CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Vijender Yadav, Co-founder, MD & CTO, Accops
Question 1: How can secure remote work solutions address the growing demand for a hybrid work model, where employees split their time between the office and home? How has been the adoption of such solutions amongst the enterprises?
Answer: Secure remote work solutions are paramount in bridging the divide between traditional office settings and the burgeoning demand for flexible, hybrid work models. The biggest inhibitor to the widespread adoption of hybrid work models has traditionally been the absence of a robust and secure environment that can replicate the security and efficiency of conventional workplaces. This is precisely the gap that Accops aims to fill. By providing a comprehensive and proven secure digital workspace suite, Accops enables employees to work productively from any location, without compromising on the stringent security protocols essential for corporate integrity.
Our solutions are designed to cater to the complexities inherent in managing remote and hybrid work setups. They offer seamless access to business applications, office PCs, and virtual desktops across a variety of user scenarios, devices, and geographical locations. This ensures that businesses can maintain operational continuity and security, irrespective of where their employees are working from.
The adoption of such secure remote work solutions has seen a significant uptick across enterprises, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic, remote work was often viewed as a perk or a security risk. However, the crisis showcased the viability and benefits of remote work, pushing organizations to rethink their work models. Accops has been at the forefront of this transition, enabling businesses to adapt to the new normal of work by offering secure, flexible, and efficient work environments. This shift not only meets the growing demand for hybrid work models but also ensures that businesses are prepared for the future of work.
Question 2: With the rise of the gig economy and geographically dispersed teams, what security considerations need to be prioritized to ensure data protection and collaboration efficiency?
Answer: In the dynamic environment of the gig economy and with the rise of geographically dispersed teams, the necessity for robust data protection and efficient collaboration is paramount. The shift towards remote work introduces a complex set of security challenges, emphasizing the need for a more adaptive and comprehensive security strategy beyond traditional measures.
The decentralization inherent in remote work models exposes organizations to heightened risks of cyber threats and data breaches, which could lead to severe financial and reputational damage. Conventional security solutions are often ill-equipped to handle the nuances of such dispersed work arrangements, necessitating a re-evaluation of security frameworks to safeguard sensitive information effectively.
Accops addresses these challenges through a multi-faceted approach, integrating Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and Single Sign-On (SSO) into a cohesive security strategy. VDI centralizes desktop environments, mitigating the risk of data loss or exposure from endpoint devices. This centralization, when combined with ZTNA, ensures that access to network resources is strictly controlled, allowing only authenticated and authorized users, thereby significantly minimizing the attack surface.
Accops’ implementation of MFA adds an essential layer of security, requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification before gaining access to critical systems and data. This is complemented by SSO, which streamlines the authentication process across multiple applications, enhancing user experience without compromising security.
Together, these solutions provide a comprehensive security framework that addresses the unique requirements of the gig economy and dispersed workforces. By ensuring secure access, data protection, and efficient collaboration, Accops enables organizations to navigate the complexities of modern work environments, promoting productivity and security in equal measure. This strategic approach not only mitigates the immediate security risks but also positions organizations for long-term success in the evolving landscape of work.
Question 3: As regulations around data privacy and security become stricter globally, how can secure remote work platforms help organizations stay compliant?
Answer: As global regulations surrounding data privacy and security tighten, the role of secure remote work solutions in ensuring organizational compliance becomes increasingly crucial. Accops is at the forefront of providing solutions that not only meet but anticipate these evolving compliance requirements. Our Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) gateway and comprehensive Identity and Access Management (IAM) framework are designed to offer stringent access controls and continuous, context-aware authentication mechanisms. This approach ensures that access to sensitive information is strictly regulated, minimizing the risk of data breaches and non-compliance.
Our solutions provide meticulous logging and audit trails, offering granular visibility into who accessed what, when, and how. This level of visibility is essential for organizations to maintain an audit-ready posture, facilitating compliance with various regional as well as international standards and regulations. By centralizing the management of remote access infrastructures, we empower businesses to seamlessly monitor compliance status, identify potential vulnerabilities, and implement corrective actions proactively.
Question 4: With the growing focus on Zero Trust security models, how does Accops support organizations in implementing this approach within their digital workspace solutions?
Answer: Zero Trust is not just a recent trend for us – it’s been embedded in Accops’ approach since the beginning. We champion Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for its enhanced security. Instead of traditional VPNs, we focus on secure, granular access to individual applications, with continuous authentication and dynamic data loss prevention. This proactive approach has helped us guide numerous clients towards a stronger Zero Trust model since 2012.
Our comprehensive Digital Workspace is designed with Zero Trust principles at its core. Users get seamless access to everything they need, from modern web apps to legacy systems and virtual desktops. Multi-factor authentication, encryption, and granular controls ensure that only authorized users and devices can access specific resources. Using VDI technologies, Accops creates a secure virtual workspace for end-user computing, isolating any possible threats from the end user machine to corporate applications. This creates a safe environment where users can work productively without unnecessary risk.
Question 5: Can you share some insights into Accops’ product roadmap? What new features or functionalities can we expect to see in the near future? We are working on a suite of SaaS offerings, including MDM-as-a-Service, MFA-as-a-Service, and Internet Isolation-as-a-Service, to address the diverse needs of clients in India, MEA, Europe, and North America.
We are also committed to enhancing endpoint security. Our new secure container solution for PCs will provide encrypted storage and integrated Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Additionally, we have upgraded our IAM solution to include user directory management for increased efficiency and a password vault enabling Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities, even for legacy applications.
At Accops, we are always innovating to meet the evolving security and efficiency requirements of our global clientele.
Question 6: Do you have any success stories you can share of how Accops has helped organizations improve their security posture or streamline their remote work operations?
Absolutely! Accops has a proven track record of helping organizations of various sizes and sectors overcome complex security and remote work challenges. Here are a few noteworthy examples:
When the pandemic hit, we rapidly enabled secure remote work for over 100,000 Indian government officials using our clientless WebVPN solution with built-in MFA. This ensured productivity and security during an unprecedented time.
We helped a critical government infrastructure organization isolate their internet for security purposes and streamline desktop support across a vast campus. Our VDI solution and thin client devices empowered their scientists with greater flexibility and resources while simplifying IT management.
We deployed our Zero Trust Application Access Gateway for a top e-commerce brand, enhancing secure access for vendors and delivery executives. Contextual access controls and data leakage prevention strengthened their security even with BYOD scenarios.
We helped a leading private bank implement biometric 2FA across their critical applications. Accops HyID integrated seamlessly with their existing biometric infrastructure, eliminating costly application changes. We enabled granular controls, ensuring security without disrupting the user experience.
These successes highlight Accops’ versatility in addressing the diverse needs of organizations in both the private and government sectors. We serve over 850 clients across India, Japan, the Middle East, and the Americas, with notable large-scale deployments in various industries.
