Research shows that most large organizations are transforming faster and more frequently. Some organizations are using cybersecurity as a differentiator to deliver better business outcomes. Organizations that closely align their cybersecurity programs to business objectives, embed key cybersecurity actions into their digital transformation efforts, and apply strong cybersecurity operational practices are more likely to increase their ability to drive revenue growth, increase market share and improve customer satisfaction, trust, and employee productivity. Yet, most organizations aren’t engaging cybersecurity early enough to accelerate transformation and meet future challenges and opportunities. By converting cybersecurity from an incident-driven reaction into part of the fabric of transformation efforts, organizations can not only boost resilience, but also position themselves to reinvent the whole enterprise.
On the occasion of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, leaders from Accenture in India, WNS and Nutanix share their perspectives on importance of cybersecurity in the organizations to mitigate and manage risks.
Sandeep Rai Sharma, Lead – Security, Advanced Technology Centers in India, Accenture
“Businesses have been embracing digital technologies, the cloud, 5G and now generative AI, to enable their enterprise transformation. Even as they usher in new opportunities, the adoption of these technologies also open up organisations to cyber risks. Recent global Accenture research that surveyed CEOs, however, shows that only 33% CEOs are confident in their knowledge of the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape and the associated risks. Worryingly, 60% of CEOs said that their organizations are yet to adopt ‘security-by-design’.
This disconnect highlights the need for embedding cyber resilience in organisations’ business strategies, specific services, or products from the start. Secondly, organisations must promote a culture of shared cybersecurity accountability throughout the organization – both across the C-suite and including all employees. Thirdly, it is key to embed security into an organization’s digital core which comprises of three layers – an infrastructure and security layer, a data and AI layer and an applications and platforms layer. Key elements include the adoption of a zero-trust framework and implementing robust data governance and protection measures to build digital trust. Emerging technologies like generative AI can be used to improve cyber resilience owing to its ability to detect and respond to security threats like malware, phishing, and distributed denial-of-service (attacks in real-time. However, is equally important to develop a security framework with guidelines, protocols and compliance benchmarks and build it into these generative AI systems.
Finally, talent plays a crucial role in nurturing a culture of cybersecurity. There is an urgent need to invest in upskilling and reskilling to cultivate expertise in cyber defence, managed security services, security architecture, networking, virtualization software, risk assessment, authentication technologies, security attack pathologies and responsible AI frameworks. That apart, soft skills like an aptitude for analysis and problem solving, and most importantly, learning agility are key to the security domain.”
Pervez Workingboxwalla, Chief Risk Officer, WNS
“Increasing cyber-attacks and data breach costs have raised concerns about information privacy and security for businesses. Safeguarding critical data and systems becomes crucial amid a growing reliance on digital infrastructure and emerging technologies like AI, ML, and IoT. Organizations must regularly test their cybersecurity defenses to maintain a secure operating environment. They should integrate cybersecurity measures and strategies, including Cybersecurity Validation/Breach & Attack Simulation, Threat Exposure Management/Attack Surface Intelligence and Management, and third-party CyberRisk Management programs to establish a robust defense mechanism. Implementing a “By Design” approach to security can further help reduce vulnerabilities and mitigate risks at the outset rather than addressing security as an afterthought.
Cybersecurity professionals should actively seek mentorship from seasoned security experts and gain hands-on experience with new technologies. They must be vigilant, agile and focused on continuously improving their skill sets. Organizations’ upskilling and re-skilling efforts should prioritize boosting their technical skills, such as the understanding of operating systems MySQL database platforms, along with programming languages (Java, Python, C++) and refining their soft skills (communication, honesty, ethics and collaboration).”
Daryush Ashjari, VP APJ SE Sales, Nutanix
“In today’s digital age, data is the lifeline of businesses, driving decisions, shaping strategies, and uncovering market insights. Yet, unstructured data poses visibility challenges and heightens vulnerability to cyber threats. Cyberattacks surged dramatically during the pandemic, with an 800% rise in ransomware attacks, as reported by MonsterCloud. With technologies such as AI and ML, cyberattacks are not only increasing in volume but also in sophistication, according to a report by TechTarget. To safeguard their very essence—their data—organizations must thus adopt a holistic data security approach. Remarkably, India leads in prioritizing cybersecurity, with 17% of enterprises ranking it their top IT infrastructure investment, twice the APJ region average (Nutanix’s fifth-annual Enterprise Cloud Index report).
However, the demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals surpasses supply, compelling businesses to upskill their teams. Cybersecurity experts must blend technical skills like threat intelligence and risk assessment with soft skills such as critical thinking and effective communication to future-proof their careers. Beyond skills, continuous learning is imperative. As the threat landscape evolves, agility and knowledge updates are vital. In this ever-evolving digital age, preparedness and adaptability aren’t just assets—they’re necessities. Academia-industry partnerships in cybersecurity also play a pivotal role in advancing the field by promoting research, knowledge sharing, skill development, and innovation. They help bridge the gap between theory and practice, ultimately contributing to a more robust and secure digital landscape. Against this backdrop, the Nutanix Cloud Platform natively integrated networking and security across clouds. It delivers built-in cyber resilience capabilities including automated platform hardening with 1-click data encryption, secure network policies, application microsegmentation, and ransomware data protections, thereby strengthening organization’s overall security posture for data and applications across on-premises, public clouds and edge.”
