E-SECURE, a division of HCL Comnet Systems and Services, which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Shiv Nadar controlled HCL Technologies, plans to become a certification agency once the Infotech Bill is passed by the Parliament. The Bill provides for the appointment of certification authorities whose job will be to verify and authenticate digital signatures. 

“We plan to apply for a licence to become a certification authority. Our plan is emerge as a top level provider of security products to corporates,” says Vineet Nayyar, president-HCL Comnet. The security related services will be provided by E-Secure, a recently formed division of HCL Comnet, which is a leading Vsat operator. Mr Nayyar said HCL Comnet would certify the authenticity of websites selling different products. 

It would also carry out security audits of companies. 

“Our security audits on corporates would analyse their vulnerability to attack either internally or from outside or virus attacks. We would then define a security policy for the company,” Mr Nayyar said. Mr Nayyar said that security products would be virtually free. “Our revenues would mostly be from audits, certification and defining security policy.” 
HCL Comnent’s E-Secure division started operation from March 1999. It has generated revenues of Rs 8 crore as of end-November. Revenues in 1999-2000 — HCL’s fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30 — are expected to be in the region of Rs 25 crore. HCL Comnet reported annual revenues of Rs 100 crore in fiscal 1998-99. 
It would be possible for E-secure to become a certification authority only after the Infotech Bill is passed by the Parliament. As per the provisions of the Bill certification authorities would be issued licences by a controller of certification authorities.