The FIFA World Cup 2026 Threat Landscape Report reveals a substantial increase in cybercriminal activity as the FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway. New research from Fortinet revels cybercriminals have already established infrastructure to exploit interest surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 and are, building a layered ecosystem of scams, phishing operations and malware campaigns designed to capitalise on one of the world’s largest sporting events. The findings from FortiGuard Labs suggest that the threat landscape is not emerging with the tournament – it is already operational. Between January and May 2026, more than 13,000 World Cup-themed domains were registered, with nearly 8.8% flagged as malicious or suspicious. The scale indicates a coordinated effort by threat actors to position infrastructure well ahead of peak fan engagement. For businesses and users alike, the pattern is straightforward – where attention goes, attackers follow. And the World Cup – driven by ticket demand, travel planning, merchandise sales, streaming searches and betting activity – offers an unusually dense concentration of high-value digital behaviour. Fake ticketing remains one of the highestrisk lures Ticketing scams remain the most visible threat because they exploit scarcity. Fraudulent websites impersonating official FIFA portals are being used to harvest credentials and payment data, often wrapped in urgency-driven messaging such as ‘limited availability’ or ‘last chance’ offers. FortiGuard Labs identified numerous counterfeit ticketing sites mimicking official FIFA pages that gather personal info, login details, billing, and payment data. In several cases, researchers found fake checkout flows designed to closely mimic legitimate ticket purchase journeys, lowering user suspicion during critical decision moments. Social media impersonation expands the attack surface Beyond ticketing, the ecosystem expands across multiple vectors. Social media impersonation has emerged at scale, with more than 1,700 suspected fake accounts identified across platforms including Facebook and Instagram. These accounts are being used to distribute phishing links, fraudulent livestream access, fake promotions and resale offers, often embedded within otherwise legitimate fan discussions. Malware is also part of the tournament threat landscape Malware distribution is also part of the threat architecture. The report highlights FIFA-themed applications and executables distributed through unofficial channels, including betting and streaming-related tools exhibiting behaviours associated with credential theft, persistence, encrypted communications and potential ransomware activity. Fake job postings target people looking for opportunity Job-related scams add another dimension, targeting the seasonal hiring spike around the tournament. Attackers are posing as recruiters and sponsors, directing victims to counterfeit login pages designed to capture Google and other credentials. In some cases, the campaigns are supported by coordinated infrastructure, including shared tracking IDs across multiple fraudulent domains – suggesting organised, repeatable operations rather than isolated attempts. Credential exposure raises the stakes The report also flags a deeper risk layer with large-scale credential exposure. FortiGuard Labs has identified thousands of FIFA-related entries in stealer malware logs tied to families such as Vidar, LummaC2 and RedLine, alongside hundreds of employee credentials and a far larger pool of user data drawn from previous breaches. While not all credentials are actively exploited, they provide a ready dataset for credential stuffing, account takeover and targeted phishing campaigns timed around peak tournament activity. The broader concern is not simply the diversity of attack methods but their convergence around a single global event. Sporting mega-events compress attention, urgency and financial transactions into a short window – creating ideal conditions for social engineering at scale.

Tenon Group, a global technology-enabled services organization operating across security services including manned guarding and remote monitoring, facility management, and software-driven business solutions, has announced the appointment of Sanjay Baweja as Executive Director on the Tenon Group Board. A distinguished business leader with over 35 years of experience across Telecom, E-Commerce, Technology, Renewable Energy, and Real Estate, Mr Baweja is widely recognized for his expertise in finance, strategy, business transformation, mergers & acquisitions, capital markets, and corporate governance. A Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and Cost Accountant (ICWA), he has played a pivotal role in shaping growth journeys and transformation agendas across some of India’s most respected organizations. Mr. Baweja most recently served as Managing Director & Global CEO of OnMobile Global Limited, where he led the company’s global strategy and business transformation initiatives. Prior to this, he held several prominent leadership positions, including Group CFO at Flipkart, Global CFO at Tata Communications, CFO at Suzlon Energy, and Group President – Strategic Initiatives at Bhartiya Group. He has also served in senior leadership roles at Bharti Airtel and Emaar MGF, building a distinguished track record of driving operational excellence, financial discipline, value creation, and sustainable business growth across diverse sectors. Throughout his career, Mr. Baweja has been associated with organizations at critical stages of growth and transformation, helping strengthen governance frameworks, improve financial performance, drive strategic initiatives, and create long-term stakeholder value. His extensive experience across listed companies, global enterprises, and high-growth organizations makes him a valuable addition to the Tenon Group Board. As Executive Director on the Tenon Group Board, Mr. Baweja will contribute towards strengthening the Group’s strategic direction, governance framework, growth roadmap, and long-term value creation agenda. His leadership and boardroom experience will further enhance Tenon’s capabilities as the Group continues to expand its technology-led security services, facility management solutions, remote monitoring platforms, and software-driven business offerings across global markets. Commenting on the appointment, Maj. Manjit Rajain, Global Chairman, Tenon Group, said, “We are delighted to welcome Mr Sanjay Baweja to the Tenon Group Board. Sanjay brings with him an exceptional blend of financial leadership, strategic foresight, operational excellence, and governance expertise built over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades. His experience across globally respected organizations such as Tata Communications, Flipkart, Suzlon Energy, Bharti Airtel, and OnMobile Global provides him with a unique perspective on building and scaling businesses in dynamic and rapidly evolving industries. “As Tenon continues its transformation into a technology-led global services organisation, Sanjay’s deep understanding of growth strategy, business transformation, capital allocation, and corporate governance will be invaluable. We are confident that his leadership and insights will play a significant role in strengthening our businesses, accelerating innovation, and creating long-term value for all stakeholders.” Reflecting on his appointment, Sanjay Baweja said, “I am delighted to join the Board of Tenon Group at a significant phase of its growth journey. Over the years, Tenon has established itself as a trusted partner delivering technology-enabled security services, facility management solutions, remote monitoring capabilities, and software-driven business solutions across multiple markets. The Group’s commitment to innovation, operational excellence, customer-centricity, and governance has enabled it to build a strong reputation and a scalable platform for future growth. “I look forward to working closely with the Board and leadership team to further strengthen the Group’s strategic vision, support its growth ambitions, enhance governance standards, and help unlock new opportunities across its businesses. Together, we will continue building a future-ready organisation that creates sustainable value for clients, employees, partners, and shareholders.”

The Second Global South Artificial Intelligence Law and Governance Dialogue 2026, convened online, concluded with the formal adoption of the Global South Legal Architecture for Artificial Intelligence Governance and Accountability, a structured, operational instrument designed to translate the Global South’s stated principles on AI into national statute, sectoral policy, and enforceable practice. Convened by Dr. Pavan Duggal, Advocate, Supreme Court of India and a globally recognised authority on AI law and cyberlaw, the Second Global South Artificial Intelligence Law and Governance Dialogue 2026 brought together judges, senior government officials, regulators, scholars, technologists and civil-society leaders from across Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe. The Architecture is conceived not as another declaration of principle but as operational scaffolding. It builds upon – and does not seek to replace – the instruments already adopted by the Global South, including the New Delhi Accord on Artificial Intelligence Law and Governance (2025), the New Delhi Declaration on Artificial Intelligence (February 2026), the New Delhi Compact on Artificial Intelligence Accountability (May 2026), the AI Accountability Framework 2026, the Global Agentic AI Liability Framework, and the Universal Declaration of AI Accountability Rights adopted at the International AI Accountability Forum 2026. A distinguished opening The proceedings featured a keynote address by Hon’ble Justice Suraj Govindraj, Judge, High Court of Karnataka, setting the judicial and constitutional context for AI law, governance and accountability, and a Special Address by Dr. Manoj Kumar, Additional Secretary, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Professor Christoph Stueckelberger, Professor of Global Ethics in Asia and Africa, addressed the ethical challenges confronting the Global South in the age of AI. Across the day’s sessions, chaired by the Convenor, Dr. Pavan Duggal, the platform featured voices from every region of the Global South and beyond, including Lebanese cyberlaw scholar Mona Al Achkar Jabbour, Ambrose Ruyooka of Uganda’s Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, Rosa Delgado from Peru, Latin America, Alfredo Ronchi, Secretary General EC Medici Framework, Prof Sarah Fox, eminent British academician, Axel Lehmann of the World Federation of Scientists, Saakshar Duggal, eminent AI Law expert, Amandeep Singh of the Bureau of Police Research & Development, Manoj Chugh corporate governance guru, and Drishyaa Duggal AI Psychology evangelist alongside leading academics, regulators and industry leaders from across Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe. What the architecture establishes A three-layer legal architecture. The instrument is built on three concentric, independently operative layers – a dedicated national statute on artificial intelligence and accountability in each Global South nation; sector-specific national policies spanning health, education, finance, agriculture, public administration, law enforcement, judicial processes, electoral integrity, defence and digital public infrastructure; and a continuously updated layer of living standards and best practices that allows governance to evolve without statutory amendment at every turn. Seven non-negotiable pillars – the common minimum denominators that must inform every national instrument and sectoral policy: Novel building blocks. The Architecture introduces a set of original instruments, including a Global South Algorithmic Sovereignty Index, an Inter-Global South AI Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Compact, a Civilizational AI Audit standard, a Doctrine of Algorithmic Non-Alignment, a Right to Algorithmic Refusal for indigenous and tribal communities, a Reverse Burden of Proof for Foreign AI Providers, a Sovereign Data Repository Principle, and a Global South AI Harm Notification Protocol. Institutional engine and early deliverables The Architecture establishes two complementary Working Groups – a Working Group on Global South Algorithmic Sovereignty, drawn initially from the Dialogue’s speakers, scholars and practitioners, to serve as the doctrinal and technical engine; and a State-anchored Working Group on Global South AI Governance, to which ministries and designated nodal officers across the Global South will be invited, charged with translating doctrinal output into harmonised national positions and multilateral submissions, including to United Nations preparatory processes. Two early deliverables were identified: “This Architecture belongs, from the moment of its adoption, to the nations and institutions of the Global South that will take it forward,” said Dr. Pavan Duggal, Convenor of the Dialogue, “It is offered without proprietary claim and with a single conviction: that the algorithms which shape a citizen’s life must be subject to the laws of their land, the values of their civilization, and the consent of their community. Algorithmic sovereignty, the prevention of cognitive colonialism, and the anchoring of agentic-AI liability are no longer aspirations for the Global South – under this Architecture, they are commitments.” Pathway forward The outputs of the Architecture – the work of both Working Groups and the text of the MLA Compact – are to be channelled into the United Nations preparatory process for the global AI scientific model and related multilateral instruments. The Architecture is designed to remain operative for the Global South Group of Nations, whether or not it is absorbed by other multilateral processes, and remains open for endorsement, signature, accession and national adoption by all States of the Global South. About the Global South Artificial Intelligence Law and Governance Dialogue The Global South Artificial Intelligence Law and Governance Dialogue is an international platform dedicated to amplifying the voice and agency of developing nations in shaping the law, policy and governance of artificial intelligence. It convenes jurists, policymakers, scholars, regulators and industry leaders from across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East to develop equitable, inclusive and sovereignty-respecting approaches to AI governance.

As India advances toward a future shaped by intelligent infrastructure, digital transformation, and AI-driven security ecosystems, CP PLUS continues to reinforce its position at the forefront of the nation’s taechnological evolution. Demonstrating its steadfast commitment to innovation-led nation building, the company marked a powerful presence at two of the industry’s most influential platforms this May – InnoMetro 2026 and CCTV TECH INDIA 2026. These prestigious gatherings brought together policymakers, infrastructure leaders, security experts, system integrators, technology pioneers, and digital transformation visionaries to collectively shape the future of India’s mobility and surveillance landscape. At both events, CP PLUS emerged not merely as a participant but as a thought leader driving conversations around intelligent surveillance, cyber-secure ecosystems, smart command centers, and future-ready infrastructure. At InnoMetro 2026, CP PLUS showcased its vision for a safer and smarter mobility ecosystem powered by Made-inBharat innovations. As India rapidly modernizes its railway and metro infrastructure under the broader vision of sustainable urban mobility, intelligent surveillance is becoming a cornerstone of operational resilience, passenger safety, and infrastructure efficiency. Aligning with this transformative momentum, CP PLUS highlighted its advanced portfolio of AI-enabled surveillance technologies engineered specifically for the evolving needs of rail and metro environments. Adding depth to the industry dialogue, M.A. Johar, President – Project Business at CP PLUS, joined an important conference session titled ‘Leveraging Digital Technologies in Railways: Opportunities, Risks, and Readiness.’ During the discussion, he shared valuable insights into how emerging technologies such as AI-powered analytics, centralized monitoring systems, intelligent video management, and integrated command centers are reshaping railway security and operational readiness across the nation. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Johar emphasized that the future of rail infrastructure lies not only in connectivity and speed, but also in the ability to create intelligent, responsive, and secure ecosystems capable of adapting to evolving risks and passenger expectations. He further highlighted CP PLUS’s continued focus on building scalable, indigenous surveillance technologies tailored to India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure landscape. Further strengthening its industry leadership this month, CP PLUS also made a significant impact at CCTV TECH INDIA 2026, a premier platform dedicated to the future of surveillance technology and integrated security systems. Centered around the compelling vision of ‘Securing Surveillance: From Components to Command Centers,’ the event served as a dynamic forum for discussing the next generation of intelligent surveillance ecosystems, cybersecurity integration, AI-driven monitoring, and operational intelligence. CP PLUS leveraged the platform to showcase how the convergence of surveillance hardware, intelligent software, analytics, and cyber resilience is shaping a more connected and secure India. Representing the brand during the inaugural session titled ‘Building Secure & Intelligent Surveillance Ecosystems for India,’ Sanjay Arora and Ms. Swati Samaddar shared expert perspectives on the growing importance of intelligent surveillance infrastructure in safeguarding modern enterprises, public spaces, critical infrastructure, and smart city ecosystems. Their participation underscored how surveillance today has evolved far beyond passive monitoring, emerging instead as a strategic layer of intelligence capable of enabling proactive threat detection, operational optimization, predictive insights, and enhanced situational awareness. Adding further momentum to these conversations, Omar Farooq participated in the insightful session ‘From Data to Decisions: VMS, SOC & Cybersecurity in CCTV Systems.’ During the discussion, he highlighted the increasing significance of integrated Video Management Systems (VMS), Security Operations Centers (SOC), and cyber-secure surveillance architectures in ensuring operational continuity and intelligent decision-making across large-scale deployments. His insights reflected the growing reality that surveillance ecosystems today must not only capture information but also transform data into actionable intelligence while remaining resilient against evolving cyber threats. CP PLUS’ impactful participation across both events reflects the company’s larger vision of enabling India’s digital transformation journey through indigenous innovation, intelligent surveillance technologies, and future-ready security ecosystems. With a robust portfolio spanning AI-powered cameras, integrated command and control centers, advanced video analytics, intelligent VMS platforms, cybersecurity-focused solutions, and smart monitoring technologies, the company continues to play a defining role in building safer cities, smarter mobility systems, and resilient infrastructure networks for the nation. As India accelerates toward a digitally empowered future, CP PLUS remains steadfast in its mission to engineer technologies that not only secure environments, but also strengthen trust, intelligence, and preparedness across every layer of modern infrastructure.

Hikvision, the world’s leading provider of innovative security products and solutions, has introduced its Video & Audio Convergence Solution to the market, featuring an innovative real-time intrusion deterrent feature. With Hikvision’s new Video & Audio Convergence Solution, IP speakers now can be linked with cameras, access control systems, and alarm devices. When the CCTV system automatically detects an intrusion or if the alarm system is activated, IP speakers can immediately play programmed audio warnings to drive away would-be intruders. The audio message acts as a deterrent to possible intrusion actions as they happen. Loss and damage can be prevented, and footage of the event gets recorded for investigation and evidence collection. Along with imported audio warnings, operators can also speak via the IP speakers to give live warnings when notified of an intrusion. Efficient security operations and digital transformation are further supported by alarm video which can pop up automatically. Scheduled audio messaging and public information broadcasting are two more practical functions made possible by Hikvision’s Video & Audio Convergence Solution. IP speakers can play recorded audio recordings according to a schedule, and operators can use the audio system to broadcast public information as needed to audiences as well. Frank Zhang, General Manager of the International Product Marketing Department at Hikvision said, “We are excited to introduce our innovative Video & Audio Convergence Solution to the market. With the linkage between video and audio, our solution will empower security systems with cautionary and immediate processing abilities. We believe convergence will be a new trend in the near-future for the security industry.” With its valuable functionality, Hikvision Video & Audio Convergence can be applied across a wide range of scenarios and applications – including perimeter security, petrol stations, metro and railway stations, office buildings, and much more. Continue reading for more details on various applications. Perimeter Security In luxury homes equipped with outdoor CCTV cameras, trespassers will be recorded by security cameras and NVRs, but no immediate deterrent actions can be taken. Now with the Hikvision Video & Audio Convergence Solution, audio warnings can be automatically triggered to deter intruders, helping to prevent loss of property or more serious incidents. Petrol Stations Petrol stations are vulnerable to intrusions during non-business hours and damage to petrol storage facilities can cause disasters. Currently, with CCTV systems alone, no immediate action can be taken when an intrusion occurs. But the Hikvision Video & Audio Convergence Solution now provides an intelligent detection function, alarm triggering, and audio warnings. At petrol stations with self-payment systems but no outside service staff, the Hikvision Video & Audio Convergence Solution enables operators to speak to customers remotely via the IP speakers. They can help customers and prevent security incidents without putting themselves in danger. And in emergency situations, the audio system can be used to broadcast critical information to staff and customers. We are excited to introduce our innovative Video & Audio Convergence Solution to the market. With the linkage between video and audio, our solution will empower security systems with cautionary and immediate processing abilities. We believe convergence will be a new trend in the near-future for the security industry Frank Zhang, General Manager, International Product Marketing Department, Hikvision Metro and Railway Stations Platforms are dangerous during peak hours when passengers cross warning lines and move too close to the edge. The Hikvision Video & Audio Convergence Solution helps monitor people flow and can identify when passengers cross warning lines. Staff can use the solution to broadcast live audio warnings and train schedule information whenever it’s needed. Office Buildings CCTV and access control systems are commonly used in office buildings. However, when an intrusion or security anomaly has been detected, operators rely on sending on-site guards to check the situation. Efficiency is low and guards often arrive too late to prevent an incident. In such a case, Hikvision‘s Video & Audio Convergence Solution can send an immediate audio warning to deter an intrusion, as well as build video and audio linkage for operators to check remotely via live view. Similarly, during emergency situations, security operators can use the audio system to broadcast information to people inside a building.

Introduces the Cloudflare One Stack – a robust library of AI skills – tostreamline SASE deployment alongside select global partners including Arctiq, Consortium, CMT, Presidio, Softcell, The Missing Link, and others Cloudflare, Inc., the leading connectivity cloud company, recently announced the launch of its Cloudflare One Design Partner Designation. The new initiative will help customers safely adopt AI, simplify their networking, and defend against an expanding attack surface. As a high-priority tier within Cloudflare’s PowerUP Partner Program, this designation focuses on the Cloudflare One suite with a select group of partners including Arctiq, Consortium, CMT, Presidio, Softcell, The Missing Link, among others worldwide. The program will equip these partners with the deep technical expertise required to secure against today’s threats and accelerate innovation efforts. Migrating away from legacy security architectures is traditionally slow and risky. When companies rely on a patchwork of siloed tools, they face severe friction. Auditing existing environments, mapping out new architectures, and avoiding configuration errors during vendor transitions can create dangerous vulnerabilities. This fragmentation doesn’t just create security gaps – it completely stalls innovation, which is particularly dangerous as AI adoption accelerates. Cloudflare One has evolved into a partner-led engine and our new Design Partner Designation is built to propel long-term growth. This new framework represents our deepest channel co-investment yet. We are equipping our elite partners with the financial runway and technical mastery they want to scale the Cloudflare One platform. By blending our unified SASE architecture with partner expertise, we are turning complex network migrations into high-margin, high-value consulting opportunities for the AI era Tom EvansChief Partner Officer at Cloudflare “Cloudflare One has evolved into a partner-led engine and our new Design Partner Designation is built to propel long-term growth,” said Tom Evans, Chief Partner Officer at Cloudflare, “This new framework represents our deepest channel co-investment yet. We are equipping our elite partners with the financial runway and technical mastery they want to scale the Cloudflare One platform. By blending our unified SASE architecture with partner expertise, we are turning complex network migrations into high-margin, high-value consulting opportunities for the AI era.” To support the launch, Cloudflare is introducing the Cloudflare One Stack. This framework provides a robust library of authoritative AI skills that security teams can use with any agent to evaluate, deploy, and manage Cloudflare One. Built directly on top of Cloudflare One, these skills provide structured knowledge, decision trees, and tool definitions that AI agents can automatically use. By giving partners access to a central repository of blueprint configurations and automated workflows, Cloudflare eliminates tedious manual provisioning. Instead, partners can focus on delivering high-margin managed services tailored for the AI era. Cloudflare One design partner testimonials

For decades, the security profession has operated largely outside the public spotlight. Whether in law enforcement, fire and emergency services, disaster response, corporate security, cyber defence, or critical infrastructure protection, the work of security professionals has traditionally been measured not by visibility but by absence. When security functions effectively, incidents are prevented, risks are mitigated, and crises are contained before they become headlines. Yet, as India’s urban centres continue to expand, digital transformation accelerates, and threats become increasingly interconnected, there is a growing recognition that the people and institutions responsible for safety deserve greater acknowledgement. Across sectors, organisations are beginning to understand that recognition is not merely ceremonial. It serves as an important mechanism for professional validation, knowledge sharing, and the promotion of best practices. Against this backdrop, the upcoming Surakshit NCR Awards 2026 arrives at a particularly relevant moment for the security industry. Conceptualised by PSP and presented by SymX, with CAPSI and Pinkerton serving as Knowledge Partner, and supported by FSAI, GACS, WEC and Cyber Buddha, the platform brings together industry leaders, practitioners and institutions committed to advancing safety, security and resilience across sectors. Scheduled as the next chapter in a series of city-focused safety and security recognitions, the NCR edition seeks to acknowledge individuals, teams, organisations, and government agencies contributing to the safety and resilience of the National Capital Region. More importantly, it reflects a broader shift within the profession itself. Security is increasingly being viewed not as a support function but as a strategic pillar of organisational and societal resilience. The expanding definition of security The traditional boundaries of security have undergone significant transformation over the past decade. Physical security, once centred largely around access control, guarding, surveillance, and asset protection, now operates within a far more complex environment. Security leaders today are expected to manage risks associated with cyber threats, insider vulnerabilities, business continuity, supply chain disruptions, misinformation, and geopolitical uncertainties. This evolution has elevated the role of security professionals across both public and private sectors. In cities such as Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, security management increasingly requires collaboration among law enforcement agencies, emergency responders, cyber security specialists, infrastructure operators, corporate security teams, and technology providers. For decades, the security profession has operated largely outside the public spotlight. Whether in law enforcement, fire and emergency services, disaster response, corporate security, cyber defence, or critical infrastructure protection, the work of security professionals has traditionally been measured not by visibility but by absence. When security functions effectively, incidents are prevented, risks are mitigated, and crises are contained before they become headlines The National Capital Region presents a particularly unique security environment. It hosts central government institutions, diplomatic missions, multinational corporations, transportation networks, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, industrial clusters, and critical infrastructure. Managing safety across such a diverse ecosystem requires coordinated effort from thousands of professionals whose contributions often remain largely unseen. Recognition platforms that focus on these contributions therefore serve an important purpose. They highlight the practical work being undertaken across the security value chain and provide visibility to initiatives that may otherwise remain confined within organisational boundaries. Learning from the momentum of previous editions One of the most interesting aspects of the Surakshit initiative has been its progression across different cities. The Mumbai edition in 2025 demonstrated that there is considerable appetite within the security community for platforms that celebrate service, professionalism, and dedication. What distinguished the Mumbai event was its emphasis on frontline contributions. The programme brought together senior police officials, fire service leaders, disaster response personnel, security practitioners, and industry stakeholders under a common theme of appreciation for those who contribute to public safety. The event also highlighted an important reality often overlooked in discussions about security technology and infrastructure. Behind every system, protocol, and response framework are individuals who make critical decisions under pressure and often work without public recognition. The participation of senior leaders from law enforcement, emergency services, and industry reflected a growing understanding that security outcomes depend on collaboration rather than isolated effort. The Hyderabad edition later expanded this conversation by placing greater emphasis on the convergence of physical and cyber security. This was particularly relevant given Hyderabad’s position as one of India’s leading technology hubs. Discussions during the event highlighted the increasing need for integrated approaches to risk management, where cyber resilience and physical security are viewed as complementary disciplines rather than separate functions. That perspective resonates strongly across the broader industry. Physical security, once centred largely around access control, guarding, surveillance, and asset protection, now operates within a far more complex environment. Security leaders today are expected to manage risks associated with cyber threats, insider vulnerabilities, business continuity, supply chain disruptions, misinformation, and geopolitical uncertainties Today, a disruption to operations may originate from a cyber incident, a physical breach, a supply chain interruption, or a natural disaster. Effective security leadership requires the ability to understand and respond across multiple domains simultaneously. The progression from Pune to Mumbai and Hyderabad suggests that the Surakshit platform has gradually evolved from a regional recognition initiative into a broader industry conversation around resilience, leadership, and professional excellence. Why NCR represents a significant milestone The National Capital Region offers a particularly compelling setting for such a platform. Unlike many metropolitan regions, NCR combines the complexity of governance, commerce, diplomacy, infrastructure, and urban development within a single interconnected geography. The region is home to major public institutions, transportation corridors, financial centres, industrial facilities, technology parks, educational campuses, healthcare networks, and residential communities. Each of these environments presents unique security requirements and operational challenges. Professionals responsible for protecting these environments often operate under conditions that demand continuous vigilance and adaptation. The Surakshit NCR Awards 2026 recognises this diversity through a broad range of categories that encompass government officials, security professionals, cyber security teams, service providers, consulting projects, fraud prevention initiatives, and safe premises across sectors including hospitality, banking, healthcare, manufacturing, education, and residential communities. Such an approach reflects the reality that safety is not the responsibility of any single stakeholder. A secure…