BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, successfully concluded its first two-day workshop on “Cybersecurity and AI Hygiene”, held on 31^st October and 1^st November 2026, under the aegis of the newly established BITS Goa Cybersecurity Clinic.

The Cybersecurity Clinic has been established in collaboration with The Asia Foundation, with support from Google.org, to promote cybersecurity research, academic–industry collaboration, capacity building and cybersecurity awareness.  The initiative particularly aims to extend practical cybersecurity knowledge and support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), educational institutions, industry and local communities.

The workshop was inaugurated in the presence of Prof. Suman Kundu, Director, BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus; Mr. Sanjay Amonkar, Director General, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI); Ms. Apoorva Singh, Regional Program Officer, The Asia Foundation; and Prof. R. P. Pradhan, Associate Dean, IPCD, BITS Pilani, Goa Campus.

The BITS Goa Cybersecurity Clinic is led by Prof. Hemant Rathore, Principal Investigator of the initiative and Assistant Professor at BITS Pilani, Goa Campus. During the inaugural session, Prof. Rathore outlined the vision and objectives of the Clinic, emphasising the importance of bridging academic research with real-world cybersecurity challenges through training, collaboration and community engagement.

The workshop witnessed the participation of over 70 participants, including students, faculty members, cybersecurity professionals and representatives from the Goa Police, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and various academic institutions.

The two-day programme combined foundational cybersecurity awareness with insights into emerging threats and contemporary security challenges. It also provided participants with opportunities to interact with experts from academia, law enforcement and industry, thereby broadening their understanding of the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

An important objective of the initiative is to develop a network of BITS Goa Cybersecurity Clinic Ambassadors, who will contribute to future cybersecurity awareness and capacity-building programmes targeting MSMEs, industry, educational institutions and local communities.

The successful conclusion of the workshop marks an important milestone in the Clinic's efforts to establish a collaborative platform for cybersecurity research, training, industry engagement and societal outreach. The enthusiastic participation and active engagement of attendees throughout the two days reflected the growing importance of cybersecurity awareness and responsible digital practices.

Through this initiative, BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, seeks to contribute meaningfully towards building a more cyber-aware, digitally secure and resilient society.