Geo Focus: Asia , Geo-Specific , Leadership & Executive Communication

DynamicCISO Conference and Awards Honors Security Excellence

Security leaders from a wide range of industries explored the latest cybersecurity trends and issues - including Web 4.0, generative AI, automation, data protection and regulatory compliance - at Information Security Media Group's DynamicCISO Excellence Awards and Conference 2024 in Mumbai.

See Also: Alleviating Compliance Pain Points in the Cloud Era

Featured speakers included Justice B.N. Srikrishna, former judge with the Supreme Court of India and chairman of the Data Protection Committee; Geoff Schomburgk, regional vice president, Asia Pacific and Japan at Yubico; and Samir Mishra, director of cybersecurity for India and SAARC at Cisco. Security practitioners from Adani Digital Labs, Tata Consultancy Services, Visa, Morgan Stanley and the Department of Atomic Energy also participated in the event.

"The DynamicCISO Excellence Awards and Conference 2024 served as a nexus of expertise and innovation, igniting conversations that resonated with the attendees," said Geetha Nandikotkur, vice president of conferences, Asia, Middle East and Africa, at ISMG.

CISO Roles in 2024

Lt. Gen. Unnikrishnan Nair, national cyber security coordinator and PMO for the Indian government, discussed the road map for cybersecurity strategy this year and beyond. As ransomware attack payments have doubled since 2022 and India's cyber incident rates have outpaced the global average, enterprises need to design dynamic cybersecurity strategies to proactively mitigate incidents and establish a robust cyber resilience posture in 2024, he said.

Jayant Gupta, executive director of information systems at Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd.; Mihirr P. Thaker, chief information security officer at Allcargo Group; and Saloni Vijay, vice president and CISO, Vodafone, discussed CISO challenges in combating ransomware attacks. They delved into how businesses should focus on building data resilience after such attacks and how AI and threat detection tools can help security teams respond to them.

"What stood out for me was the currency of topics, the stories and experiences and the thorough yet transparent vetting process for the awards," said Brian Pereira, senior director of CIO.inc at ISMG. "Delegates want to hear speakers share their experiences, best practices, advice and tips for managing security and risk - and this goes beyond what we read about in the news."

Understanding Data Protection

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and what it means for Indian businesses, security practitioners and users was a major topic. During his keynote, Srikrishna explored the measures security leaders need to take to ensure compliance, focusing on how the Indian legal system defines compromise of critical systems and information, targeted scanning or probing of critical networks, data breach reporting and establishing privacy.

Emerging Technologies, Security Frameworks and More

Integration of new technologies has become imperative for security practitioners to safeguard organizational security frameworks. Sessions from security practitioners at OPSWAT, iValue, Yubico, Snyk and other companies covered a diverse range of cybersecurity challenges and strategies, addressing crucial aspects of modern security practices. A panel titled "Establishing a DevSecOps Culture: The C-Suite Debate" focused on the need for C-suite executives to foster a culture of security despite technological deployments and innovation processes. The sessions focused on fostering collaboration, innovation and proactive approaches to enhance cyber resilience in the evolving digital landscape.

"Co-creating content with an advisory committee of industry practitioners resulted in highly relevant content," Pereira said.

The conference concluded with a master class by Capt. Felix Mohan, chief executive officer at CISO Cybersecurity. Mohan shared how generative AI has transformed the digital landscape and how threat actors manipulate the input data to exploit vulnerabilities. He also discussed the steps CISOs need to take to safeguard their organizations, including adhering to AI regulations and compliance requirements, establishing AI ethical guidelines and training employees.

According to Mohan, generative AI will have a profound influence on different aspects of humanity - including creating new products and services, improving healthcare and ensuring better energy and waste management.

"His master class captivated attendees, setting the tone for in-depth explorations into the evolving nature of AI in cybersecurity," Nandikotkur said.

CISO Excellence Awards

Chief guest Yashasvi Yadav, special inspector general of police at the Maharashtra Cyber Department, kicked off the awards ceremony with a keynote address on the evolving nature of cybercrime and the importance of collaboration between CISOs and law enforcement.

"Almost everything is under threat. Anything that has an electronic component and is connected is under threat," Yadav said.

He discussed the pervasive nature of threats and the critical role of law enforcement. "I consider myself the CISO of the government of Maharashtra. Most CISOs are focused on stopping cybercriminals, and I am trying to bridge the gap between the CISO and the law enforcement," he said. "Unless these perpetrators are brought into the ambit of law, these attacks will not stop."

The conference included the presentation of DynamicCISO Excellence Awards, which acknowledge and celebrate the indispensable role CISOs play in safeguarding the digital ecosystem. ISMG presented awards in a variety of categories, including Visionary CISO, Woman Leader in Security, Patented Projects and Lifetime Achievement. The winners and runners-up were selected by a jury panel comprised of leading information security executives.

Join ISMG at the CIO Business Transformation Awards and Summit on March 13, 2024. Discover cutting-edge strategies and insights from industry experts to safeguard your organization against evolving cyberthreats.