"Implementation of data protection laws have pushed the demand for cyber security solutions"

A 25-year-old Indian entrepreneur, investor, and TEDx speaker, Farrhad Acidwalla started off as one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the world and is the founder of Rockstah Media and CYBERNETIV DIGITAL. He is frequently invited to speak at several educational institutions across the country, including IITs and IIMs.

In a chat with VARINDIA, Farrhad talks about the cyber security scenario in the country, the security trends he sees in the industry and the roadmap for his company from a growth perspective -

How do you see India as an opportunity from a cyber security standpoint?

Technology is at the centre of most businesses and enterprises. Over time, changes to the ecosystem have bridges several gaps for consumers too. With all positives, there are two sides to all spectrums and malicious hackers now have more potential entry points than ever before.

The upcoming implementation of data protection laws have in turn pushed the demand for cyber security solutions or at least for a framework and strategy to be put in place. Increasing digitization and creation of online assets has opened up massive opportunities for the cyber security industry.

Do you see lack of trained security personnel as a challenge in the industry today? How as a security company can you address this challenge?

Industry statistics show this is a hurdle which enterprises all over are currently facing. A major focus for us is the internal training of candidates. A framework has to be put in place so that the organization is able to train the candidates to function as per its vision and as per the needs of the industry.

What kind of investment according to you is required on part of Indian enterprises to keep themselves protected?

In the past, cyber security was looked at as managing IT risks that had to be dealt with as and when they arose. However, the bulk of organizations are slowly coming to terms with the realization that their data is valuable, is vulnerable and that this is something that their entire business is dependent on. The development and implementation of Information security frameworks and policies should be managed at the board level, as it is being done with several Fortune 500 companies.

Could you brief us more about the kind of solutions you offer to your customers and how they are benefited?

Our solutions are customised as per the requirements of each enterprise. While the services are unified and laser focused, the execution is curated to provide best value to the organisation.

Our focus for enterprises is two fold - services that assist in countering external threats and services which focus on insider threats. Our goal is to stay ahead of malicious hackers and defend enterprises by keeping them ahead of the curve.

Several enterprises seek our services after an attack and we have rapid frameworks and process to secure them and mitigate threats on priority.

What security risk trends do you see in the industry today, irrespective of any region or market?

While some enterprises have industry standard solutions, several enterprises feel the basic controls and protections they currently have in place are enough.

However, these days attack vectors and scope of attack’s have tremendously labelled up. With technology being interconnected, and the rapid and increasing evolution of the same, the chances of cyber-attacks have increased exponentially.

What is your roadmap for year 2019 from a growth perspective?

The requirement for our products and services is across the board for global enterprises. We’re focusing on staying ahead by consistently aiming to provide measurable value to our clients and stakeholders.