Jammu Kashmir GOVT: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has imposed an immediate ban on the use of USB and pen drives in government computers to strengthen cyber security and protect confidential data.

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In a decisive move to tighten cyber security and protect confidential records, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered an immediate ban on the use of USB and pen drives in official computers of all government establishments. The ban, implemented through a formal directive, applies to the civil secretariat, district offices and subordinate administrative units, barring the use of portable storage devices unless specifically authorised.

Instructions to use GovDrive
The administration has directed every department to adopt GovDrive, a cloud-based storage platform dedicated to the government, for data storage and inter-departmental exchange.

Designed as part of a secure e-governance framework, GovDrive provides 50 GB of storage space to each registered officer, multi-factor authentication, AI-powered analytics and automatic replication of files to ensure continuity in case of disasters.

The platform will not only reduce dependence on physical drives but also strengthen accountability and provide a controlled environment for collaboration between departments, officials said. The order emphasised that exemptions for the use of pen drives will be granted only under formal approval and through a controlled whitelist of devices.

Senior officials have been directed to monitor compliance and ensure that sensitive government data is protected from any kind of breach or leak. Officials have emphasised that the directive is also in line with broader administrative reforms aimed at promoting green governance by reducing paperwork. With the integration of GovDrive into government applications, officials expect streamlined communications, improved productivity and greater efficiency in daily operations.

Decision amid rise in cyber threats
The move comes at a time when cyber threats against government networks are on the rise across the country. By minimising the use of portable devices – often considered the weakest link in data security – the administration wants to protect its digital infrastructure from vulnerabilities as well as aggregate all information on a secure, centralised platform.

The ban, which is effective immediately, is expected to change the routine functioning of government offices, where pen drives have long been used for quick transfers.

Departments have been asked to ensure a smooth migration to GovDrive without any disruption in administrative work. As a senior official said, “This order is a structural shift from unregulated data practices to a secure, accountable and uniform governance system.”