GSTN to shut for security drill on July 1

This Sunday, when the government celebrates the first anniversary of the goods and services tax (GST) regime, the tech backbone — GST Network— will shut for a disaster recovery drill. The idea behind the exercise is to create a backup system in Bengaluru to cope with disasters such as a terror attack, power grid failure or an earthquake.

This Sunday when the government celebrates the first anniversary of the goods and services tax (GST) regime, the tech backbone--GST Network-will shut down for a disaster recovery drill. The idea behind the exercise is to create a backup system in Bengaluru to cope with disasters such as a terror attack, power grid failure or even an earthquake.

“We are creating a backup so that the system remains safe, functioning, and available in case of any disruption or disaster. The objective is that normal course of business should not get disrupted,” Prakash Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, GSTN, told Business Standard.

In an email to taxpayers, the network authorities have said they are planning a disaster recovery drill and that services would not be available for 12 hours, between 9 am and 9 pm on July 1. It urged the taxpayers to plan GST-related activities on the portal accordingly.

GSTN, which manages the entire IT system of the GST portal, has two service providers. The main data centre is in Delhi and is technologically supported by Tata Communications. Now a disaster backup is being created in Bengaluru and it will be supported by Airtel.

With this in place, the system will automatically switch from Delhi to Bengaluru in case of a disaster. “We are creating an automated system, where the Bengaluru unit will take over in case the Delhi system stops,” said Kumar. The idea is that return filing should not stop under any circumstances, he added.

The effort is to make GSTN portal secure and resilient to unforeseen or emergency situations through this automation. “For instance, if there is a terror attack and terrorists take control over the GSTN system in Delhi, the business should not stop,” said Kumar. If there is a complete grid failure for 48 hours or an earthquake, it will be business as usual for GSTN.

As far as data security is concerned, GSTN has maintained that the network is safe from global malware attacks as it has taken all necessary precautions. Multiple security layers have been put in place at the data centre, where the entire information is stored.

Incorporated as a private body, GSTN is being turned into a government-owned body at a time when the data confidentiality concerns have come up globally. GSTN has developed the front-end infrastructure with Infosys’ help.