the National Cyber Crime Reference Handbook and Cyber Security Guidelines publications. It also runs the annual National Cyber Security Standards Summit, workshops, and hackathons, and coordinates a national network of 350+ NCSR&D Centres established in Indian educational institutions, targeted at corporate, institutional, government, professional, and student audiences in India.

Product overview

The National Cyber Defence Research Centre (NCDRC) / National Cyber Security Standards (NCSS) operates as a national organization focused on cybersecurity standards, research, and education. Its core product offerings include the National Cyber Crime Reference Handbook (NCCRHB) published in three editions, a Certificate in Cybersecurity online course (three months, INR 48,380), and Cyber Security Guidelines. The organization also provides membership programs including Corporate Membership, Associate/Professional Membership, Student Membership, and NCSR&D Centre Membership, which serve as supplementary offerings that provide access to training, resources, networking, and institutional affiliations. The portfolio is structured around publications and educational services rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certificate in Cybersecurity (Three Months Online Course) Three-month online certification course in cybersecurity with a one-time fee of INR 48,380 (inclusive of 18% GST), covering course materials, instruction, and a completion certificate. Designed for learners seeking entry-level cybersecurity credentials in India.
• National Cyber Crime Reference Handbook (NCCRHB) Comprehensive reference handbook on the evolving Indian cyber threat landscape, practical protection measures for individuals and organizations, and strategies for building a secure digital environment. Published in three editions (2014, 2016, 2018) with over 10,000 copies distributed to relevant authorities.
• Cyber Security Guidelines Reference guidelines covering best practices for banking security, online fraud avoidance, and secure browsing protocols including HTTPS verification. Targeted at Indian citizens, businesses, and government entities seeking practical cybersecurity controls.
• Corporate Membership Subscription-based membership for private and public organizations across IT, education, banking, healthcare, and hospitality sectors. Benefits include official training partnership status, 30% concession on courses/conferences/summits/workshops, NCSS logo usage rights, technical-team cyber threat support, and a complimentary basic cyber awareness program for up to 100 employees.
• Associate / Professional Membership Subscription-based membership for individual professionals from MNCs, enterprises, academic institutions, and MSMEs. Benefits include an e-certificate of membership, NCSS cybersecurity digital books, a 20% concession on conferences/programs/events, opportunities to publish technical papers and articles in NCSS books and e-magazines, and NCSS logo usage on profile.
• Student Membership Subscription-based membership for students, providing networking with corporate leaders, community building opportunities, executive training sessions, and membership certificates. Targeted at students seeking entry into cybersecurity careers in India.
• National Cyber Security Research & Development (NCSR&D) Centre Institutional Membership Subscription-based institutional membership for academic institutions, research organizations, government agencies, private sector companies, non-profits, and individual researchers. Benefits include academic council membership consideration, 30% discount on cybersecurity courses, annual cybersecurity validation certificate for AICTE, UGC, NAAC, NBA, and NMC accreditation purposes, and NCSS logo usage.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ National Cyber Security Research & Development Centres established across India
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) APACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cloud Security Alliance APAC, establishing a strategic partnership for cybersecurity collaboration. This partnership connects NCSS with the global cybersecurity ecosystem and enables knowledge sharing, joint initiatives, and cross-promotion with international cybersecurity professionals and organizations.
• Academic Institutions (Universities and Colleges)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSS partners with universities and colleges across India to establish National Cyber Security Research & Development Centres. These institutions include engineering colleges, universities, and research organizations that integrate cybersecurity into their curricula and participate in NCSS research programs. The partnership provides benefits including academic council membership consideration, 30% course discounts, and annual cybersecurity validation certificates for institutional accreditation (AICTE, UGC, NAAC, NBA, NMC).
• Government AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSS works closely with government departments and agencies in national security, defense, and technology sectors. The organization provides advisory services on cybersecurity strategy, policy, and governance; assists with compliance to national and international cybersecurity standards; and supports incident response through specialized teams.
• Private Sector CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate members partner with NCSS to receive official training partnership status, employee cybersecurity training, organizational threat support, NCSS logo usage rights, and discounts on certification programs. In return, NCSS gains access to corporate resources and broader market reach through member organizations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Cloud Security Alliance: Global not-for-profit organization promoting best practices for secure cloud computing. Already an MoU partner of NCDRC; comparable in non-profit, standards-setting mission and global community focus.

Broad incumbents

• NASSCOM: India's apex IT and business process services industry body, with a wider portfolio than NCDRC but overlapping in cybersecurity skilling, policy advocacy, and India-wide industry events and certifications.
• CompTIA: Global provider of vendor-neutral IT and cybersecurity certifications (Security+, CySA+). Comparable in certification-driven membership model and education-channel focus.
• CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team): Government-mandated national incident response and cybersecurity agency under MeitY. Comparable in national cyber defense mission and policy advisory role, but operates with statutory authority rather than as a non-profit.

Direct peers

• ISACA: Global association offering cybersecurity and IT governance certifications (CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC) with similar professional and corporate membership tiers. Directly comparable in mission and member benefits.
• EC-Council: Provider of globally recognized cybersecurity certifications including CEH and CHFI, with extensive training and academic partner networks. Closely comparable in cybersecurity training and certification focus.
• SANS Institute: Global cybersecurity training and certification organization offering GIAC credentials. Comparable in mission to deliver high-quality cybersecurity training, events, and research-driven content.
• Data Security Council of India (DSCI): An industry body on data protection and cybersecurity established by NASSCOM. Most direct India-headquartered peer with overlapping mission across cybersecurity standards, training, and policy advisory for Indian enterprises and government.
• (ISC)²: Global non-profit certifying cybersecurity professionals (CISSP, CCSP) with membership-based structure. Comparable in non-profit, certification-led model and global reach that NCDRC aspires to.

Regional players

• C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing): Indian government R&D organization in advanced computing including cybersecurity. Comparable in operating R&D centres across India and delivering training/certification, but funded by the Ministry of Electronics & IT.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-cyber-defence-research-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Cyber Defence Research Centre (NCDRC)