The alliance combines CP PLUS’ nationwide reach with Qualcomm’s AI innovation to deliver scalable, efficient video management and real-time actionable insights CP PLUS, India’s leading video security brand, and Qualcomm Technologies, a leading supplier of edge compute and AI technologies, recently announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration to introduce a new generation of AI-enabled, insight-driven video security solutions tailored for India’s rapidly evolving industrial and public safety landscape. This collaboration brings together CP PLUS’ robust product ecosystem and distribution network with the advanced on-device AI and edge-processing capabilities of Qualcomm Dragonwing processors, along with the Qualcomm® Insight Platform to accelerate the adoption of intelligent, real-time and actionable video analytics. This scalable, actionable and one-stop-solution enabled through edge boxes in the Video Management System (VMS), addresses safety-focused use cases across, enterprises, industry, home, institutional and public infrastructure and sets new benchmarks for video security industries worldwide. Abhishek Singh, DG NIC & Additional Secretary – MeitY & CEO-India AI Mission said, “The collaboration between Qualcomm and CP PLUS represents an important development in integrating advanced AI and edge-processing capabilities within India’s security sector. By combining Qualcomm’s technology expertise with CP PLUS’ extensive market presence, this collaboration has the potential to support Indian OEMs and contribute to the broader goals of the India’s AI journey.” Talking about the collaboration, Aditya Khemka, Managing Director, CP PLUS. said, “AI is redefining the future of security, moving video security from passive recording to intelligent, real-time decision support. As India’s leading video security brand, we have a responsibility to shape this transition with solutions that are reliable, scalable and built for the needs of a rapidly evolving market. Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies strengthens this commitment by combining CP PLUS’s deep industry leadership with cutting-edge on-device AI technology. Together, we are building the next generation of video intelligence designed in India and ready for the world.” “This collaboration enables us to drive innovation and build cutting-edge-AI video intelligence solutions that unlock new possibilities for operational and industrial sectors,” stated Nakul Duggal, EVP & Group General Manager, Automotive, Industrial & Embedded IoT and Robotics, Qualcomm Technologies, “By combining Qualcomm’s Insight Platforms with CP PLUS’ deep industry footprint in India, we are enabling solutions that deliver real-time, actionable insights and elevate video security capabilities from traditional monitoring to intelligent, insight driven video management.” “As India transforms its industrial and public infrastructure systems, advanced video security and edge AI are becoming essential enablers of scale, efficiency and resilience. Through this collaboration, CP PLUS and Qualcomm Technologies are delivering solutions built for India and in India – strengthening real-time visibility, improving consistency across critical operations, and enabling faster, data-driven decision-making,” stated Savi Soin, Sr. Vice President & President, Qualcomm India, “Powered by Qualcomm Technologies’ leading innovation in edge AI, the collaboration brings future-ready, intelligent video capabilities into the heart of India’s video intelligence and safety ecosystem.” With the option to process video on-premises through edge AI, the solution keeps sensitive data on site, reducing exposure to external networks. This air-gapped architecture delivers resilience critical for India’s industrial and public safety environment Qualcomm Insight Platform brings a fundamental shift from traditional video security to intelligent, insight-driven video management. By combining advanced edge AI solutions with CP PLUS’ extensive camera ecosystem, the platform delivers cloud/ air-gapped on-site video intelligence that reduces latency, minimizes server dependency and unlocks real-time alerts and notifications with immediately actionable insights. With an LLM-based Gen AI Assistant built natively into the platform, Insight provides an intuitive natural language-based approach to users to query, understand, and interact with time-sensitive and complex events. The integrated solution enhances security visibility and efficiency across environments from workforce and logistics management to access, perimeter and facility safety. Engineered for India’s dynamic, high-volume environment, the technology supports speed, responsiveness, and resilience, enabling more reliable insights where they matter most. These capabilities unlock meaningful, real-world impact across industries. From identifying blocked pathways in public spaces to monitoring personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance in industrial sites, estimating crowd density at large venues and enabling quicker response during high-risk situations. The technology empowers organizations through advanced detection capabilities, enabling them to move from ‘just observing’ to ‘knowing, anticipating, and acting.’ Beyond safety, the collaboration aims to deliver solutions that will strengthen operational efficiency and business intelligence at scale. Retailers can analyze footfall patterns; to optimize store layouts, public venues can manage visitor flow more efficiently, and enterprises can automate routine audits through capabilities such as Merlin. AI-driven video search and summarization surface key events in seconds, while generative AI transforms raw footage into clear context-rich insights that helps team make faster and more accurate decisions. Together, these capabilities signal a clear behavioral shift with an industry-wide impact, helping businesses protect people and assets more effectively, control operations with greater consistency, Grow efficiency through data-led insights and ultimately transform decision-making with advanced AI. The CP PLUS and Qualcomm Technologies collaboration lays the foundation for India’s next phase of AI-driven video intelligence – scalable, accessible, and help to meet the needs of enterprises, institutions, and the country’s expanding digital infrastructure. This collaboration underscores CP PLUS’ commitment to leading India’s AI-driven security transformation, where every camera becomes an intelligent partner in creating safer, more efficient and future-ready environments. Commercial availability is expected in the first quarter of 2026. Read More

Survey of more than 7,300 professionals reveals: Genetec Inc., the global company in enterprise physical security software, recently released its sixth annual State of Physical Security report. Based on insights from over 7,300 physical security leaders worldwide (including end users, channel partners, systems integrators, and consultants), the report shows that physical security is playing a broader strategic role within organizations. The findings highlight closer collaboration across departments and greater interest in technologies that support better operational awareness and decision-making. Physical security is evolving from protection to empowering business outcomes The report shows a shift in how physical security systems are deployed and valued. They are no longer viewed only as a protection layer, and instead, are becoming an enterprise function that contributes to broader organizational goals. “As it becomes more tightly woven into the broader fabric of the enterprise, security is emerging as a genuine enabler of business outcomes – helping organizations work more cohesively, respond more effectively, and stay focused on long-term goals,” said Christian Morin, Vice President of Product Engineering at Genetec Inc. As it becomes more tightly woven into the broader fabric of the enterprise, security is emerging as a genuine enabler of business outcomes – helping organizations work more cohesively, respond more effectively, and stay focused on long-term goals Christian Morin, Vice President,Product Engineering, Genetec Inc. Modernization is accelerating as demand for unified systems grows Survey findings indicate that organizations are prioritizing modernization of their physical security systems to support this shift toward stronger collaboration and business decision-making. More than 70% of respondents are using unified or integrated systems, and 60% say their main motivation for replacing legacy technology is to integrate new capabilities. Fifty-one percent cite access to new features as another key driver. These trends reflect a growing interest in cross-functional systems that deliver operational insight and help teams achieve more with their existing investments. Long-term vendor stability is becoming a key selection factor Survey findings show that organizations place strong importance on choosing manufacturers they consider stable and trustworthy. Seventy-three percent of end users say the long-term viability and stability of the vendor is a key factor when evaluating solutions, while product performance and price indicators followed behind, ranked at 45% and 43%, respectively. This points to a clear preference for partners who can provide continuity, support multi-year modernization efforts, and deliver reliable product development as systems evolve. Interest in AI is rising but teams want practical benefits AI is an area of growing focus. For the first time, AI ranked alongside access control and video surveillance as a top project priority for 2026. Interest in adopting AI has more than doubled among end users since last year’s report. They see value in technology that helps navigate alarms, support investigations, and reduce noise in busy environments. At the same time, 70% express concerns about how AI systems are designed and implemented, specifically around data use and understanding how AI works, reinforcing the need for clear guidance from vendors. Hybrid cloud is preferred, and defines the future of security infrastructure Cloud is playing a stronger role in how security infrastructure is designed and maintained. End users identify automatic updates, ease of deployment, and simpler maintenance as key benefits. Respondents expect continued cloud adoption in 2026, supported by the flexibility to choose which workloads remain on premises and which move to the cloud. 2026 Forecast The report also provides insights into priorities for 2026, including access control modernization, cybersecurity initiatives, and the growing use of analytics. It also offers regional findings and additional forecasts to help organizations plan their next steps. Survey methodology The report is based on survey responses from 7,368 physical security professionals across six global regions (USA and Canada; Latin America and the Caribbean; Europe; Asia-Pacific; Middle East and Africa; and Australia and New Zealand). Participants included end users, channel partners, consultants, and manufacturers from organizations of all sizes and industries. The survey was conducted between August 18 and September 15, 2025, and only fully completed responses were included in the analysis. Genetec Inc. is a global technology company that has been transforming the physical security industry for over 25 years. The company’s portfolio of solutions enables enterprises, governments, and communities around the world to secure people and assets while improving operational efficiency and respecting individual privacy. Genetec delivers the world’s leading products for video management, access control, and ALPR, all built on an open architecture and designed with cybersecurity at their core. The company’s portfolio also includes intrusion detection, intercom, and digital evidence management solutions. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Genetec serves its 42,500+ customers via an extensive network of accredited channel partners and consultants in over 159 countries. Read More

The International Conference on Cyberlaw, Cybercrime & Cybersecurity (ICCC 2025), took place at SCOPE Convention Centre in New Delhi from 19 to 21 November, 2025. An official pre-summit event to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for February 19-20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, this alignment represents a significant convergence of global expertise in cyberlaw, AI governance, and digital security, positioning India as a leading voice in shaping international frameworks for secure and ethical artificial intelligence. Building the Foundation for Global AI Governance ICCC 2025, organized by Cyberlaws.Net and Pavan Duggal Associates, Advocates and curated by internationally renowned cyberlaw expert Dr. Pavan Duggal, serves as a critical precursor to India’s premier AI governance platform. With its theme ‘Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem – Challenges and Opportunities,’ ICCC 2025 convened over 1,500 delegates and 300 distinguished speakers from around the world to address the most pressing challenges at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and legal frameworks. “ICCC 2025 provides the essential intellectual groundwork and stakeholder dialogue necessary to advance the India-AI Impact Summit’s ambitious agenda,” said Dr. Pavan Duggal, Conference Director and Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, “By gathering global experts, policymakers, judges, law enforcement, and technology leaders now, we are establishing the strategic foundation for transformative policy outcomes in February 2026.” Complementary Frameworks for Digital Transformation The timing and thematic alignment of these two events create a unique opportunity for India to lead global discourse on AI governance. ICCC 2025 focuses on the legal, regulatory, and cybersecurity dimensions of AI deployment, including critical issues such as: The India-AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and guided by the principles of People, Planet, and Progress, will build upon these foundational discussions to showcase AI’s transformative potential across healthcare, agriculture, education, energy, climate change, and inclusive development. Advancing India’s Global Leadership in AI Governance By establishing ICCC 2025 as an official pre-event, India demonstrates its commitment to multi-stakeholder collaboration and evidence-based policymaking. The conference attracted senior government officials, leading academics, corporate innovators, and digital rights advocates from across the Global South and developed nations, precisely the diverse constituencies essential for shaping equitable, implementable AI governance frameworks. This partnership underscores India’s strategic positioning as a thought leader in bridging the global AI divide, ensuring that the benefits of artificial intelligence accrue equitably while safeguarding security, privacy, and human rights in digital ecosystems. Event Timeline India-AI Impact Summit 2026 Dates: February 19th-20th, 2026 Location: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi Organizer: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology Focus: AI Impact across sectors with emphasis on inclusion, safety, and social good Since its inception in 2014, the International Conference on Cyberlaw, Cybercrime & Cybersecurity has been recognized as the world’s leading authoritative global platform exclusively dedicated to examining the intersection of cyberlaw, cybercrime, and cybersecurity. Over the years, ICCC has convened an extraordinary assembly of jurists, judges, legislators, policymakers, law enforcement leaders, cybersecurity practitioners, corporate leaders, technology innovators, and academics from more than 100 countries to address the most consequential challenges facing digital societies. Read More

In an era where national borders no longer define the boundaries of threat, where melting glaciers pose as much danger as cyber syndicates, and where climate change has become a security imperative, the 35th Annual Global Conclave of the International Institute of Safety and Security Management (IISSM) convened with a singular mission – to reimagine India’s approach to resilience in an age of converging crises. Held against the backdrop of mounting global uncertainties, the 2025 conclave brought together security professionals, environmentalists, policymakers, and industry leaders to address what speakers uniformly described as a ‘new risk paradigm,’ one that defies traditional compartmentalization and demands integrated, proactive solutions. The Convergence of Security and Survival The inaugural session established a powerful thesis that the threats facing India today are fundamentally interconnected. O.P. Singh, IPS (Retd.), Former DGP, UP, whose opening address set the conclave’s agenda, articulated how modern risks have evolved beyond conventional frameworks. Cybercrime networks now operate alongside drone-based threats, human trafficking syndicates leverage cryptocurrency for anonymity, and digital vulnerabilities increasingly intersect with physical security challenges. This blurring of boundaries, Singh argued, requires nothing less than a complete reimagining of how India approaches preparedness. The nation must transition from reactive crisis management to building systemic resilience, integrating technology, sustainability principles, and community partnerships into the very fabric of its security architecture. Climate Change as a National Security Imperative Perhaps the conclave’s most urgent message came from Padma Bhushan awardee Chandi Prasad Bhatt, whose decades of environmental activism lend weight to his warnings about the Himalayan crisis. The veteran conservationist painted a stark picture of accelerating glacier melt in the mountains that serve as India’s water tower, feeding rivers upon which hundreds of millions depend. Bhatt’s warning transcended environmental rhetoric to frame climate change as an immediate security concern. His projection that India’s great rivers might one day flow only as seasonal streams struck at the heart of national survival, water security, agricultural stability, and the displacement crises that would inevitably follow. The subcontinent’s ecological foundation, he argued, is eroding faster than policy responses can adapt. Prof. Santosh Kumar, CEO, IISSM, extended this analysis to India’s vulnerable coastline, emphasizing that rising sea levels pose catastrophic risks to the 7,600 kilometers of coastal territory. The security implications of climate-driven displacement, infrastructure loss, and resource competition demand that environmental and security communities abandon their traditional silos. The professor’s formulation resonated throughout the conclave, securing the plains requires first securing the mountains. The Multidimensional Security Challenge Digambar Kamat, former Chief Minister of Goa, grounded these broader themes in practical governance realities. Drawing on recent terrorist incidents and cyber breaches, he outlined how modern security encompasses far more than physical protection. Today’s threats span digital infrastructure, disaster preparedness, public health resilience, and community safety, each domain interconnected and mutually reinforcing. The conclave’s sessions on misinformation and cyber threats highlighted new dimensions of vulnerability. India now grapples with a social-media-driven ‘infodemic’ that the World Economic Forum identifies as among the greatest global threats. During the May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis, fact-checkers documented how a month’s worth of misinformation bombarded social media within hours, demonstrating how viral falsehoods can damage reputations, disrupt markets, and erode public trust. Public-Private Partnership: The Critical Force Multiplier A transformative theme emerged throughout the conclave – the recognition that India’s private security sector, comprising approximately 25,000 agencies employing 8.6 million personnel, represents an untapped strategic asset that must be integrated into national security and disaster management frameworks. The numbers tell a compelling story. India’s armed forces work alongside roughly 18,000 NDRF personnel and 30,000 SDRF officials, while the state police-to-public ratio stands at 1:10,000. Against this backdrop, the private security workforce represents a force multiplier of extraordinary potential, if properly trained, regulated, and integrated into coordinated response systems. The Ayodhya temple inauguration provided a successful proof of concept. Civil authorities demonstrated unprecedented trust by sharing National Crime Bureau data with private security firms to design and implement comprehensive security measures for suspicious and criminal activities. This collaboration showcased what becomes possible when public and private sectors operate as genuine partners rather than separate silos. The conclave emphasized that India’s critical infrastructure, power grids, telecommunications networks, financial systems, is largely owned or operated by private companies. Any disruption carries national security consequences, yet these same firms possess advanced capabilities in AI, cloud platforms, and fintech that could greatly strengthen national resilience if strategically leveraged. The Armed Forces’ new cyber operations doctrine explicitly calls for structured engagement with private enterprises, research bodies, and academic institutions to co-design resilient systems. Critical Recommendations: Transforming India’s Security Architecture The conclave produced concrete, actionable recommendations spanning multiple dimensions of national resilience: Professionalizing the Private Security Sector Technology and Innovation Frameworks Multilateral Cooperation and Global Architecture The conclave recognized that transnational threats, cyber attacks, terrorism, pandemics, climate change, demand coordinated international responses. Traditional state-centric frameworks prove inadequate as non-state actors, private corporations, and technology companies play increasingly critical roles. Disaster Management Integration Climate-Safe Business Environment Why This Conclave Matters The significance of the IISSM’s 35th Annual Global Conclave extends far beyond the immediate discussions. At a moment when India positions itself as a rising power with global responsibilities, its ability to manage complex, interconnected risks will largely determine its trajectory. The conclave matters precisely because it refuses to treat security, climate, technology, and governance as separate domains, instead recognizing them as facets of a single, integrated challenge. This systems-level thinking represents a maturation of strategic vision that could prove decisive in determining whether India builds genuine resilience or merely responds to crises as they escalate. The event’s importance also lies in its timing. India faces a critical window for building resilience before converging crises, from Himalayan glacier loss to cybersecurity vulnerabilities to coastal inundation risks, potentially overwhelm adaptive capacity. The conclave’s emphasis on proactive preparation rather than reactive scrambling acknowledges that every flood, drought, heat wave, and cyclone represent not just an environmental event but a security failure, a failure to anticipate known threats and invest in prevention. Moreover, by elevating…

Sparsh CCTV announced the launch of three breakthrough innovations – the SQ Series, the I Series, and Qualcomm’s high-performance Edge AI Box at IFSEC India 2025, further strengthening India’s leadership in next-generation surveillance technology. The launch was graced by Sonu Sood, Brand Ambassador for Sparsh CCTV, and Sanjay Arora (Retd.), Former Commissioner of Delhi Police, adding significant prominence to the national launch. The newly launched SQ Series represents India’s most advanced cyber-secure camera line, built for mission-critical environments. Engineered with Sony STARVIS™ for superior low-light imaging and Qualcomm DragonWing™ for powerful on-camera edge AI, the series integrates indigenous secure firmware and advanced AI analytics designed and developed in India. This combination enables real-time on-device intelligence with no dependency on cloud infrastructure, enhancing both speed and data security. The I Series, introduced for homes and small businesses, brings intelligent surveillance into everyday environments with enhanced night vision, smart activity detection, cyber-secure firmware, and seamless app connectivity. Designed to be compact and user-friendly, it aims to elevate safety for individual users and SMBs. Sparsh also showcased the Qualcomm Edge AI Box, a dedicated AI compute unit built specifically for advanced, multi-stream CCTV analytics. Operating as a standalone intelligence engine, and not part of the SQ series, it supports high-speed edge inference, real-time analytics across multiple feeds, and plug-and-play integration with Sparsh cameras. With capabilities that include ANPR, face recognition and behavioural analytics, the device expands Sparsh’s AI ecosystem with scalable, modular intelligence for enterprises and critical infrastructure. Speaking at the event, Sanjeev Sehgal, Founder & Managing Director, Sparsh CCTV said, “The SQ Series, I Series, and Qualcomm’s Edge AI Box represent our boldest leap in surveillance innovation. With Sony STARVIS™ imaging and Qualcomm DragonWing™ powering our SQ cameras, and Qualcomm’s Edge AI capabilities extending analytics beyond the device, Sparsh is now delivering a full-stack surveillance intelligence ecosystem built in India.” Unveiling the new line-up, Sonu Sood, Brand Ambassador for Sparsh CCTV shared, “Sparsh continues to set new standards for Made-in-India technology. With the SQ Series and the Edge AI ecosystem, they are shaping a safer Bharat with intelligence, innovation, and purpose.” Throughout IFSEC 2025, visitors experienced live demonstrations of the SQ Series powered by STARVIS™ and DragonWing™, the standalone Qualcomm Edge AI Box, the I Series smart cameras, and Sparsh’s STQC-certified cyber-secured systems. The showcase drew significant interest from government officials, PSUs, international delegations, system integrators, and media. About Sparsh CCTV Sparsh CCTV is India’s leading indigenous surveillance manufacturer, delivering AI-powered, cyber-secured, and STQC-certified solutions for Government, enterprise, public safety, and critical infrastructure. With a strong focus on innovation, data security, and self-reliance, Sparsh continues to advance India’s surveillance ecosystem through homegrown technology. Read More

PRAMA has premiered its wide range of indigenously manufactured smart video security products, trendy technologies and bespoke vertical solutions at the IFSEC India Security Expo 2025. The cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IoT security technologies, products and solutions were on display at PRAMA booth. The ornately designed PRAMA booth at the IFSEC India displayed a wide range of indigenously manufactured products and innovative solutions at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi. These included a wide range of newly launched video security cameras, non-CCTV security products and vertical solutions. Commenting on the security industry’s flagship show, Prama India spokesperson said, “The Indian physical security industry and market has evolved to a next level of development. PRAMA is a leading indigenous Indian brand, which is an integral part of this growth story.” He further said, “PRAMA has introduced its wide range indigenous video security products and solutions at IFSEC India. We are following our indigenous manufacturing roadmap by adapting advanced technologies suitable to India specific requirements. By moving forward with the core belief to put India on the global map for video security products, PRAMA is committed to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.’ The indigenous brand, PRAMA manufactures high quality video security products in its indigenous manufacturing facility near Mumbai. PRAMA is expanding its manufacturing facility to cater the growing demand for security products and solutions.” PRAMA has introduced a new era of video security with the launch of AiSense Camera and Solutions and other myriad products will be witnessed by the security industry representatives during IFSEC India event. Latest Products & Solutions The PRAMA booth at the IFSEC India is displaying a wide range of indigenously manufactured products and innovative solutions. The key products and solutions on display are – AI Sense Solution, Ranginview solution, Access Control Solution, Smart Mobile Solution, Network & Cables, UPS, VDP, Intrusion Alarm, Video Door Phone Solution, and SSD Products. Smart Transformative Technologies With the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) applications into video security technologies is bringing big transformation in its outcomes. The AI has made Video Content Analytics (VCA) more accurate and added the empowering predictive capabilities. Security Industry is entering into a new era of video security, with AI -based technology applications, helping video monitoring to entirely new use cases that provide more tangible benefits across the verticals. Bespoke Vertical Solutions The ornately designed spacious PRAMA booth showcases vertical solution walls on retail solution, home solution, defence solution, safe city solution, smart mobile solution, education solution, healthcare solution, hospitality solution, and transportation solution etc. Smart Products Offer Smarter Solutions The Prama India is embarking on a new era of video security by offering smart security products with smarter security solutions. PRAMA is setting a new benchmark as a premier Indian security brand, which is setting a gold standard in indigenous manufacturing of video security products and solutions. PRAMA is living up to the brand promise by offering best-in-class products and solutions. It is leveraging the indigenous manufacturing capabilities by delivering quality security products. PRAMA is India’s premier video security brand that truly represents the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The India’s leading indigenous brand, PRAMA celebrates the maxim of ‘Made for India, Made by India and Made in India’ and manufactures high quality video security products catering to all the vertical specific security solution requirements. Prama India has a state-of-the art electronics product manufacturing facility near Mumbai. It is committed to the mission of making India, a global manufacturing and export hub for video security products. The company has a commitment to empower India through indigenous manufacturing of video security products. PRAMA’s R&D Centre has been set up with a farsighted vision to innovate, integrate and update the ever-changing technologies, products and solutions. Event Highlights PRAMA India was represented by Prama India spokesperson, in the IFSEC India conference on 11th December. He gave an elaborate presentation on ‘A New Era of Advanced Video Surveillance Solutions’. On the next day of IFSEC India conference, PRAMA India participated in an insightful panel discussion on the theme ’From Gate to Destination: Reimagining Logistics Security for the Modern Supply Chain’ (panel discussion). The fresh insights were shared by the PRAMA India representative. At the IFSEC India Expo, PRAMA India booth was a key attraction to the visitors due to its Smart LED displays and thematic visualization of various security application scenarios. The display of vertical solutions and product portfolio impressed the visitors. IFSEC India Expo concluded on a high note with overwhelming response from the security professionals and end-users. Read More

Media Fusion and heise medien GmbH & Co. KG hosted an exclusive precursor leadership roundtable for the cybersecurity industry in Bengaluru, bringing together senior CISOs, DPOs, cybersecurity strategists, technology leaders, and policy influencers. CyberSec India Expo 2026, scheduled for April 23-24, 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai will attract high-profile attendees from leading government bodies, defence programs, global tech giants, consulting powerhouses, policy think tanks, and major enterprises across sectors. As India advances its digital transformation agenda, the urgency to fortify cyber resilience continues to escalate, with enterprises facing over 3,200 cyberattacks per week, placing India among the most targeted nations globally. The DPDP Act and Shared Accountability The closed-door roundtable was held under the theme ‘Bridging the CISO-DPO Divide: Shared Accountability under the DPDP Act,’ highlighting the growing need for deeper collaboration between cybersecurity and data-privacy leadership amid evolving regulatory expectations. The recent operational rollout of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act has redefined governance structures and accountability for organisations handling personal data. Industry insights reveal that over 60% of Indian enterprises remain uncertain about implementing DPDP-aligned compliance frameworks, while nearly 50% cite talent shortages as a major obstacle – underscoring the urgency for unified execution models between CISOs and DPOs. The roundtable featured industry thought leaders like Srinjoy Banerjee, Ramesh Venkateaman, Dr. Lopa Basuu, Sandeep Rao and Joerg Muehle, along with participation from leading organisations including McAfee, Indian Railways, Persistent Systems, Carl Zeiss, Unilever, Nexusnow.ai, LexOrbis and others. Participants examined whether the DPDP Act will act as a transformative dealmaker in building unified privacy-security governance, or risk becoming a deal-breaker if operational roles, boundaries, and processes remain fragmented. Discussions also explored immediate implementation priorities, privacy-by-design and security-by-design models, readiness for responsible AI regulation, cross-sector data protection, and global standard interoperability. Key Themes Explored Raghavendra Deshpande, AGM Global Business Enterprises, Reliance Communications Limited highlighted that AI-driven threats and agentic AI will require CISOs and DPOs to adopt new security frameworks to protect both AI systems and sensitive data. He noted that fragmented global regulations and potential fines of up to 10% of global revenues will push organisations to strengthen governance and risk management, with DPOs playing a key role in mapping data flows across jurisdictions. He added that geopolitical tensions and rising attacks on critical infrastructure are expanding the threat landscape, making resilience essential, and stressed that the roles of CISOs and DPOs are rapidly converging. “CISOs are now evolving into Chief Resilience Officers,” he said. Hariharan R., Head, Global Consumer Services, McAfee highlighted during the discussion that the DPDP Act is accelerating the need for stronger data governance and clearer consent management processes across organizations. He noted that with rapid AI adoption, key challenges in 2026 will include managing AI hallucinations, strengthening governance, and balancing automation with human oversight. He emphasized that close collaboration between cybersecurity, privacy, and technology teams will be crucial for smooth and secure implementation. Ramesh Venkatraman, Hon. Director, FDPPI and Portfolio Manager, QMS/ ISMS at Carl Zeiss, stated that enterprises will face multidimensional cybersecurity challenges in 2026, driven by rapid advancements in AI and machine learning, as well as the increasing complexity of global data protection regulations across more than 140 countries. He emphasized that cybersecurity can no longer be the responsibility of a single team and that every employee must think like a CISO or a DPO as technology and threats evolve. Ramesh added that platforms like CyberSec India Expo play an important role in advancing national cyber resilience by enabling learning, collaboration, and greater awareness across the industry, and he urged professionals to engage more, network more, and learn from diverse viewpoints to strengthen the community. Dr. Anup Dayananda Sadhu, CISO of Indian Railways, shared that organisations like Indian Railways are custodians of vast volumes of personal data across PRS and UTS ticketing systems, HR platforms, and public digital channels, and implementing the DPDP Act within the next 18 months will be a major responsibility. He said the organisation is fully aligned and prepared to meet these requirements, and stressed that platforms like CyberSec India Expo are vital in sensitising stakeholders and driving cybersecurity awareness, especially within government organisations. He added that with evolving regulations and rising data exposure, cybersecurity must now be treated as an urgent priority, and knowledge-sharing events like this play an essential role in improving readiness and collective preparedness for effective implementation. With India experiencing a 30-50% talent shortfall across cybersecurity and privacy roles, and organisations rapidly expanding investment into governance infrastructure, leaders emphasised coordinated workforce development, capability acceleration, and shared accountability models as essential next steps. Looking ahead, CyberSec India Expo 2026 will present exclusive 2-day conference, advanced workshop, policy forum discussion, hands-on technology demonstrations, and unified exhibitor zones – furthering India’s compliance and innovation ecosystem. This precursor roundtable served as a strategic forum for aligning priorities, exchanging actionable insights, and strengthening India’s preparedness amid rising cyber threats and regulatory complexity. Read More