Quotes
1. Zscaler, Suvabrata Sinha, CISO-in-Residence
Data is no longer confined by traditional boundaries; it flows freely across an interconnected digital ecosystem fueled by cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, and IoT. This paradigm shift has fundamentally redefined how we create, share, and protect sensitive information, challenging us to rethink security for a borderless world. In this new reality, safeguarding data is not merely about compliance, but about securing trust, accelerating innovation, and enabling a resilient digital future. Security is no longer a back-office IT concern; it’s a strategic boardroom priority that underpins reputation, customer trust, and long-term business continuity.
2. Cloudera, Mayank Baid, Regional Vice President – India and South Asia
In today’s digital world where data drives business decisions and benefits, privacy is both a right and a shared responsibility. Data breaches and misuse expose individuals to risks like identity theft and financial fraud, while organizations face reputational damage, financial losses, and loss of trust. As India progresses on the path toward becoming a global digital hub, the emphasis on safeguarding sensitive information has become paramount.
Data Privacy Day is a timely reminder to prioritize privacy and trust across business functions. While enterprises often rely on data privacy measures such as encryption and backups, truly effective data safeguarding demands a comprehensive strategy that incorporates policies and processes to address key aspects like data governance. Leading the charge, the Government of India, and Indian enterprises champion data protection with frameworks like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, emphasizing privacy & trust through stringent mandates on sovereignty and security.
Another aspect to consider is the fast-growing adoption of AI, with India leading in AI adoption at 30%, surpassing the global average of 26%, according to a recent survey. No doubt, AI is a double-edged sword. It poses challenges to data privacy by enabling advanced data collection and analysis that can infringe on personal boundaries. At the same time, AI-driven privacy safeguards, such as anonymization and automated compliance, can be vital to protect sensitive information.
Cloudera understands this and helps mitigate data privacy risks posed by AI by offering a secure, governed data platform that ensures compliance and transparency throughout the AI lifecycle. To sum up, the key is to secure & protect data throughout the lifecycle, ensuring the protection of both the business’s interests and individuals’ rights.
3. Mandy Andress, CISO, Elastic
Data Privacy Day serves as a critical reminder that privacy and trust are inseparable, underscoring the fundamental link between robust cybersecurity practices and the preservation of data privacy. With ransomware attacks surging to a record high of 574 incidents in December 2024 – marking the most significant monthly count in three years – businesses must remain vigilant. These figures not only highlight the increasing sophistication of the tools at threat actors’ disposal, but also the evolution of their tactics, which are becoming more disruptive.
In today’s multi-cloud environments, safeguarding data privacy demands a proactive and comprehensive security strategy. Understanding the movement of data across cloud platforms is crucial to maintaining control and ensuring it stays within defined boundaries. Techniques like micro-segmentation or virtual containerisation not only isolate workloads, but also impose strict controls on network traffic, reducing potential exposure to threats.
Adopting a ‘deny all’ policy for inter-system communications ensures that only essential traffic is permitted, providing an additional layer of defense. Beyond technical measures, organizations must also focus on security hygiene. This includes leveraging built-in security features of operating systems and cloud platforms, maintaining consistent patching schedules, and retiring outdated systems that may become vulnerable in interconnected environments.
Neglecting basic security practices or overlooking misconfigurations can jeopardise not only sensitive data, but also customer confidence and compliance standing. By strengthening their security posture and addressing these risks head-on, organizations will protect their most valuable asset: trust in their ability to safeguard personal and business-critical information.
4. F5, Pratik Shah, Managing Director – India & SAARC,
The rapid adoption of emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) has dramatically increased the scale and sensitivity of data being exchanged, posing new challenges for privacy and security. At F5, we believe privacy and security must be built into every layer of digital interactions. Guided by our BeF5 value of ‘doing the right thing,’ we embed privacy in our solutions by design and default, ensuring transparency and respecting user choices. Beyond securing endpoints and networks, our solutions focus on securing the complex interplay of data flows at every intersection, providing security that not only protects data but also fosters trust and confidence. As India leads the charge in digital transformation, F5 remains committed to driving innovation while upholding the highest standards of data privacy and security.