ITSAR: Cyber Security Certification for Telecom and Network Equipment
The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) framework is a mandatory security certification program issued by the Department of Telecommunications under the Government of India.
Regulatory Implementation
The ITSAR framework applies to telecom equipment that is deployed in licensed networks in India. The certification is implemented through the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), and testing is carried out by designated Conformance Assessment Bodies.
Every product falling under a notified ITSAR category must undergo security testing and certification before deployment in Indian telecom networks, regardless of the vendor or country of origin. Without ITSAR approval, covered products cannot be procured by Indian telecom service providers.
Scope of Certification
The certification scope broadly includes critical network elements such as:
- Firewalls and security gateways.
- IP routers and switches.
- Wi-Fi CPE and broadband access devices.
- Optical access equipment such as OLT and ONT.
- Various telecom network elements and management systems.