The National Association of Software and Services Companies has launched a 'Security Forum' to promote security consciousness, bolster data security environment, and enhance international competitiveness of Indian information technology industry.

The forum would be led by Nasscom Vice Chairman Jerry Rao, who is also chief executive officer of Mphasis BFL group.

"With Indian companies now undertaking high-end software development, it is imperative that the industry develop a secured environment of businesses to operate in," Rao told reporters in Mumbai on Wednesday.

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Nasscom would also join hands with the government and IT industry to identify and coordinate working group initiatives in five areas, including consumer awareness, early warning systems and corporate governance, he said.

The other areas for working group initiatives are technical standards and security across software development, he added.

Stringent legal frameworks for data protection and intellectual property rights, protecting sensitive information from unauthorised disclosure or intelligible interception and business continuity management are some of the objectives of the forum, Nasscom President Kiran Karnik said.

Ensuring verification and auditing process to track development of software code, authenticity of telephone call, addresses and credit card information and exchanging information with members are also on agenda, he said.