M&M receives Microsoft ''security strategist'' award 2007 for information security

Vijay Mahajan, senior GM, IT infrastructure and information security, received the award at the Technology Senate 2007, held in Pattaya, Thailand

Mumbai: Mahindra & Mahindra has been awarded the prestigious Microsoft ''security strategist'' award 2007 (general industry category), which acknowledges organisations for their outstanding leadership in the field of information security and honors CSOs (Chief Security Officers) for displaying information security vision.

Microsoft Corporation and Information Security, the IT publication from the Indian Express Group, have instituted these awards.

Vijay Mahajan, senior GM, IT infrastructure and information security, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., received the award at a ceremony held at the Technology Senate 2007 in Pattaya, Thailand.

The awards have been instituted to cover three industry categories, IT and telecom, banking and finance and general industry. Nominations were short listed by the Information Security editorial team and Ernst & Young, based on parameters such as governance, architecture, processes, people participation and compliance

"This award is a clear validation of our efforts to ensure Information Security across the organisation. ''Project Suraksha'', our information security initiative was launched in 2002 and has since progressed from ''security of IT infrastructure'' to ''security of information across M&M.'' Project Suraksha adopts an organization-wide approach to security, encompassing ''people'', ''processes'', ipolicies'' and ''technology''. Training, awareness and involvement of employees are important aspects of the whole process," said Arvind Tawde, senior VP and CIO, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.

To achieve its aim of security across the organisation, M&M created a clearly defined security management structure, headed by an ''information security apex committee'' responsible for driving policies. The ''Information Security Council'' comprising of representatives from all locations and functions, is responsible for implementation of defined policies & procedures.

M&M is the first Indian company in the manufacturing industry to attain BS:7799 certification in the year 2006 for the whole organisation, including multiple plants, R&D centres, sales offices and corporate offices. In 2007, the company successfully migrated to ISO / IEC 27001:2005. The company was also honoured with an MIS Asia IT Excellence Award for best corporate security project.

The $4.5-billion Mahindra Group is among the top 10 industrial houses in India. Mahindra & Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top three tractor manufacturers in the world and is the market leader in multi-utility vehicles in India.