Cyberattacks against Pakistan's media industry are on the rise, and regulators have noticed. PEMRA, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, no longer limits its oversight to broadcast content. It now expects every licensee to demonstrate that its digital systems can withstand a real attack, and understanding PEMRA cybersecurity requirements has become essential for any broadcaster holding a license. That expectation calls for working cybersecurity practices, not a policy document that sits untouched in a drawer.

Broadcast networks are now classified as critical infrastructure. One breach can pull a channel off air, leak sensitive data, or unravel public trust in a matter of hours. For broadcasters, taking PEMRA's requirements seriously and embedding cyber risk management into daily operations isn't a nice-to-have. It's what keeps a license active and a signal on air.

What PEMRA and Pakistan's National CERT Expect from Broadcasters

PEMRA doesn't set security standards alone. It works alongside PKCERT, the National Cyber Emergency Response Team established in 2024 under the Cabinet Division, which classifies broadcast networks as critical infrastructure alongside sectors like banking and telecom. PKCERT coordinates cybersecurity across a growing number of critical sectors, with broadcasting among them.

PKCERT is the body behind the Pakistan Information Security Framework, or PISF, and PEMRA's job is to verify that licensees actually follow it. In practice, that means broadcasters can't stop at content compliance. They need cyber risk management built into how they run networks, studios, and transmission systems day to day.

One requirement sits at the center of this: the mandatory IT and Information Security audit, which is the core mechanism through which PEMRA cybersecurity requirements are actually verified. PEMRA requires these audits to come from NCERT CAT 1 certified firms specifically. Reviewing critical infrastructure calls for a level of expertise that not every audit firm has; only certified firms are authorized to carry out the assessments broadcasters need for compliance.

This leaves broadcasters with two practical takeaways. First, confirm any auditor you engage holds NCERT CAT 1 certification before scheduling an IT and Information Security audit. Second, treat the audit itself as a starting point rather than a box to check. A well-run audit surfaces the gaps in your security posture; closing those gaps is where the real protection begins.

Building Cyber Risk Management into Everyday Broadcast Operations

Regulatory compliance isn't won with paperwork alone. It's built through cybersecurity services and habits that run in the background every day. Here's what that tends to look like for broadcasters in practice.

Continuous monitoring comes first. Broadcast systems need round-the-clock visibility, not periodic spot checks. SIEM tools, backed by analysts who know what to look for, catch unusual activity on uplink systems, servers, and control rooms before it turns into an incident.

Access controls come next. Multi-factor authentication should be non-negotiable for remote logins to transmission systems, and access no one uses anymore should be revoked without delay. These are modest changes, but they cut risk meaningfully at sensitive touchpoints like satellite uplinks.

Patch management matters just as much. Unpatched software on servers, workstations, and content systems is one of the easiest paths in for an attacker. Staying current on patches closes that gap quickly and remains one of the cheapest ways to lower risk.

Encryption and backups fill out the fundamentals. Live feeds, archived content, and backup systems all warrant strong encryption, and backups should be redundant, so no single point of failure ever means permanent data loss.

None of this holds together without clear ownership. Broadcasters need a named Chief Information Security Officer, even if the role is part-time or outsourced, along with Information Security Officers handling security daily. PISF calls for this kind of structure, and it's good practice for critical infrastructure protection regardless of what any framework requires.

Finally, plan for the day something breaks. A documented incident response and disaster recovery plan, tested through regular drills, is what separates a contained issue from a public outage.

Together, these practices accomplish two things at once. They meet PEMRA's regulatory compliance requirements, and they build genuine resilience against the cyber threats now facing Pakistan's media industry.

FAQs

Do all PEMRA-licensed broadcasters need an NCERT CAT 1 audit, or only large networks?
PEMRA's cybersecurity and IT security audit requirement applies broadly across licensees rather than being limited to major national channels, since broadcast infrastructure is classified as critical infrastructure regardless of network size. Smaller or regional broadcasters should confirm current scope directly with PEMRA, as thresholds can be clarified or adjusted through regulatory guidance.

What happens if a broadcaster fails to complete the required audit?
Non-compliance with PEMRA's regulatory requirements can affect a broadcaster's license standing, since these audits are tied to demonstrating that a network's digital systems meet critical infrastructure protection expectations, not simply serve as a recommended best practice.

Is PISF the same thing as PEMRA's audit requirement?
No. PISF is the national information security framework issued by PKCERT that defines the control baseline. PEMRA's audit requirement is the mechanism through which broadcasters demonstrate alignment with that baseline specifically for the media sector.

How is NCERT CAT 1 certification different from general IT audit experience?
NCERT CAT 1 certification is a specific accreditation from Pakistan's National CERT (PKCERT) that authorizes a firm to audit critical infrastructure sectors. General IT audit experience does not substitute for this certification when PEMRA compliance is the objective.

How Trillium Can Help

Keeping up with PEMRA's compliance requirements is a lot to manage on top of running daily broadcast operations. Trillium Information Security Systems has spent nearly two decades helping organizations across Pakistan and beyond build practical, audit-ready cybersecurity programs. From IT and Information Security audits to ongoing cyber risk management and security monitoring, our team can help your organization meet PEMRA's standards with confidence.

If your organization needs support with broadcast compliance or critical infrastructure protection, get in touch with us today. We'll help you understand exactly what is required and build a plan to get there.

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