Category: Feature

Atul GoyalPresident, United Residents Joint Action of Delhi-URJA Gaps and compromises in RWA-managed security due to residents non-cooperation and legal vacuum While RWAs attempt to provide colony-level security, the absence of legal mandate and universal contribution mechanisms forces dangerous compromises. Unlike State police, RWAs have no power to enforce payments, discipline residents, or direct security personnel. This leads to critical operational gaps. Funding gaps = Coverage gaps With 20-40% residents routinely defaulting on security dues, RWAs are forced to reduce guard strength, cancel night patrols, or skip CCTV maintenance to balance budgets,¹ Many colonies operate with 1 guard per 200+ houses at night, violating basic perimeter security norms. The RWA cannot deny entry to defaulters or recover arrears, so paying residents subsidize non-payers, breeding resentment and eventual collapse of voluntary collections. Guards treated as personal servants = Security dilution A significant section of residents treats RWA-hired guards as personal attendants – directing them to carry groceries, wash cars, walk dogs, or open gates for individual guests. When guards comply to avoid conflict, they abandon post, leaving entry points unmanned. When they refuse, residents complain to RWA or threaten to stop payments. The guard, paid ₹12,000-15,000/ month with no job security, is caught between losing income and compromising the colony’s security protocol. RWAs have no service rules or legal authority to protect guards from such misuse. No enforcement power = Protocol violations RWAs cannot penalize residents who tailgate vehicles, refuse visitor entry logs, park across boom barriers, or abuse guards. Without statutory backing, security SOPs become ‘requests’ that non-cooperative residents ignore. Drunk/ violent residents cannot be restrained; unauthorized hawkers/ vendors allowed by influential members cannot be removed. The RWA’s only recourse is ‘persuasion,’ which fails when 5-10% of residents actively undermine the system. While RWAs attempt to provide colony-level security, the absence of legal mandate and universal contribution mechanisms forces dangerous compromises. Unlike State police, RWAs have no power to enforce payments, discipline residents, or direct security personnel. This leads to critical operational gaps. Liability without authority If a theft occurs due to a guard being on personal errand, the RWA faces blame but has no power to have punished the resident who misused the guard. If a guard is assaulted by a resident, the RWA cannot file an institutional FIR or suspend resident privileges. The RWA absorbs legal, financial, and reputational risk for a security function it cannot control. Result: RWAs deliver a compromised, part-time, legally vulnerable version of policing. They are forced to choose between unsafe gaps and confrontational enforcement they are not empowered to undertake. This proves the need for formal recognition under the 74th Amendment – with defined RWA powers, devolved security funds, and a legal interface with Delhi Police for beat-level discipline and cost-sharing. Security management by RWAs amid state policing deficit Delhi’s sanctioned police strength remains structurally inadequate when measured against both national benchmarks and global norms. As per the Bureau of Police Research & Development’s Data on Police Organizations, the all-India sanctioned Police Population Ratio (PPR) stands at 195.39 police personnel per lakh population, while the actual PPR is only 152.80 per lakh.¹ This is significantly below the UN-mandated norm of 220+ police per lakh.² For Delhi specifically, with an estimated population of 2.2 crore and a sanctioned strength of 95,000 personnel, the ratio translates to 1 policeman for 230+ citizens on paper, and worse in practice due to 20-25% vacancies and diversion to VIP security.³ The Model Police Manual prescribes 1 police station per lakh population and adequate beat staff to ensure coverage of 10,000 residents per beat; in reality, Delhi beats routinely exceed 30,000+ residents per constable, violating the Manual’s operational thresholds.⁴ This deficit has compelled RWAs to assume de-facto policing functions without statutory sanction or State funding. With no share in municipal taxes or government grants, RWAs levy voluntary contributions to finance private guards, CCTV systems, boom barriers, and night patrols – core law-and-order duties of the State. The average RWA security spend ranges from ₹40,000 to ₹2 lakh per month, yet office bearers lack powers to enforce payments or recover dues. Beyond funding, RWA members verify guard antecedents, maintain visitor logs, coordinate FIRs with overstretched SHOs, and respond to resident distress calls – effectively subsidizing a public safety shortfall created by the State’s failure to meet BPR&D’s own manpower norms.⁵ This arrangement is unsustainable and inequitable – RWAs perform State functions but receive no devolution of funds, no legal immunity, and no institutional interface under the 74th Constitutional Amendment framework. Refer Footnotes: Read More

Submitted by Prama India The growth story of physical security systems in the Indian real estate sector is driven by several key factors. This includes growing need for security solutions for residents and commercial establishments. The Indian physical security market is expanding rapidly, driven by increasing concerns over safety and security across various sectors, including residential and commercial real estate. The market is projected to grow significantly, with advancements in technology playing a crucial role. Technological advancements Innovations in surveillance, access control, and perimeter security systems are major contributors to this growth. The integration of AI, IoT, and cloud computing has enhanced the effectiveness and appeal of these security solutions. For instance, AI-powered analytics can detect unusual activities and alert security personnel in real-time. Regulatory and compliance needs Stricter regulations and compliance standards for building safety and security are driving the adoption of advanced security systems. Government initiatives and policies aimed at improving public safety are also boosting the demand for sophisticated security solutions. Increasing demand Both residential and commercial real estate sectors are seeing a rise in security incidents, such as theft and vandalism, which increases the need for robust security measures. The demand for video surveillance systems, access control systems, and intrusion detection systems is particularly high. Regional growth Urbanization and economic development in India are leading to increased construction of residential and commercial properties, which in turn drives the demand for security systems. The rapid urbanization in cities has heightened the need for effective security solutions to protect assets and ensure the safety of individuals. Overall, the physical security market in the Indian real estate sector is set to continue its robust growth, driven by technological advancements, regulatory requirements, and increasing security concerns. The demand for physical security systems in the real estate sector is growing due to several key factors: These factors collectively contribute to the growing importance and demand for physical security systems in the real estate sector. Security challenges in residential real estate Security challenges in commercial real estate Addressing these challenges requires a combination of advanced technology, robust security protocols, and continuous monitoring to ensure the safety and security of both residential and commercial properties. PRAMA real estate security solutions PRAMA India offers a range of video security solutions tailored for the real estate sector. These solutions are designed to enhance security and surveillance for residential and commercial properties. Some of the key features and products include: PRAMA’s video security solutions for the real estate sector addresses all the risks and challenges prevailing in the physical security domain. PRAMA’s Aisense Cameras offers more advanced ways to mitigate risks and detect threats. These technologically advanced help ensure the safety of residents and property, providing peace of mind for property owners and managers. Read More

Jawale GhanashyamHead – India Operation – Arohi The Scale of Vision Mumbai is now monitored by a sophisticated network of over 11,000 cameras covering major intersections, Mumbai entry points, vital installations, tourist/ iconic landmarks, important religious places, highly sensitive religious festivals and political gatherings and many more. This system, the Arohi Video Management System (VMS), serves as the technological foundation for one of India’s most ambitious urban safety initiatives. Challenges and issues User was facing multiple critical challenges – like DC-DR failover, auto switching was taking more than 10 to 15 mins to get system switchover from DC to DR, and hence forth, data sync was not happening after switching. After N+1 functionality and data sync was not happening. VMS client live operations were getting hampered during this operation. Phase 1 was working on H.264 compression, phase 2 needed to be on H.265. Camera’s firmware was different and to get Phase 1 and Phase 2 cameras on single client Servers; client machines upgrade was suggested by old OEM. As network and networking equipment were getting old so multicast was an issue. Bandwidth requirement was getting out of control. As some of the system were old and some were getting updated integration was an issue. Vital Solutions provided by Arohi – with fully scalable system thinking about future. Zero-downtime failover In traditional VMS environments, a system crash usually triggers a frantic 15-minute scramble to restore services. Arohi has eliminated this window entirely. Through an intelligent auto-switching architecture, the transition from Data Centre (DC) to Disaster Recovery (DR) – and back again – is instantaneous. It’s the ‘seamless’ promise that vendors often make but rarely deliver; here, it’s an operational reality where neither the user nor the network admin feels the shift. Continuity without compromise Redundancy is useless if data is lost in the handoff. Where legacy systems suffer from ‘data amnesia’ during failover, Arohi maintains persistent, real-time synchronization. The N+1 architecture finally functions as intended – a reliable, redundant lifecycle that preserves data integrity from the first byte to the last, regardless of hardware status. Codec agility Arohi’s unified interface handles both H.264 and H.265 streams simultaneously. This allows organizations to modernize their camera fleets incrementally deploying high-efficiency H.265 hardware where it’s most critical while protecting the RoI of existing H.264 assets – with no upgradation in VMS server, no upgradation in VMS client, no upgradation in GPU, No forced Hardware migrations. Intelligent network adaptation Bandwidth is a finite resource, and Arohi treats it with respect. The streaming server dynamically selects between multicast or unicast based on live network conditions. By reading the environment in real-time, the system ensures optimal stream quality without choking the infrastructure, adapting on the fly to prevent bottlenecks. Hardware-aware optimization Arohi rejects the ‘dumb terminal’ philosophy. Instead, the software actively audits the client machine’s configuration – leveraging GPU acceleration irrespective of its version or age and local computational resources – to maximize performance. It is software that respects, and amplifies, your hardware investment. Infinite scalability Growth shouldn’t come with a performance penalty. Built on a modular foundation, Arohi scales horizontally as your operational needs expand. Whether you are adding ten cameras or ten thousand, or integrating new geographic sites, the platform maintains peak performance without requiring a fundamental redesign. Seamless ecosystem integration Arohi doesn’t just sit on the network – it talks to it. Native, two-way integration with critical systems – such as Dial 100, Face Recognition (FR) apps, and custom security platforms – eliminates the brittle APIs and ‘middleware hacks’ that plague legacy setups. Arohi speaks the native language of the modern security ecosystem. SOP liberation: Returning agility to the operator Perhaps the most transformative shift is the democratization of control. ICCC administrators are no longer tethered to vendor support for protocol changes. Arohi grants the freedom to create, modify, and deploy Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for any incident type in minutes. What once required a support ticket is now a simple administrative task, returning true agility to the people behind the consoles. Arohi delivers autonomous resilience. The modern standard is zero-disruption failover, intelligent resource utilization, and administrative sovereignty over security The Technology Revolution What separates modern surveillance is its intelligence. Mumbai’s system isn’t merely recording – it’s thinking. It actively analyses them in real-time Live feeds and all relevant details shared between Commissioner Office, Mumbai Police, Regional Viewing stations and State Disaster Management centres etc. – are breaking silos that previously hampered emergency response. Arohi VMS features Automatic Bandwidth Adaptation Technology. The system continuously monitors available network capacity and automatically adjusts the live preview streams. This ensures a smooth, jitter-free display even in environments with low or fluctuating bandwidth, The architecture leverages multi-streaming capabilities to deliver video efficiently based on the user’s needs. Look, the RoI is undeniable – automated violation detection alone cuts operational costs by 40%, but what we’re really selling here is psychological safety. When citizens see those blue indicator lights blinking, they know someone’s got their back. By building a network that is visible, responsive, and eternally awake, A significant factor in the project’s success is Arohi’s local presence. Being headquartered within the city provides unique strategic benefits. Arohi possesses a deep understanding of Mumbai’s unique urban topography and proximity ensures rapid, on-site assistance and maintenance, minimizing any possible system downtime and ensuring the ‘Unblinking Eye’ stays operational 24/7 The Arohi VMS is not a finished product; it is a platform for continuous improvement. As analytical capabilities mature and camera coverage expands, the system’s capacity to anticipate and prevent incidents will deepen. Mumbai is not simply monitoring its streets – it is actively shaping the future of urban security in India. Mumbai is redefining what it means to be a modern ‘Smart City.’ Through the power of the Arohi VMS, India’s financial capital is ensuring that its growth is matched by its security. Read More

Col Ashok Kumar Singh (Retd.)Senior Security Consultant and Thought Leader A Tectonic turbulence or phenomenal convergence The friction of transition is the exact cost that progress extracts from legacy systems. True convergence occurs when compliance ceases to be a checklist and becomes an organizational culture. India’s Private Security Industry (PSI) stands as one of the largest employers of unorganized and contractual labour in the country, bridging the critical gap between public law enforcement and corporate, residential, and industrial safety. Historically characterized by fragmented labour compliance, razor-thin operating margins, and high attrition rates, the sector is experiencing a monumental legislative paradigm shift. The full implementation of the four labour codes – the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code, 2020 – represents a structural modernization of the nation’s employment landscape. By replacing 29 archaic Central labour laws with a streamlined, digitized, and highly integrated regulatory framework, the Government of India has fundamentally altered how human capital is priced, managed and protected. For Private Security Agencies (PSAs), this transition is not merely a routine policy update; it is an existential re-baselining. We are witnessing the formalization of India’s shadows. The private security industry, long relegated to casual compliance, is being forged by these four codes into a highly transparent, capital-grade profession. Change is not a bolt from the blue; it is a gradual convergence of forces that alters the ground we stand upon. Those who treat it as turbulence capsize; those who treat it as a compass navigate to new horizons.– Peter F. Drucker Turbulence vs. Convergence: The Industry’s Transitional State The implementation of the four labour codes introduces a dual reality for the private security industry. In the short term, agencies are grappling with operational turbulence; however, the long-term horizon signals a profound structural convergence that will formalize the sector. The phase of short-term turbulence The immediate aftermath of the notification of rules reveals significant friction points for PSAs across several distinct operational domains: The destination of long-term convergence Once the initial disruptions subside, the legislative framework steers the industry toward highly beneficial market convergence: Social Elevation of Security Personnel: From Invisible Labor to Formal Workforce At its core, the social narrative of the new labour codes centres on human dignity, formalization, and equity. Security guards in India have historically occupied a vulnerable position within the unorganized labour landscape, frequently subject to systemic underpayment, extended working hours without overtime compensation, and a lack of social safety nets. The codes systematically dismantle these vulnerabilities, driving a profound socio-economic upgrade. Universal wage security and the floor wage paradigm The Code on Wages introduces a statutory right to minimum wages for all workers, removing previous occupational exclusions that left sections of the security workforce unprotected. Crucially, the establishment of a National Floor Wage by the Central Government prevents state governments from setting minimum wages below a baseline standard of living. For the security guard, this ensures that geographic migration no longer means slipping beneath the poverty line. Furthermore, the explicit prohibition of gender-based discrimination in recruitment and compensation fosters a more inclusive environment, accelerating the formal deployment of female security personnel in retail, corporate, and logistics sectors. Comprehensive social security net and portability The Code on Social Security expands protections by linking benefits directly to an individual’s universal identity via Aadhaar-linked electronic portfolios. Feature Legacy System Framework New Labour Code Paradigm Impact on Security Personnel Gratuity Eligibility Requires 5 continuous years of service with a single employer. Reduced to 1 year for Fixed-Term Employees (FTEs). Guards on fixed annual site contracts are no longer deprived of gratuity accumulations. Social Security Portability Fragmented accounts; benefits frequently lost during employer transitions. Unified, Aadhaar-linked digital accounts. Guard retains accumulated PF and pension credits seamlessly when moving between agencies. Accident & Disability Cover Heavily reliant on slow-moving judicial paths under the Employee’s Compensation Act. Direct integration into expanded ESI and dedicated central welfare funds. Immediate access to healthcare and income rehabilitation following workplace injuries. The true measure of an industry’s maturity is not the wealth of its corporations, but the social mobility of its frontline personnel. Formalization is the bridge from invisible labour to dignified citizenship Workplace dignity, health, and safety Under the OSHWC Code, the psychological and physical environment of the security guard undergoes a structural upgrade: Dissecting the Compliance Matrix for PSAs To thrive under the new regulatory regime, PSAs must master a highly digitized, integrated compliance matrix. The strategy shifts from reactive management to real-time digital auditing. Navigating the unified definition of ‘wages’ The operational challenge lies in managing the 50% basic wage rule. The Code on Wages defines ‘Wages’ comprehensively while explicitly detailing exclusions (such as HRA, overtime, bonus, and specific allowances). If the sum of these exclusions exceeds 50% of the total remuneration package, the excess amount is automatically pulled back into the ‘Wages’ basket for calculation purposes. This dynamic directly alters an agency’s cost projections. Every PSA must audit its current payroll engines to ensure that basic pay plus dearness allowance complies with this threshold, preventing massive retroactive liabilities during future inspections. Operational adjustments under the OSHWC code Managing deployment schedules within strict statutory limits requires careful oversight. The code caps standard daily shifts at 8 hours, with total weekly hours limited to 48. While overtime is permitted, it is subject to clear daily and quarterly ceilings, and every hour of overtime must be paid at double the ordinary wage rate. Furthermore, the threshold for contract labour registration has been raised from 20 to 50 or more contract workers. This offers administrative relief to smaller operations, but larger, enterprise-grade PSAs must maintain precise digital registers to track hours, shift rotations, and overtime calculations across multiple client locations. The transition from inspection to facilitation The legacy, highly punitive ‘Inspector Raj’ has been replaced by the Inspector-cum-Facilitator model. The primary focus shifts toward guidance, compliance facilitation, and technology-driven transparency: When we change an individual’s designation…

Kunwar Vikram SinghChairman, Central Association of Private Security Industry ( CAPSI ) The aspiration to elevate the private security sector to the highest standards of professional efficiency and public trust is not merely a personal wish – it is an urgent national imperative. In a country like India, where the demand for safety and risk mitigation is expanding across urban and rural landscapes alike, the private security industry has emerged as a silent but indispensable pillar of stability. From safeguarding critical infrastructure and corporate assets to protecting residential communities and public spaces, the sector touches millions of lives every single day. Yet, despite its scale and significance, it continues to operate far below its true potential. My vision is clear – the private security sector must transform from a manpower-driven service into a knowledge-led, technology-enabled profession grounded in discipline, ethics, and accountability. Professional efficiency begins with training. A security professional must not merely be a guard – but a skilled ‘Guarding Officer,’ equipped with situational awareness, emergency response capabilities, and a deep understanding of human behavior. Standardized, high-quality training modules, aligned with global benchmarks, are essential. Continuous upskilling, certification, and specialization must become the norm rather than the exception. Equally important is the integration of technology. The future of security lies in the intelligent use of AI-driven surveillance, data analytics, remote monitoring, and predictive threat assessment. The human resource must be complemented – not replaced – by smart systems that enhance decision-making and response times. A modern security workforce must be as comfortable with digital tools as it is with physical vigilance. However, efficiency without trust is hollow. Trust is the true currency of the security profession. It is earned through integrity, transparency, and consistency in service delivery. Every security agency must adopt strict compliance standards, adhere to regulatory frameworks, and embrace ethical practices. Background verification, accountability mechanisms, and professional conduct must be non-negotiable pillars of the industry. There is also a pressing need to address the perception challenge. Security personnel are often undervalued, seen as low-skilled labor rather than trained professionals. This mindset must change. By improving nomenclature, career progression pathways, wages, and working conditions, we can attract educated youth and instill pride in the profession. A respected workforce naturally delivers higher standards of service. Policy support will play a decisive role. Effective implementation of the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act (PSARA), faster licensing processes, and institutional support for capacity building can unlock tremendous growth. Public-private partnerships can further strengthen the ecosystem, especially in areas of national importance such as critical infrastructure protection and disaster response. India has the potential to become a global leader in private security services. With over 10 million personnel and growing at an impressive pace, the sector can not only meet domestic needs but also export skilled security professionals worldwide. But this will only happen if we commit to excellence today. This is more than an industry transformation – it is a mission. A mission to build a security ecosystem that inspires confidence, commands respect, and delivers uncompromised protection. The journey to the highest levels of professional efficiency and trust is challenging, but it is achievable. And it must begin now. Read More

Capt Garry SinghPresidentIIRIS Consulting Why Human Responsibility Must Rise as AI Transforms the World New Age Imperatives for Upskilling & Readiness Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future possibility – it is the world’s new operating system. Nations, companies, and individuals are rapidly integrating AI across decision-making, security, healthcare, finance, governance, and even warfare. What was once considered an emerging technology has now become a defining force shaping the future of economies, industries, and societies worldwide. However, with this historic technological transformation comes an equally important responsibility. As Artificial Intelligence grows stronger and more influential, human intelligence must become more accountable, more skilled, and more prepared than ever before. AI can accelerate processes, optimise systems, and analyse data at unimaginable speed, but it still depends on human judgment, ethics, and responsibility for meaningful and safe outcomes. Like every powerful tool in history, AI amplifies the intent and capability of those who wield it – whether governments, corporations, professionals, or cybercriminal organisations. This makes human oversight, strategic thinking, and ethical decision-making the most critical assets of the coming decade. Present Stage The world is already witnessing an unprecedented shift towards AI-driven ecosystems. According to global studies, nearly 58% of employees worldwide are already using AI regularly at work as of 2025, with adoption rates highest in countries such as India, China, Nigeria, and Brazil. This clearly indicates that AI is no longer limited to technology companies alone – it has become a mainstream workplace reality. At the same time, experts estimate that nearly 80% of the global workforce will require reskilling or upskilling by 2026 in order to work effectively alongside AI systems. Traditional job roles are evolving rapidly, and new-age capabilities such as AI literacy, data understanding, cybersecurity awareness, and critical thinking are becoming essential across industries. The economic implications are equally massive. The World Economic Forum estimates that Artificial Intelligence could contribute nearly $15 trillion to the global economy, but only those countries and organisations that invest heavily in human learning and workforce preparedness will truly benefit from this transformation. The message is becoming increasingly clear – AI is not simply changing industries – it is redefining national competitiveness and future readiness. Global Pivot Towards AI The world is not just adopting AI; it is reorganising itself around it. Governments across the globe are embedding Artificial Intelligence into healthcare systems, defence strategies, public services, national security operations, and economic planning. Corporates are redesigning workflows, business models, operational systems, and workforce structures to maximise AI-driven efficiencies. Even small and medium businesses are using AI tools for sales forecasting, customer engagement, cyber protection, and financial management. This global pivot towards AI is creating a new international reality where technological leadership is becoming a strategic advantage. Nations that master AI ecosystems will shape future economic and geopolitical influence, while those that fail to adapt risk being left behind. The message is unmistakable: AI leadership is becoming national strategy. Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future possibility – it is the world’s new operating system. Nations, companies, and individuals are rapidly integrating AI across decision-making, security, healthcare, finance, governance, and even warfare. What was once considered an emerging technology has now become a defining force shaping the future of economies, industries, and societies worldwide The Skills Crisis Even as AI capability rises exponentially, human capability is struggling to keep pace. This widening gap is emerging as one of the biggest challenges of the modern era. Reports reveal that only 1 in 50 AI investments succeeds effectively, largely due to the lack of adequate human capability, training, and organisational preparedness. Many institutions are investing heavily in technology without equally investing in the people who must manage, govern, and work alongside these systems. Furthermore, nearly 70% of employers now consider AI skills more important than traditional computer literacy. This marks a significant shift in workforce expectations, where adaptability and technological understanding are becoming essential employability criteria. Interestingly, organisations that actively provide AI learning and development opportunities are witnessing approximately 34% higher employee retention, demonstrating that workforce empowerment and learning culture are becoming competitive advantages in themselves. The skills crisis therefore is not only a technological issue – it is a leadership, education, and policy challenge. Significance Despite its immense capabilities, Artificial Intelligence still has fundamental limitations. AI can calculate, predict, analyse, automate, and optimise – but it cannot be morally accountable. It cannot independently understand ethics, empathy, responsibility, or the broader human consequences of decisions. This is precisely why human intelligence becomes even more significant in the age of AI. Humans must continue to lead in areas that require setting strategic direction, exercising judgment. managing ambiguity, owning consequences, ethical decision-making, and human-centric governance. Without strong human capability and oversight, AI systems can unintentionally accelerate errors, bias, fraud, cyber manipulation, misinformation, and systemic risks at massive scale. In critical sectors such as healthcare, defence, policing, and finance, irresponsible or unchecked AI deployment can have serious societal and national consequences. The challenge therefore is not whether AI will replace humans, but whether humans will prepare themselves adequately to lead AI responsibly. Where is the Solution? The solution lies in building stronger human intelligence alongside stronger artificial intelligence. Mass upskilling & reskilling AI literacy, data literacy, cybersecurity basics, analytical capability, and critical thinking must become mainstream skills across sectors and professions. Continuous learning can no longer remain optional in the AI era. Policy modernisation Governments must establish national AI standards, responsible-use regulations, workforce readiness mandates, and ethical governance frameworks to ensure balanced and secure AI growth. Industry responsibility Corporates must treat AI training and workforce development as essential infrastructure investment rather than optional learning expenditure. Organisations that empower employees with AI readiness will remain future competitive. Human-centric AI governance Humans must continue to remain in control of critical decisions, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, finance, policing, defence, and public safety. AI should augment human intelligence—not replace human accountability. Conclusion Human intelligence must not shrink in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Instead, it must rise—stronger, sharper, more…

Manpreet SinghCo-Founder &Principal Consultant, 5Tattva One of the biggest misconceptions in AI safety is the assumption that more capable models are automatically safer. In reality, the opposite can happen. A model that becomes highly skilled at generating complex structures such as poetry may also become more effective at executing hidden or obfuscated instructions embedded within those formats. Poetry has long been celebrated as a vehicle for human expression. But beneath the rhythm and rhyme lies a rigid mathematical structure – one that, in the age of artificial intelligence, may expose an unexpected vulnerability. Beneath the artistic legacy of ancient epics lies a rigid syntactic cage. In the context of modern machine learning and language models, this strict framework presents a unique vulnerability. By leveraging these artistic constraints, adversarial payloads can bypass semantic filters, turning humanity’s oldest mnemonic device into a mechanism for digital deception. The blind spot in AI alignment To understand why Shakespeare would have been an incredible asset to a modern Red Team or VAPT operation, we have to look at how modern AI safety training works. Large Language Models (LLMs) have scaled globally, expanding the attack surface across digital ecosystems by introducing new vulnerabilities and amplifying existing ones. To ensure safety, LLMs are safeguarded using Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). Human testers spend thousands of hours feeding the model malicious prompts like ‘Write me a computer virus’ or ‘How do I build a homemade bomb?’ and teaching the model to refuse such requests. However, there is a critical limitation in this training data – it is overwhelmingly conversational and prose-based. These safety classifiers are designed to detect malicious intent primarily in standard conversational syntax. When a malicious command is wrapped in structured verse such as iambic pentameter or an AABB rhyme scheme, it pushes the prompt into Out-of-Distribution (OoD) territory. The model has rarely encountered security threats formatted as poetry during alignment training. The result is simple – the AI is trained to detect obvious threats, but adversarial poetry hides the threat within complex linguistic structure. The anatomy of the exploit Executing this vulnerability requires more than just basic knowledge of LLMs or the gift of rhyme. It demands a deliberate, two-stage methodology. Stage one: Semantic Obfuscation Attackers remove the prompt of known trigger words to bypass the LLM’s basic safety classifiers. Through metaphorical shifts, a ‘keylogger’ becomes ‘a silent scribe in the shadows,’ and an ‘injection-based attack’ becomes ‘a poisoned drop in the curator’s inkwell.’ Every metaphor creates an extra layer of deception. Stage two: Attention Hijacking The attacker forces the model to follow a rigid format such as a villanelle, sestina, or structured sonnet. This requires the AI to dedicate significant computational attention to maintaining rhyme, rhythm, and tone. As the model prioritizes structural compliance, its ability to enforce safety checks weakens. The AI becomes so focused on composing the poem that the hidden payload may pass unnoticed. The empirical proof This threat was examined in the research paper ‘Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models,’ authored by researchers from institutions including DEXAI – Icaro Lab and Sapienza University of Rome. By converting 1,200 harmful prompts from the MLCommons dataset into poetic form, researchers measured a dramatic shift in safety outcomes. Formatting malicious prompts as poetry increased the Attack Success Rate (ASR) from 8.08% to 43.07%. Key findings include: Importantly, the tests were conducted using default provider configurations, meaning the ~43% ASR likely represents a conservative estimate of the true vulnerability. A broader taxonomy of deception Adversarial poetry is only one example of structural prompt manipulation. Attackers can obscure intent using a variety of other formats such as low-resource languages, Base64 encoding, leetspeak, or dense legal terminology. Similarly, prompts that force models to navigate complex logic puzzles, nested JSON or YAML structures, or artificial state machines can overload processing capacity. In each case, the structure distracts the model’s attention, allowing the malicious intent to slip through undetected. The regulatory reality check This raises a crucial question for AI developers – How well do language models understand intent across different linguistic structures? Current safety filters remain largely surface-level, scanning for obvious conversational threats rather than deeper semantic intent. As demonstrated, simply restructuring a request into verse can bypass these defenses. Security researchers warn that this exposes a deeper flaw in how AI models interpret structured language. Addressing this requires more than keyword filtering. Researchers must analyze the internal mechanisms of LLM safety systems to understand where alignment fails. The implications extend to regulation as well. Frameworks such as the EU AI Act rely on static testing assumptions that AI responses remain stable across similar prompts. This research challenges that assumption, showing that minor structural changes can dramatically alter safety outcomes. The ghost in the syntax We built these systems to withstand brute force. We trained them to detect explicit threats and filter malicious instructions. But poetry doesn’t attack logic; it exploits structure. When a language model is forced into strict meter and rhyme, its attention shifts toward maintaining cadence rather than evaluating risk. The result is a subtle but powerful vulnerability – while the model focuses on form, the hidden instruction may pass straight through its defenses – turning poetry into an unexpected attack vector in the age of AI. Read More

Harikrishna PrabhuCOO, TechnoBind Solutions Small and medium businesses today are navigating a paradox. On one hand, Apple devices are increasingly preferred for their user experience and built-in security architecture. On the other, the rise in sophisticated cyber threats is making endpoint security more complex than ever. The real challenge is not just securing devices, but doing so without building large IT teams or overburdening existing resources. This is where centralized device management becomes not just useful, but essential. Apple has long embedded strong native security controls such as Gatekeeper, XProtect, and sandboxing. However, the evolving threat landscape demands more than just built-in protections. According to Jamf’s 2025 Security 360 report, threats such as credential-stealing malware and phishing attacks are rising sharply, with infostealers alone increasing by over 28 percent year on year. For SMBs, this means that relying solely on device-level security is no longer sufficient. What is required is visibility, control, and automation across the entire device fleet. For SMBs, this means that relying solely on device-level security is no longer sufficient. What is required is visibility, control, and automation across the entire device fleet Why centralized management is the game changer The traditional approach to device security involves fragmented tools, manual configurations, and reactive troubleshooting. This model is not scalable, especially for SMBs operating with lean IT teams. Centralized Mobile Device Management transforms this paradigm. With a unified platform, businesses can: The importance of this shift is reflected in the market itself. The global MDM segment accounted for nearly 46.5 percent of the device management market share in 2024, underlining how critical centralized management has become for modern IT environments. For SMBs, this is not about adopting more tools. It is about simplifying operations while strengthening security. Reducing IT load without compromising security One of the biggest misconceptions is that strong security requires heavy IT involvement. In reality, modern Apple device management platforms are designed to reduce IT dependency. Capabilities such as zero-touch deployment allow devices to be shipped directly to employees with pre-configured settings, applications, and security controls. This eliminates manual setup and reduces onboarding time drastically. Automation further ensures that security policies are enforced consistently; updates happen without user intervention; and compliance requirements are met continuously. This is particularly important in hybrid and remote work environments, where devices are no longer within the physical perimeter of the organization. In essence, centralized management shifts IT from a reactive function to a strategic enabler. Security must be invisible, not intrusive A key principle that SMBs must embrace is that security should not disrupt productivity. Apple users value seamless experiences, and any security framework must align with that expectation. Modern MDM solutions achieve this by operating in the background. Employees get instant access to the tools they need, while IT retains full control over configurations, data protection, and threat mitigation. This balance between usability and security is what drives adoption and long-term success. JAMF MDM for small businesses – A strong reference model A good example of how this approach is being implemented effectively is JAMF’s solution for small businesses. JAMF offers a purpose-built Apple MDM platform designed specifically for organizations with limited IT resources. Its focus is on simplicity, speed, and automation, enabling SMBs to secure and manage devices with minimal technical expertise. Businesses can set up and secure their Apple device fleet in as little as one hour using guided workflows and automation. Key features of JAMF for SMBs Solutions like JAMF demonstrate that enterprise-grade security does not have to come with enterprise-level complexity. The road ahead for SMB security As Apple devices continue to gain traction in business environments, attackers are following the adoption curve. SMBs can no longer afford fragmented or manual approaches to endpoint security. The future lies in consolidation, automation, and intelligent management. Centralized MDM platforms are not just tools. They are strategic enablers that allow SMBs to scale securely, operate efficiently, and focus on growth rather than firefighting IT issues. The organizations that succeed will be the ones that treat device security not as an afterthought, but as an integrated part of their digital strategy. The goal is simple. Maximum security, minimal complexity, and zero disruption to the business. Read More

Abhishek AnandCountry Manager – NETGEAR India & SAARC The lines between Audio-Visual (AV) systems and Information Technology (IT) are blurring, marking a significant shift in how enterprises approach digital infrastructure. What was once a clear separation – IT managing data infrastructure while AV teams managed meeting room technologies and display systems – is now evolving into a unified, IP-driven ecosystem. Today, these two worlds are merging. This convergence is transforming how organizations build and manage modern communication environments. From smart meeting rooms to large-scale digital signage networks, everything now relies on unified, IP-based infrastructure. Managing this unified network requires specialized tools and robust hardware. Organizations need systems capable of handling heavy video traffic without compromising critical data performance. The rise of AV over IP (AVoIP) A key driver behind this transformation is AV over IP (AVoIP). Instead of relying on traditional HDMI or SDI cables, businesses are increasingly using standard Ethernet networks to deliver high-quality audio and video. This shift simplifies infrastructure significantly. There is less dependence on proprietary cabling and rigid matrix systems, allowing for more flexible and scalable deployments. Adding a new display or endpoint is as simple as connecting it to a nearby network switch. AVoIP not only reduces installation complexity but also lowers costs while offering unmatched flexibility. Organizations can expand their systems gradually, aligning with growth and evolving needs. Why network performance is non-negotiable As AV becomes part of the broader IT ecosystem, network performance becomes critical. Unlike traditional data traffic, which is often burst-based, AV traffic requires continuous, high-bandwidth, and low-latency transmission. Even minor disruptions can impact user experience. While dropped data packets in standard IT environments can be retransmitted, packet loss in AV results in visible issues such as video freezing or audio distortion. This shift places new demands on IT teams, who must now manage continuous AV streams alongside regular data operations. Reliable, high-performance networking infrastructure is essential to ensure seamless delivery. Purpose-built networking for AV environments Standard IT infrastructure is not always optimized for AV workloads. Modern AV networks require capabilities such as efficient multicast handling, high Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, and simplified configuration. Advanced networking solutions are designed to handle multicast traffic effectively, ensuring that video streams are delivered only where needed, rather than overwhelming the entire network. High PoE capacity enables devices such as cameras, displays, and access points to be powered directly through the network, reducing the need for additional electrical infrastructure. Equally important is ease of deployment. User-friendly interfaces and profile-based configurations allow teams to set up complex AV networks quickly, without extensive command-line expertise. This reduces deployment time and minimizes the risk of errors. Addressing these needs requires networking solutions that combine performance, scalability, and ease of deployment. Providers such as NETGEAR are focusing on delivering these capabilities through dedicated Pro AV portfolios, including solutions such as the M4250 series AV switches, designed for seamless AV over IP deployments, and the M4350 series for high-bandwidth, enterprise-grade environments. These solutions offer advanced multicast optimization, high Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities, and simplified configuration through the NETGEAR Engage Controller, along with enterprise-grade security features including network segmentation and access control. Security in converged networks As AV devices become part of enterprise networks, security becomes a major concern. Unsecured endpoints such as digital displays or wireless presentation systems, can create vulnerabilities. Modern networking approaches incorporate robust security measures, including access controls; secure management protocols, and network segmentation. These features help protect sensitive data while ensuring uninterrupted AV performance. Bridging the gap between AV and IT teams The convergence of AV and IT is not just a technological shift – it is also an operational one. Traditionally, AV and IT teams have worked independently, with different priorities and expertise. Today, successful deployments require collaboration. AV professionals focus on user experience and signal quality, while IT teams prioritize network reliability and security. A unified approach enables both teams to work efficiently on a shared platform. This collaboration leads to faster project execution, easier troubleshooting, and more reliable communication systems. Building future-ready infrastructure The convergence of AV and IT is now the standard across corporate offices, educational institutions, broadcast environments, and entertainment venues. Organizations must invest in infrastructure designed for this integrated reality. By adopting scalable and flexible networking solutions, businesses can future-proof their environments and ensure seamless, high-quality communication experiences. A strong network foundation is essential to support the growing demands of modern AV systems. Read More

Satish Kumar VCEOEverestIMS Technologies Starting Small, Scaling Smart:The Unified Advantage  Many IT teams dream of a single platform but fear big-bang migrations or vendor lock-in. Infraon Infinity takes a different approach – begin wherever pain is greatest – whether it’s asset visibility through ITAM, service management through ITSM, comprehensive network monitoring, or predictive operations powered by AIOps – and expand modularly from there. As a unified platform, Infraon Infinity lets organizations activate capabilities on demand, paying only for what delivers value today while building toward full operational unification tomorrow. From discovery to insight in one ecosystem The journey often starts with visibility. Infraon Infinity’s auto-discovery engine continuously scans and identifies devices, applications, servers, and cloud resources across your entire infrastructure – on-premises, hybrid, or multi-cloud – automatically populating the centralized CMDB with accurate, real-time relationships and dependencies. Teams gain a complete 360° topology map of their environment without deploying separate discovery tools for each function or disparate scans. Network monitoring capabilities establish performance baselines automatically across all discovered assets, creating intelligent thresholds that distinguish normal behavior from anomalous patterns. The AIOps engine analyzes historical performance data, user behavior, and environmental changes to build predictive models – enabling operators to focus on genuine exceptions rather than constant manual threshold checking across fragmented monitoring dashboards. Many IT teams dream of a single platform but fear big-bang migrations or vendor lock-in. Infraon Infinity takes a different approach – begin wherever pain is greatest – whether it’s asset visibility through ITAM, service management through ITSM, comprehensive network monitoring, or predictive operations powered by AIOps – and expand modularly from there Turning insights into automated outcomes Once visibility is established, Infraon Infinity turns data into immediate action. Intelligent event correlation reduces alert fatigue by aggregating signals from monitoring, network devices, applications, and user reports – automatically suppressing duplicate alerts and noise while surfacing genuine incidents that require attention. When real issues arise, AIOps-powered diagnostics guide engineers with contextual information pulled from the unified CMDB – asset configurations, warranty status, service dependencies, previous incident history, and recommended fixes – all displayed in a single unified dashboard. One-click automated remediation workflows handle routine problems like disk cleanup, service restarts, or patch deployment, while complex issues are intelligently routed with complete context to the right expert based on skills, availability, and workload. The ITSM capabilities integrate seamlessly across the platform – service requests automatically convert to incidents when issues are detected, change management workflows link directly to impacted assets in the CMDB, and approval chains flow without external email chains or manual handoffs. For MSPs, the multi-tenant architecture isolates client data while enabling shared monitoring templates, standardized workflows, and reusable automation playbooks that accelerate client onboarding and ensure consistent service delivery across portfolios. Optimizing for the long term With day-to-day operations running smoother through automation and intelligent workflows, teams unlock higher-order benefits. Predictive analytics models within Infraon Infinity analyze usage trends across compute, storage, and network resources to prevent costly over-provisioning while avoiding performance bottlenecks. ITAM capabilities identify underutilized software licenses, support renewal negotiations with usage data, and flag compliance risks before audits. Predictive maintenance models flag hardware failures, performance degradation, and security vulnerabilities before they impact end users – shifting IT operations from reactive firefighting to proactive risk mitigation. MSPs especially benefit from the multi-tenant design that enables scalable service delivery while maintaining data isolation and security across diverse client portfolios. Real-world impact: Measurable gains Organizations adopting Infraon Infinity report dramatic improvements – incident resolution times drop as engineers access complete context from the CMDB instead of switching between tools; IT teams consolidate 5-7 separate monitoring, ticketing, and asset management licenses into one platform; and new IT initiatives reach value faster because teams aren’t re-integrating fragmented tools with every project. The unified architecture enables teams to scale operations without proportional headcount growth – automation handles routine tasks, AIOps identifies patterns humans would miss, and the integrated ITSM-ITAM workflow eliminates manual data entry across systems. End users experience fewer disruptions because predictive monitoring and automated remediation catch and resolve problems before they escalate into service-impacting incidents. Why one platform wins In a world of accelerating digital transformation and multi-cloud complexity, fragmented point solutions slow adaptation and create operational blind spots. Infraon Infinity offers the opposite – a unified foundation where monitoring data flows natively into ITSM tickets, ITAM maintains the authoritative CMDB for all modules, and AIOps intelligence layers across the entire platform – enabling smarter decisions and faster execution without APIs, integrations, or data synchronization overhead. Start small with the module addressing your greatest pain point – whether network monitoring, service desk automation, asset discovery, or client management – achieve quick wins through immediate visibility and automation, then expand to transform end-to-end IT operations on a single, unified platform built for the modern enterprise. Read More