Published on January 08, 2025
Cybersecurity has become a critical aspect of modern business operations, and the Tata group is committed to being at the forefront of this evolving domain. Reflecting this commitment, Tata Business Excellence Group (TBExG) launched the inaugural Tata Cyber Excellence Forum, in partnership with mjunction, on January 7, 2025, in Kolkata. Designed to be a dynamic platform, this forum will serve to foster knowledge sharing and best practices in cybersecurity within the Tata ecosystem.
The inaugural session brought together over 32 in-person and 30 online participants, including CIOs, CISOs, CDOs, and IT professionals, participating in meaningful discussions, exchanging insights and strategies to advance cybersecurity excellence across the Group. The forum brought together esteemed speakers from Tata and non-Tata companies, who shared their own expertise and experiences in the area of cybersecurity.
The forum began with a welcome address by Sanjeev Singh, Vice President & Head, TBExG, who highlighted the importance of the Tata Business Excellence Model and TCS’s Blue Tick framework in driving organisational excellence. This was followed by an inspiring leadership address by Vinaya Varma, MD & CEO, mjunction, underlining the critical role of cybersecurity in business continuity and operational resilience. Adding to the conversation, Amit Khan, CIO, mjunction, provided insights into their robust security frameworks, including the NIST and CIS Controls, alongside their round-the-clock Security Operations Centre (SOC).
The sessions after this explored the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. Nishith Dutta, Head - Data Protection, Titan Company, delved into the dual nature of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity, explaining how it can serve as both a risk and an opportunity for innovation. His session emphasised the need for a balanced approach to harnessing AI’s potential while mitigating the risks involved. Sankalp Guha, Corporate Head, Tata Advanced Systems, then offered a comprehensive perspective on managing cybersecurity in the highly regulated aerospace & defence sector, addressing challenges such as nation-state threats and the complexities of integrating operational and information technologies.
To bring in a perspective from a company outside the Tata group, Aman Malhotra, Global Black Belt - Security, Microsoft, introduced the company’s unified security strategy, highlighting how AI is reshaping modern threat detection and response. His session underscored the importance of a proactive approach in combating cyber threats. Each of these sessions provided a nuanced understanding of emerging technologies and strategies to navigate an increasingly complex cyber landscape.
The forum also explored the importance of metrics and structured frameworks in enhancing cybersecurity. Surya Vadlani, Associate Director, Tata Consumer Products, stressed the value of metrics such as ‘Mean Time to Detect’ and ‘Mean Time to Respond’ in measuring cybersecurity effectiveness. These metrics, he explained, are vital for assessing and improving response strategies.
Dhiraj Ranka, CISO, Tata AIG, offered insights into holistic security practices, including Multi-Factor Authentication, SOC operations, and API security. Outlining a framework for developing strong policy foundations, Raviraj Salvi, Group Digital, Tata Sons, also discussed ways to enhance organisational cyber resilience.
The forum also celebrated the progress achieved through the Tata Cyber Excellence Programme, as highlighted by Subhrajit Basu, General Manager, TBExG. He shared the programme’s milestones and its critical role in elevating cybersecurity maturity across the Tata group. The day’s discussions reflected a shared commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration in the face of evolving challenges.
As the digital landscape continues to change rapidly, the Tata Cyber Excellence Forum promises to be a platform for collective learning and innovation in cybersecurity. The insights shared through this forum in the future would help the Tata group in strengthening its cybersecurity strategies, fostering resilience, and preparing for challenges and opportunities.