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Month: February 2025

Cybersecurity

Only 14% Security Leaders Balance Data Protection, Business Goals: Report

Observenow Desk February 12, 2025

A critical challenge in the cybersecurity landscape is that only 14 percent of security and risk management (SRM) leaders successfully balance securing data assets while enabling their use for business objectives. Conducted between June and August 2024, the study surveyed 318 senior security leaders across industries worldwide, highlighting the ongoing struggle in aligning data security with business imperatives.

The survey found that while 35 per cent of respondents focus primarily on securing data and 21 per cent prioritise data-driven business growth, just one in seven leaders effectively manage to do both. This gap poses significant risks to organisations, including heightened exposure to cyber threats, regulatory penalties, and operational inefficiencies. In the long run, these vulnerabilities can erode competitiveness and stakeholder trust.

“With only 14 per cent of SRM leaders able to secure their data while supporting business goals, many organisations risk increased vulnerability and inefficiencies,” said Nathan Parks, Senior Specialist, Research at Gartner.

To bridge this gap, Gartner recommends that SRM leaders adopt a more strategic approach to data security governance – Reducing Governance-Related Friction, Aligning Governance Efforts with Internal Functions, Establishing Non-Negotiable Security Requirements Implementing Guardrails for Emerging Technologies, Enhancing Collaboration with Data and Analytics Teams.

As organisations continue to navigate the complexities of data security and business innovation, the ability to integrate both effectively will determine their long-term success. By adopting a balanced approach, SRM leaders can drive digital transformation without compromising security—a crucial imperative in today’s evolving threat landscape.

Tags: cybersecuritysecurity and risk management

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Digital Native

Bhavish Aggarwal’s Krutrim brings DeepSeek R1 to Indian developers

Observenow Desk

The discussions around the use of DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) model continues & Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal has emphasized the potential of leveraging its open-source counterpart to accelerate India’s AI growth.

Krutrim—Ola’s AI platform designed to cater to Indian consumers—has integrated DeepSeek’s latest foundation model, R1 671B, on Nvidia’s H100s graphics processing units in India, Aggarwal revealed on Tuesday.

“While we in India should be cautious with the DeepSeek app, we can totally make use of the open-source model namesake, if securely deployed on Indian servers, to leapfrog our own AI progress,” Aggarwal stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

To encourage Indian developers to explore this technology, Krutrim has priced access to the foundation model at just one rupee per million tokens for the month of February. In comparison, Krutrim offers developers access to Llama-3-8B-Instruct at approximately ₹16.60 per million tokens, Google’s Gemma-27B at ₹66.40 per million tokens, and Hugging Face’s M4/idefics2-8B at around ₹16.60 per million tokens.Earlier this month, Aggarwal announced that Krutrim would be open-sourcing its AI advancements from 2024. “Our focus is on developing AI for India, to make AI better on Indian languages, data scarcity, (in) cultural context,” the Ola founder had stated.

Additionally, he shared that Krutrim is set to deploy Nvidia’s GB200 GPUs by March, with ambitions to establish “the largest supercomputer in India by end of year.”

Despite acknowledging that India’s AI development is still trailing global benchmarks, Aggarwal remains optimistic. “We’re nowhere close to global benchmarks yet but have made good progress in one year. And by open-sourcing our models, we hope the entire Indian AI community collaborates to create a world-class Indian AI ecosystem,” he stated on X.

Tags: Bhavish AggarwalDeepSeekKrutrim

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Governance

India to Host Next Global AI Summit, Announces PM Modi

Observenow Desk

At the AI Action Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that India will host the next Global AI Summit. The summit, co-chaired by PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, underscored the importance of international collaboration in the development and responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence.

During his concluding address, PM Modi welcomed the establishment of two pivotal initiatives—the “AI Foundation” and the “Council for Sustainable AI.” Acknowledging France’s leadership in these efforts, he assured India’s unwavering support.

“I welcome the decision to set up the ‘AI Foundation’ and the ‘Council for Sustainable AI.’ I congratulate France and my dear friend President Macron for these initiatives and assure our full support,” PM Modi stated. The Prime Minister highlighted the necessity for a more inclusive approach in the Global Partnership for AI, advocating for a framework that better represents the priorities of the Global South. Emphasizing India’s commitment to advancing AI on a global scale, he declared India’s willingness to take the baton forward.

“To build on the momentum of this Action Summit, India would be happy to host the next Summit,” he said. Earlier in his address, PM Modi spotlighted India’s significant strides in AI development, particularly the creation of its own Large Language Model tailored to the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity. He also detailed India’s distinctive public-private partnership model, designed to pool resources such as computational power, making AI-driven research and innovation more accessible and affordable for startups and researchers. “India is building its own large language model considering our diversity. We also have a unique public-private partnership model for pooling resources like compute power. It is made available to our start-ups and researchers at an affordable cost. India is ready to share its experience and expertise to ensure that AI future is for good and for all,” he said.

On social media platform X, PM Modi lauded the AI Action Summit for fostering crucial discussions on AI’s future and its ethical considerations.

“The AI Action Summit in Paris is a commendable effort to bring together world leaders, policymakers, thinkers, innovators, and youngsters to have meaningful conversations around AI,” he posted. Addressing concerns about AI’s evolution, PM Modi emphasized the enduring primacy of human intelligence and responsibility in shaping AI’s trajectory.

“We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity. Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans. That sense of responsibility must guide us,” he concluded.

Tags: Global AI SummitPM Modi

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Governance

IAS Richa Prakash Choudhary Appointed Deputy Secretary in Department of Commerce

Observenow Desk

The Government of India has approved the appointment of IAS Richa Prakash Choudhary as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Commerce under the Central Staffing Scheme. She is a 2014-batch IAS officer from the Chhattisgarh cadre, and is set to assume her new responsibilities in the national capital.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has issued an official order, instructing the Chhattisgarh government to relieve her of her current duties at the earliest. According to the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) guidelines, her central deputation tenure has been sanctioned for four years, commencing from the date she takes charge. The guidelines mandate that she must assume office within three weeks of the order’s issuance, failing which debarment proceedings under the Central Staffing Scheme may be initiated.

She has an impressive track record in public administration, having previously served as the Collector of Janjgir and later Durg in Chhattisgarh. Her tenure was marked by proactive governance and impactful developmental initiatives, earning her recognition for her dedication and administrative acumen. Her appointment to a central role highlights not only her capabilities but also the increasing representation of Chhattisgarh-cadre officers in key positions at the Centre.

Notably, she is the second IAS officer from Chhattisgarh to be assigned a central role in recent times, following IAS Namrata Gandhi, the former Collector of Dhamtari. Her shift to Delhi is expected to prompt administrative changes within Chhattisgarh, as the state government will need to appoint a successor to manage Durg’s administration. This transition may lead to further bureaucratic reshuffling in the state’s governance structure.

Tags: Appointment Committee of the CabinetDepartment of CommerceIAS Richa Prakash Choudhary

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Cybersecurity

Fortinet and Kerala’s Higher Education Department Join Forces to Bridge Cybersecurity Skills Gap

Observenow Desk

Fortinet has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Higher Education, Kerala to bolster cybersecurity education and skill development. This collaboration will enable students to access Fortinet’s award-winning cybersecurity training and certification curriculum at no cost through the Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP). By leveraging this partnership, Kerala aims to cultivate a new generation of cybersecurity professionals equipped to tackle the ever-evolving landscape of digital threats.

As part of the initiative, Fortinet Training Institute’s Academic Partner Program will offer access to the globally recognized Network Security Expert (NSE) certification program. Spanning five proficiency levels and comprising 11 certifications, the program covers cutting-edge areas such as security-driven networking, adaptive cloud security, AI-driven security operations, and zero-trust network access. Students will gain hands-on experience through online labs, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world cybersecurity scenarios. Furthermore, they will receive exam vouchers to achieve globally recognized certifications, significantly enhancing their employability in the competitive cybersecurity sector. The importance of this initiative is underscored by the widening global cybersecurity skills gap.

According to Fortinet’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, 70% of organizations believe that the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals is increasing their security risks. The report also highlights the urgent need for 4.8 million cybersecurity professionals worldwide to bridge the workforce gap.

Recognizing this pressing demand, the Government of Kerala is introducing Fortinet’s NSE certification as a self-paced online learning program for students. This effort aims to develop a highly skilled talent pool that meets international cybersecurity standards, ultimately enhancing the state’s cybersecurity resilience. Fortinet’s commitment to bridging India’s cybersecurity skills gap extends beyond this partnership. The company is also working with AICTE to provide 100,000 virtual internships in cybersecurity and collaborating with CERT-In to promote cybersecurity awareness and training programs for academia. These initiatives collectively strengthen India’s cybersecurity workforce, supporting the country’s rapidly expanding digital economy.

Dr. USHA TITUS (Retd.), Executive Director, Chairperson & Managing Director, ASAP Kerala, and Ex Officio Secretary to Government, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our shared vision of fostering skill development and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities for aspiring professionals in Kerala. We believe this collaboration will pave the way for numerous opportunities, empowering students with industry-relevant knowledge and expertise. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated with the rise of advanced technologies like AI, equipping students with a comprehensive and future-ready skill set is critical to safeguarding today’s rapidly evolving digital world and ensuring resilience against emerging challenges.”

Vivek Srivastava, Country Manager, India & SAARC at Fortinet, highlighted the growing need for cybersecurity expertise in India, saying, “India’s rapid digitisation is unlocking tremendous opportunities, but it also brings a growing need for robust cybersecurity expertise to safeguard its digital future. Fortinet is committed to bridging this gap by equipping students and professionals with industry-recognised certifications and training programs. Through our partnership with ASAP Kerala, we aim to build a strong talent pipeline that not only addresses the skills shortage but also contributes to the nation’s resilience against evolving cyber threats.”

Tags: cybersecurityDepartment of Higher EducationFortinetKerala

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Technology

ServiceNow Appoints Ravi Venkatesan to Global Advisory Council to Strengthen Industry Engagement

Observenow Desk

ServiceNow has announced the appointment of Ravi Venkatesan as a member of its Global Advisory Council (GAC), a move aimed at deepening customer and industry engagement. With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at Microsoft India, Cummins India, and Infosys, Venkatesan brings a wealth of experience in driving business transformation, fostering innovation, and enabling global collaboration. His expertise will be instrumental in advancing ServiceNow’s strategic objectives and strengthening its relationships with C-suite executives worldwide.

Detlef Krause, President of ServiceNow Asia Pacific, welcomed Venkatesan with high praise, stating, “A great leader told me recently, ‘True growth starts with embracing a learner’s mindset.’ That leader is Ravi Venkatesan, and I couldn’t think of a better way to introduce him. We are thrilled to welcome Ravi to ServiceNow’s Global Advisory Council. With his remarkable leadership experience as Chairman of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and his deep expertise in fostering innovation and global partnerships, Ravi will play a key role in strengthening our C-suite connections, enhancing customer relationships, and guiding our strategic engagement efforts. His insights and network will be invaluable as we continue to drive transformative solutions for our customers worldwide.”

Venkatesan, known for his visionary leadership and commitment to leveraging technology for positive impact, expressed enthusiasm for his new role. “I’m thrilled to join ServiceNow‘s Global Advisory Council at this pivotal moment. ServiceNow’s platform is leading the charge in redefining the future of work, and I’m particularly drawn to their commitment to unlocking human potential through AI. I look forward to helping forge strategic connections that help customers transform their business through human-centric AI solutions.”

The Global Advisory Council (GAC) serves as a strategic conduit for high-level industry engagement, facilitating dialogue between ServiceNow and its customers. The council’s core objectives include leveraging its members’ extensive networks to establish key executive connections, reinforcing customer relationships under the Executive Engagement plan, and utilizing industry expertise to refine ServiceNow’s customer engagement strategies.

Tags: Global Advisory CouncilRavi VenkatesanServiceNow

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Cybersecurity

Okta appoints Shakeel Khan as Regional Vice President and Country Manager

Observenow Desk

Okta has reinforced its commitment to the Indian market by appointing Shakeel Khan as Regional Vice President and Country Manager for Okta India. Bringing over 27 years of cybersecurity experience, Khan possesses a comprehensive understanding of the industry, spanning pre-sales, enterprise sales leadership, and strategic business development.

Ben Goodman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Okta APJ, welcomed Khan’s appointment, emphasizing the increasing demand for robust identity solutions in the evolving digital landscape.

“We are delighted to have Shakeel Khan join Okta India at a stage where businesses are looking for robust and trusted identity solutions more than ever. Our commitment to India remains strong, with more than 19,000 customers worldwide leveraging Okta. Shakeel’s technical leadership and strategic vision will help us reach the next level of growth,” he said.

Expressing enthusiasm about his new role, Khan acknowledged the dynamic cybersecurity landscape and the growing need for advanced identity solutions. “We are seeing the threat landscape continuing to get more sophisticated, affecting businesses across the spectrum. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the talented team at Okta, to deliver exceptional value to our customers with secure identity solutions. I look forward to contributing to Okta’s growth and success while working with some of the brightest minds in the industry,” he stated.

Since its official launch in India in 2023, Okta has been steadily expanding its operations. Over the past year, the company’s workforce in India has tripled to over 300 employees, with plans to exceed 500 by 2025. This aggressive expansion underscores Okta’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its market position and providing cutting-edge identity security solutions to Indian enterprises.

Tags: OktaShakeel Khan

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Technology

Peak XV Partners Sells 1% Stake in Freshworks for $51.5 Million

Observenow Desk

Venture capital firm Peak XV Partners has divested approximately a 1% stake in software-as-a-service (SaaS) company Freshworks, as per a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated January 29, 2025.

The stake sale, executed through multiple open market transactions between December 9 and January 28, involved 2.93 million shares at prices ranging from USD 17 to USD 19.10 per share. The total transaction value stands at USD 51.5 million. Following this sale, Peak XV now holds a 3.9% stake in Freshworks.

This move comes shortly after Freshworks’ Founder and Executive Chairman, Girish Mathrubootham, sold shares worth approximately USD 39 million in December 2024. Mathrubootham offloaded over 2.5 million shares at weighted average prices ranging between USD 15.33 and USD 16.50 per share.

Peak XV Partners, formerly known as Sequoia Capital India and Southeast Asia, first invested in Freshworks in 2016. Between 2016 and 2019, it reportedly injected USD 80 million into the cloud-based customer engagement software firm.

The sale aligns with Peak XV’s broader strategy, as the firm recently reduced the size of its largest fund by 16% in response to a slowdown in growth-stage funding. Having raised USD 2.85 billion for its eighth fund in May 2022, the firm plans to return approximately USD 465 million to its limited partners (LPs).

This is not Peak XV’s only recent divestment. The firm recently sold a 1.5% stake in fintech company MobiKwik for INR 82 crore and is set for an INR 810 crore exit from skincare brand Minimalist’s sale to Hindustan Unilever.

Tags: FreshworksPeak XV

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Education

Enrolment to Higher Edu Institutes: TN, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Kerala emerge top ‘achievers’

Observenow Desk

New Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Kerala have emerged as the top-performing “achiever” states in the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education institutions for 2021-22, according to a report released by NITI Aayog. The report, titled Expanding Quality Higher Education through States and State Public Universities, also highlights disparities in higher education access across India.

At the other end of the spectrum, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Jharkhand, and Bihar have been categorized as “aspirational” states due to their poor GER performance. Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh led in decadal growth in GER (2011-12 versus 2021-22), showcasing significant progress over the decade.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, who released the report, highlighted the critical role of state public universities (SPUs) in shaping India’s higher education landscape. Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Karnataka have been recognized as “front-runners” in GER improvement.

The report also sheds light on the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in universities. Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka reported the lowest PTR, indicating a favorable student-faculty ratio, while Jharkhand and Bihar recorded the highest, reflecting a potential shortfall in faculty strength. Furthermore, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal demonstrated the most significant decadal improvement in PTR.

A crucial aspect of the report is its analysis of state spending on higher education. Bihar and Manipur allocate 1.56% of their Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to higher education, followed by Meghalaya at 1.33%. Meanwhile, Karnataka leads in college density with 66 colleges per lakh eligible population (18-23 years), more than double the national average of 30. States like Manipur, Bihar, and Jharkhand report the lowest college densities.

University density—measured as the number of universities per lakh eligible population—is highest in Sikkim (10.3), followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Uttarakhand. In contrast, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra fall below the national average (0.8), with Bihar ranking the lowest at 0.2.

“This indicates that while the absolute number of universities and colleges is rapidly growing, their distribution among the population is unequal, especially in high-population states,” the report noted, urging targeted measures to improve university density in these regions.

The report advocates for a National Research Policy, increased financial autonomy for SPUs, and the establishment of a State-Level Infrastructure Finance Agency for SPUs, akin to the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). It also calls for reforms in governance, emphasizing the need for appointing academic leaders from the teaching fraternity.

Bery underscored the role of public universities in setting benchmarks for excellence, citing global examples from the US and Brazil. NITI Aayog Member Vinod Kumar Paul contextualized the report within the broader framework of NEP 2020 and India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Currently, India has 495 SPUs, with Karnataka leading at 43, followed by West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh with 38 each. Since Independence, when India had only 17 universities and 636 colleges serving 2.38 lakh students, the country has witnessed exponential growth. As per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22, India now boasts 1,168 universities, 45,473 colleges, and 12,002 standalone institutions.

Despite this progress, the report highlights the need for increased investment, urging the government to allocate 6% of GDP to education, as recommended by NEP 2020. Currently, the combined expenditure on university and higher education stands at 0.62% of GDP, while technical education accounts for 0.95%, and overall education spending remains at 4.64%.

Tags: Higher Edu Instituteshigher educationNITI Aayog

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BFSI

PayU and AdvantageClub.ai Partner to Streamline Loyalty Rewards Redemption

Observenow Desk

In a strategic move to enhance digital transactions and customer engagement, PayU has partnered with AdvantageClub.ai, enabling seamless redemption of loyalty points and wallet balances at checkout on its merchant platforms. The collaboration is set to simplify digital payments while strengthening customer retention for businesses.

By integrating AdvantageClub.ai’s platform into PayU Checkout, users can directly redeem their rewards during online purchases. This streamlined process is expected to offer a more seamless payment experience while driving higher redemption rates. AdvantageClub.ai, which caters to over 5.5 million users across 100 countries, boasts an impressive reward redemption rate exceeding 95%. For businesses leveraging PayU’s payment ecosystem, the partnership provides access to AdvantageClub.ai’s extensive loyalty network, comprising over 1,000 corporate clients and 10,000+ brand options. Merchants are anticipated to benefit from increased transaction volumes and enhanced customer engagement, as loyalty programs are known to encourage repeat purchases and brand loyalty.

Nikhil Mehta, Senior Vice President – Partnerships & Payments Strategy at PayU, emphasized the alignment of this partnership with PayU’s commitment to expanding its loyalty and rewards ecosystem. “Integrating AdvantageClub.ai will provide merchants with more tools to drive customer engagement,” he stated, highlighting the value of offering seamless rewards redemption at checkout.

AdvantageClub.ai specializes in corporate rewards and employee engagement, offering solutions such as wellness programs, sales incentives, and flexible benefits. With this collaboration, businesses can integrate these rewards directly into their digital payment processes, making it easier for employees to utilize their benefits effectively.

Sourabh Deorah, CEO of AdvantageClub.ai, underscored the impact of the partnership in bridging the gap between corporate rewards and digital transactions. “Streamlining rewards redemption at checkout enhances convenience for users while creating more engagement opportunities for businesses,” he noted.

Tags: AdvantageClub.aiPayU

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