In today’s dynamic and rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses and governments alike face the challenge of integrating emerging technologies while ensuring robust security and operational efficiency. The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), blockchain, and cybersecurity is transforming industries ranging from hospitality and logistics to government services and startups. These technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for innovation and efficiency but also bring significant challenges that require careful navigation.
For organizations across sectors, the integration of cloud platforms, whether public, private, or hybrid, is a foundational step. Making these platforms efficient and secure is a priority, as highlighted by a logistics company emphasizing the importance of a robust information security landscape. It's not enough to merely implement technology; organizations must also educate users and customers about security threats and mitigation strategies to achieve comprehensive protection.
In the hospitality industry, the focus is on recognizing and understanding customers across multiple brands. This involves creating a unified data platform to enhance customer loyalty and internal efficiency. Leveraging existing technologies and improving employee satisfaction are seen as key drivers for better customer service. Similarly, the importance of security is paramount, with increasing technology adoption necessitating stringent security measures to protect customer and partner data.
Government organizations also prioritize security, focusing on the security of people, processes, and technology (PPT). This involves regular cyber hygiene drills, continuous audits, and advanced monitoring systems. Leveraging AI and ML in public service delivery and creating centers of excellence for emerging technologies demonstrate the commitment to innovation and operational efficiency.
Startups, on the other hand, are at the forefront of data generation and technology adoption. The vast amounts of data created through various online transactions present both opportunities and challenges. Ensuring data security and leveraging technologies like AI and blockchain are critical for maintaining customer trust and driving growth. The startup ecosystem thrives on innovation, and embracing new technologies while safeguarding user data is essential for sustained success.
The integration of emerging technologies like AI, ML, and blockchain, coupled with robust security measures, is essential for businesses and government organizations to thrive in the modern digital era. This multifaceted approach ensures not only technological advancement but also the protection and satisfaction of customers and stakeholders, paving the way for long-term success and resilience. Let's hear this from various industry leaders.
Start-up ecosystem should leverage emerging tech
Rameesh Kailasam
CEO, Indiatech.org
“The startup ecosystem needs to focus on two fundamental aspects: corporate and governance structures, and ensuring security. It's crucial not only to adopt new and emerging technologies but also to safeguard them from a security standpoint. With more Indians transacting online for various activities buying goods, ordering food, hailing cabs it is essential to ensure that their data is safe and secure. This will allow them to transact in a secure environment, maintaining trust in the ecosystem and protecting consumers.
Regarding how startups should leverage emerging technologies like AI, ML, and blockchain, one significant achievement is the vast amount of data they generate through online transactions, such as booking tickets, playing games, or using blockchain technologies. It's critical for startups to adopt these emerging technologies to stay relevant as the world evolves. We've seen startups transition from old IVR systems to cutting-edge AI technologies. Therefore, it's vital for the startup ecosystem to continue experimenting and growing, offering customer delight while ensuring safety and security.”
DataSafeguard's primary goal is protecting user privacy
Pranab Mohanty
Chief Business Officer, Data Safeguard
“For my organization, our top three priorities are straightforward. First, data privacy: we are committed to protecting individual personal information (PI), which is highly sensitive for each person. Our goal is to safeguard this data, build trust among individuals, support the bottom line of companies handling such data, and enhance the reputation of enterprises involved. We offer an innovative product primarily based on AI and ML technologies. Given that every enterprise handles vast amounts of historical and dynamic data, AI is essential for effective management. Our product's core engine relies on AI to ensure data privacy, serving as the first line of defense for any data protection and cybersecurity platform. This mission aligns with our goal to ensure compliance with the newly announced India DPDP Act. We are dedicated to assist enterprises in achieving DPDP compliance with our comprehensive data privacy solution.”
CtrlS enhancing privacy by switching from security tools to AI-enabled tools
Anil Nama
CIO- Cloud 4C & CtrlS Datacenters
“The rapidly evolving tech landscape today revolves around AI. Artificial intelligence, whether predictive, prescriptive, or in the form of large language models like ChatGPT, is transforming various sectors. At Controllers, we are preparing for this shift in the following ways:
First, from a security perspective, we are upgrading all our cybersecurity tools to next-generation versions that are AI-enabled. AI is crucial because security terminology such as indicators of compromise, attack, or behavior is often too technical for general IT staff. By using language interfaces, we make it easier for teams to collaborate, understand threats, and respond quickly.
Second, we are integrating AI in our physical operations. For instance, we are creating a central command and control center in our data center, deploying advanced AI platforms to work with sensors. This allows real-time tracking of equipment, like tracing a laptop using AI, rather than relying on traditional databases. We are also enhancing employee health and safety by using video analytics to detect if someone is unwell or unresponsive, addressing potential risks in a large workforce.
Third, we are developing semi-trained AI models tailored to specific functions. For example, the video analytics we use for security can be repurposed for other applications, such as monitoring employee health or managing attendance in a housing society. By identifying these use cases in our data center and security operations, we are creating new priorities and preparing to bring these solutions to the market.”
AI has become prevalent in defence as well as attack systems
Sandeep Sengupta
Director, Indian School of Anti Hacking
“Being an ethical hacker and have been in the cybersecurity field since 1996, I have witnessed significant changes and growth in the industry. Currently, AI is being used extensively for both attacking and defending systems. Companies that fail to incorporate AI and machine learning into their technologies will struggle to sustain in the long run. The sophistication of attacks is alarming, as the technology itself is learning. The availability of free AI tools means even those without deep technical knowledge can pose serious threats to organizations. It is believed that the nature of threats and risks will evolve, with AI becoming a central focus in the coming years. While we don't implement security measures directly, as ethical hackers, we help companies stay secure. We protect over 500 companies, including more than 100 top-level companies in India. Our philosophy is that to defend against hackers, you need good hackers—people like us. In our company, we are developing our own AI and ML tools to assist our clients. We are shifting from simply being good at cybersecurity and ethical hacking to automating our work using AI. This includes everything from low-level tasks to top-level decision-making. Automation with AI is crucial, and those who don't adapt may not survive in the next five years.”
Awareness and training should be priority for the tech companies
Dinesh O'Bareja
COO, Open Security Alliance
“Our focus remains on three main priorities: awareness and training, data control, and infrastructure management. First, awareness and training continue to be crucial, but we are now focusing on accelerating the pace of awareness initiatives. Second, we are emphasizing data control, specifically identifying and prioritizing personal information, given the increasing importance of privacy. Third, we are considering a full migration to the cloud from our current hybrid model to better manage our infrastructure.
While we are not exploring the use of blockchain, we are heavily investing in AI. AI is being integrated into audits, testing, and monitoring. Previously, we used machine learning (ML) in a limited capacity for specific use cases. Now, we aim to enhance our ML efforts with AI to bring more intelligence into our processes. This includes monitoring network traffic, analyzing events and incidents, and conducting comprehensive audits, which involve extensive data gathering and analytics.”
Sourav DasBusiness metrics of operational excellence, customer RoE and revenue enhancement should be maintained
Rishi Mehta
President & CEO, WAISL Limited
“In today's evolving landscape, several priorities stand out. At the forefront is cybersecurity. Regardless of what we do in terms of people, processes, and systems, they must be kept secure. Globally, and particularly in India, numerous laws are emerging, such as GDPR, which focus on data and system protection. Compliance with these regulations is essential. Our other two priorities are equally relevant. One is ensuring we maintain business metrics related to operational excellence, customer Return on Experience (RoE), and revenue enhancement. To achieve this, we must leverage cutting-edge technologies and innovative business processes to stay ahead. In our organization, we integrate these technologies into our overall strategy. We have a business strategy focused on growth over the next five years. As part of this strategy, we emphasize revenue enhancement, customer experience improvement, and operational excellence. Emerging technologies will play a pivotal role in these areas. For instance, we are continuously using AI to automate our internal systems and processes, aiming for better operational efficiency. Similarly, we are developing services and products that will delight our customers and contribute to our top line. In essence, we view these technologies as enablers and tools to support our overall business strategy.”
CIOs now play a more innovative and dynamic role than just planning
Bharat B Anand
Global CIO, Contact Global
“Cybersecurity has become a fundamental necessity. We can't ignore it, especially given the massive breaches we have seen recently, such as the Telos data breach. There were 3 billion hits last year, and this number is growing faster than the economic growth rate of many countries. The handling, storing and security of data is important. This also includes data privacy, such as who has access and how it is accessed. Implementing role-based access controls and ensuring data is only accessible on a need-to-know basis are critical steps. From a technological perspective, we must focus on data security and protection.
The role of CIOs is also evolving. It is no longer just about maintaining systems; it's about being influential, innovative, and involved. I like to think of the CIO as the Chief Influencing Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, or Chief Involved Officer. The focus should shift from merely fulfilling orders to achieving business objectives and outcomes. Revenue growth and business momentum are the North Stars for CIO teams. Five years ago, cloud and mobile technologies were considered emerging. Now, they are standard. We often use hybrid models, combining cloud and on-premise solutions. AI is the next big thing, similar to how connected and electric vehicles are transforming transportation.”
AI has aided in the medical field's ability to promptly predict ailments
Dr. Sushil Kumar Meher
Head Health –IT, AIIMS-New Delhi
“Being in the healthcare organization, digital transformation is always a high priority for us. In healthcare, AI is playing a major role in this transformation. We have undertaken many research projects and developed our own AI models, which we have also shared with other institutions free of charge. Another emerging technology is the integration of IoT devices in the medical domain. These devices connect with various healthcare equipment to provide real-time data, which can be analyzed using AI tools to make accurate predictions. The synergy between AI and IoT is significantly improving our processes.
We have also started using blockchain technology to enhance transparency in our selection process. This is the first time blockchain-based selection has been used in the country, and we hope other organizations will follow suit. User awareness and training are crucial. We must continuously educate our staff about new cyber threats and how to defend against them. Regular training and awareness programs are essential.
Additionally, we need a comprehensive cybersecurity policy. This policy should be clearly communicated to all users so they understand its importance and requirements. Furthermore, we must invest in sophisticated defense software and ensure we have robust DNA policies in place to protect our data effectively.”
Rosemeta Technologies is committed to provide performance-driven IT services
Sujoy Brahmachari
CIO and CISO, Rosemeta Technologies
“As I am responsible for both IT and cybersecurity, our top priorities are: Protecting our intellectual property, Maintaining organizational compliance from an IT perspective and Providing performance-driven IT services to our internal customers, which include our employees and the broader ecosystem.
Our organization is actively leveraging emerging technologies such as AI, ML, and blockchain. We approach this by initially conducting a proof of concept (POC) for a specific area or function. Once the POC demonstrates that it meets our business needs and enhances performance, we proceed to implement it in production. For instance, we have implemented AI and ML to enhance our data analytics and automate routine tasks, which significantly improves operational efficiency. Blockchain technology is being explored for secure data management and transaction transparency. By carefully assessing each technology's impact through POCs, we ensure they align with our strategic goals and drive business performance. This methodical approach helps us stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape while ensuring our IT services remain robust, compliant, and performance-driven.”
Applications of AI and Gen AI should be restricted by security guidelines
Siva Subramanian Loganathan
Technology Leader, WNY Consulting Minds
“Our top three priorities center on the integration and evaluation of AI technologies, ensuring these advancements align with our stringent security guidelines. Leveraging technological changes within a governed security framework is our primary focus.
We assist our global capability partners in adopting and implementing emerging technologies at their capability centers. Our aim is to transform these centers from mere back offices into hubs of cutting-edge technology. This goes beyond traditional IT services, as we strive to enable these organizations with new, advanced technologies.
In addition to our focus on technology, we collaborate closely with educational institutions to train students and integrate them into the corporate world. By doing so, we ensure a seamless transition of fresh talent into the tech industry, which is crucial for ongoing innovation and growth."
Technology assisting in safeguarding patient data
Bohitesh Misra
CTO, Avexa Systems
“We specialize in AI and ML for a healthcare analytics platform. Our primary priorities include consolidating patient data and performing rigorous privacy checks to prevent any data leaks. Ensuring the privacy and security of patient data is our top concern. Our platform utilizes advanced AI and ML tools to analyze this data and predict valuable information for patient care. We employ blockchain technology to further secure patient data, ensuring that all critical information remains private and protected. This robust approach to data security is essential for maintaining the trust and confidentiality of our patients.
In addition to these measures, we integrate IoT and medical devices, collectively known as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), into our system. This integration allows us to gather comprehensive real-time data, which is then securely managed and analyzed. By combining AI, ML, blockchain, and IoMT, we provide a comprehensive and secure healthcare analytics solution. Our commitment to data privacy and security ensures that patient information is always protected, enabling us to deliver high-quality, predictive healthcare solutions while maintaining the utmost trust and confidentiality.”
Organizations need to think out of the box to come out with proactive and innovative solutions
Dr. Pavan Duggal
Chairman, International Commission on Cyber Security Law
“Our top three priorities are clear. First, we must recognize that change is constant, akin to riding a running tiger. This requires us to continuously calibrate our approaches without pausing. Second, we need to address the legal and policy issues that accompany technological developments, as non-compliance can be very costly. For instance, under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, failure to comply can result in fines up to 250 crore INR, enough to cripple large or medium-sized companies. Ensuring documented compliance with applicable laws is crucial. Third, we must effectively tackle the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. AI-driven cybersecurity breaches, such as automated distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and ransomware, present significant threats. Organizations must adopt proactive and innovative strategies to address these evolving challenges.
In leveraging AI, machine learning, and blockchain, our company is focused on protecting sensitive data, given our work in the legal sector. We experiment with AI, including generative AI, while being mindful of its limitations, such as the propensity for AI to hallucinate, which can be problematic from a legal standpoint. For example, the Delhi High Court has stated that while the legal profession can use AI, it has not yet reached the maturity required for factual or legal determinations. We are also exploring how machine learning and other technologies can help protect and preserve the confidentiality and authenticity of data while safeguarding our clients' legal interests.”
Used cases are still in their emergency phase; it's important to gauge risks before committing
Pankaj Mittal
Founder & CEO – Digizen Consulting
“Security threats are continuously evolving, with threat actors constantly changing the landscape of business operations. Our primary focus is to consolidate our periphery since work is no longer confined to a physical office. With people working from anywhere, anytime, and using any application, it is crucial to secure data regardless of the device, tool, application, or cloud in use. Ensuring data security at all times, whether on a public or private network, is our top priority. Second, compliance drives our actions. We must adhere to the laws and standards of the regions we operate in. For instance, in India, we need DPDP readiness; in Europe, GDPR compliance; and in the US or Singapore, CCPA compliance. These requirements dictate the tools, technologies, and compliance measures we must follow.
Regarding emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain, these are indeed cutting-edge but come with their own learning curves. Each organization has its unique business needs, making these technologies still emerging as we figure out the right use cases. CIOs focus on ROI—how investments in infrastructure and technology yield outcomes. While AI, machine learning, and blockchain have been around for some time, large-scale, real-life implementations are still developing. We are testing these technologies in various domains like finance, supply chain, and back-office operations to determine their effectiveness and potential outcomes.”
VTrans India's first goal is protecting consumer data
Dr. Balvinder Singh Banga
Chief Technology Officer, VTrans India
“First, I would highlight our implementation of zero trust architecture, which is a crucial step we have taken. We have also migrated to the cloud, making data security our next significant concern. Third, the most important threat we face is from internal employees. We must plan training sessions for them to handle internal data properly. With the DPDP Act soon to be implemented, we need to safeguard customer data, making this a top priority.
Regarding how our organization leverages emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain to drive innovation and improve operational efficiency: as a transport and logistics company, AI is critically important for us. We have already integrated AI and IoT into our operations and have begun using blockchain. While we have not yet started with machine learning, as we first need to collect substantial data, AI and blockchain are key elements for a supply chain company. These technologies enhance the visibility of materials to our customers, providing more authentic and reliable tracking and instilling greater confidence in the transfer of goods to their designated locations.”
Cybersleuths reframing the idea of situational awareness and round-the-clock surveillance
Col (Dr.) Inderjeet Singh
Chief Cyber Officer, Cybersleuths
“We are highly concerned about the security of our customers, especially in the face of ransomware attacks. We offer incident response services to guide customers on how to respond to cyber attacks, particularly ransomware, and provide comprehensive security solutions and frameworks. Our approach encompasses the entire cyber defense landscape, from endpoint security to cloud security, ensuring our clients are well-protected. Many of our customers have expressed satisfaction with our robust cyber defense and threat landscape solutions. Additionally, we emphasize continuous asset management, including managing shadow IT and shadow databases. Effective asset management and configuration management are crucial, and we are pioneering the concept of continuous auditing. Instead of the traditional six-month audit cycle, we have developed a solution for 24/7 machine auditing, enabling real-time vulnerability detection.
We are also focusing on AI vs. AI defense, equipping ourselves with AI to counter AI-based malware attacks. We are working on incorporating generative AI (Gen AI) into our solutions. In the blockchain domain, we are innovating real-time auditing of smart contracts, moving from offline to online auditing recorded on the blockchain. We are also enhancing API security for wallets and exchanges, ensuring comprehensive security for blockchain applications. This holistic approach to security positions us as leaders in protecting our customers against evolving cyber threats.”
Utilising cutting-edge technology while maintaining the regulatory and governance aspects is crucial
Akansha Kumar
Chief Data Scientist, Jio Platforms Limited (JPL)
“All of our businesses are customer-facing, and we handle a lot of sensitive data. Our first priority is to use the latest technologies while maintaining data governance and regulatory compliance. Secondly, we aim to leverage advanced technologies like AI efficiently, considering whether to build in-house solutions or use existing ones. With the democratization of AI and other technologies, we must keep pace and enable their effective use. Thirdly, as models become more complex, we need robust infrastructure. Deciding between cloud, private cloud, hyperscalers, or on-prem solutions and possibly using a hybrid combination is crucial for optimal performance and economics.
In terms of leveraging emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, and blockchain to drive innovation and improve operational efficiency, we integrate these technologies extensively. As a tech company, we use them to enhance our business metrics and customer experience. We build many of these technologies in-house, using our own infrastructure, data lakes, and compute resources. We test these technologies internally with our own businesses before converting them into products for potential external services. Some solutions are on-prem, while others utilize hyperscalers, creating a versatile and efficient tech ecosystem.”
People, procedure, and technology are the three main pillars of security
Kausik Halder
Manager and Head Education, Emerging Technology and Cyber Security, WEBEL
“Our government and organization focus on three key areas to ensure security: people, process, and technology, collectively known as PPT. For the people aspect, we conduct cyber hygiene drills for all state employees and various government establishments. In terms of process, we regularly perform audits to ensure strict security compliance. Regarding technology, we conduct cybersecurity audits and maintain a Security Operations Center (SOC) to safeguard our systems. As a government department and state PSU under the administrative control of the IT Department, we actively leverage emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain to drive innovation and improve operational efficiency. We have established a Center of Excellence for Data Science and Machine Learning, where we develop public service delivery use cases.
Additionally, we have created the Webel Animation Academy, which graduates 100 students annually in AR, VR, and XR technologies. We also have Centers of Excellence for emerging technology training, covering areas such as 3D printing, IoT, data science, and machine learning. Moreover, we have a dedicated Center of Excellence for cybersecurity and another for cyber forensics. These initiatives are part of a state-wide program focused on implementing emerging technology practices. As the nodal agency of the state, we are responsible for executing projects in blockchain, AI, machine learning, and other emerging technologies.”
Robust security cannot be achieved without user awareness
Vivekananda Naskar
Director – IT, Protegrity
“First, expanding and making cloud platforms efficient, whether it is public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, has been a priority for the last couple of years. Second, strengthening the company's information security landscape is crucial. It is not enough to just implement technology and tools; making end-users and customers aware of security threats and how to mitigate them is essential. Without user awareness, achieving robust security is impossible. This awareness is also a priority for us. Lastly, we are cautiously adopting AI and Generative AI. While we aim to leverage these technologies as much as possible, we are mindful of customer data privacy and make conscious decisions about their use.
AI and ML is helping non-technical staff automate tasks they wouldn't normally be able to do. A support person who doesn't know scripting can use ChatGPT for prompt engineering, creating scripts and automation. Additionally, technical staff who struggle with communication can use AI to improve their writing skills. This small but significant change boosts their confidence and enhances their learning. These examples show the big impact of integrating advanced technologies into our landscape.”
Increased participation in the SoC operation is necessary to gain knowledge of the ecosystem
Vinod Kumar Gupta
Director, Global Head - Cyber Security Operations & GRC Practices, TMF Group
“Today's threat landscape is highly volatile and constantly evolving, making it challenging for organizations to manage effectively. To address these threats, organizations need to prioritize their strategies appropriately. One key aspect is incident response planning, as incidents are now a common occurrence. Every company is likely to have experienced a breach, whether they are aware of it or not. Therefore, having a well-defined incident response plan, business continuity plan (BCP), and disaster recovery (DR) plan is essential for operational resilience. Another crucial element is identifying what is running within their ecosystems. Understanding and monitoring these elements is vital. Emphasizing robust engagement with Security Operations Center (SOC) operations can help organizations stay aware of their ecosystems' activities and respond accordingly. SOC operations should be well-defined to ensure that every threat is addressed promptly.
Leveraging AI has become increasingly important. While it might be a buzzword, it is indispensable in today's security landscape. Understanding the threats being exploited globally and monitoring dark web activities are also critical steps to ensure comprehensive security."
The requirement for security will increase as more technology is incorporated
Dr. Sandiip Kothaari
Chief Technology Officer, Speciality Restaurants
“In the hospitality business, our first priority is recognizing our customers. We have data in silos, and with 14 brands under our umbrella, our challenge is creating a unified data platform. This would allow us to identify customers across all brands, fostering loyalty and improving the customer experience. Our second priority is enhancing internal efficiency by leveraging existing technology. We acknowledge that while new technologies will continue to emerge, it's crucial to make the most of what we currently have. By improving efficiency and ensuring employee satisfaction, we can better serve our customers, which is a core principle of our organization. The third priority is security. It's not just a buzzword but a necessity. As more technologies are integrated into our operations, the security challenges grow for our organization, customers, and partners. Addressing these issues is critical.
In terms of AI, we are focusing on predictive analysis. During seasonal sales, such as festivals, customer footfall increases significantly. Managing this influx and supporting our backend systems, especially in the food and beverage sector, presents a challenge. Supply chain constraints make it difficult to respond quickly to sudden demand surges. Therefore, we've aggressively adopted AI and machine learning, collaborating with IIT Bombay on various projects. This partnership aids in predictive analysis and helps us better manage supply chain issues.”
