CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Sundar Balasubramanian, Managing Director for India and SAARC at Check Point Software Technologies)
- What is the cybersecurity landscape currently in India?
India is currently experiencing a significant surge in cyberattacks, with organizations facing an average of 3,244 attacks per week—more than double the global average of 1,657, according to Check Point’s latest Threat Intelligence Report for the last 6 months. Sectors such as Education and Research, Healthcare, and Government and Military are particularly vulnerable, with the education being the most attacked sector alone experiencing 8,195 weekly attacks. The rapid adoption of remote learning has created opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit sensitive data, including personally identifiable information (PII).
There has also been a surge in ransomware attacks, as seen in recent incidents affecting Mumbai-based Angel One and a technology provider that impacted 300 small Indian banks. With the rise of phishing and social engineering attacks fueled by AI, the need for stronger cyber security measures in India has never been more pressing. Organizations must prioritize investing in advanced security solutions and fostering a culture of cyber security awareness to protect sensitive data and mitigate risks.
2. With Gen AI coming in, there’s news of an increased number of attacks, what do you have to say about the same? How is Gen AI helping the attackers?
The rise of Generative AI (Gen AI) is a double-edged sword in cyber security. While it helps build stronger defenses and enhances security protocols, it also significantly empowers attackers, making cyber threats more sophisticated and scalable. Gen AI has simplified and scaled scamming methods, allowing bad actors to create hyper-realistic deepfakes and voice clones at minimal cost. For example, during India’s recent elections, deepfake technology was used to impersonate candidates and celebrities, influencing millions of voters at a cost as low as 8 INR (less than 0.10 USD). This democratization of AI tools enables scammers to manipulate public opinion and create highly convincing scams with minimal effort.
Additionally, Gen AI has automated phishing campaigns and made them more personalized, increasing their success rates. It can analyze social media data to tailor social engineering attacks and can even scan for vulnerabilities in computer systems, helping hackers identify weak points for targeted strikes. AI also automates routine tasks within scam operations, freeing scammers to focus on more strategic, high-value attacks. The ability of Gen AI to scale these efforts makes cybercriminal activities more efficient and dangerous than ever before.
3. What is the state of cybersecurity skill gap in India?
India is currently grappling with a significant cyber security skill gap, ranking second globally in workforce shortages. Over the past year, the deficit has surged sevenfold, with more than 40,000 unfilled cyber security positions as of May 2023, according to TeamLease. The demand for cyber security professionals has exploded in the last 5-6 years, but the fast-evolving nature of cyber threats requires a workforce that can continually adapt and stay ahead of new challenges. Addressing this gap will require attracting fresh talent and building a sustainable pipeline through cybersecurity awareness initiatives, specialized training, and strategic partnerships.
Skilling will be critical in bridging this gap. The industry must invest in upskilling existing professionals while also creating accessible training programs for newcomers. To help tackle this skill shortage, we launched Check Point’s Secure Academy in 2021, providing free cyber security education globally. By partnering with third-party institutions, we equip students and educators with the necessary skills and certifications to meet the growing demands of cyber security, ensuring a steady influx of qualified professionals into the workforce. This commitment to education and training is essential for strengthening India’s cyber security landscape.
- How is Check Point using AI to help fight the upcoming threats
Check Point has been integrating AI into its security solutions since 2014, with a focus on enhancing threat intelligence through data consolidation. At the core of our AI strategy is Check Point’s ThreatCloud AI, which powers over 40 AI engines and makes 2 billion security decisions every day. This advanced AI core underpins Check Point’s AI-powered Infinity Platform, which has been further strengthened through collaborations with industry leaders like NVIDIA and Microsoft. The recently launched Infinity AI Copilot automates 90% of routine tasks, allowing security teams to focus on strategic threats while using 30 years of data to proactively solve problems such as security patching.
Additionally, Check Point, in partnership with NVIDIA, has introduced AI Cloud Protect, a solution designed to shield organizations from sophisticated cyber threats while ensuring easy scalability. By leveraging the NVIDIA BlueField-3 DPU, this tool defends against emerging attacks like model inversion and theft. Moreover, Check Point’s Harmony solution uses contextual AI to customize security policies based on user behavior, application risk, and device posture. Lastly, the new GenAI Protect solution helps enterprises securely adopt generative AI tools by monitoring app usage, applying real-time data loss prevention, and ensuring compliance through visibility and reporting.
5. How does India fit into Check Point’s overall growth strategy?
Indian cyber security market is one of the fastest-growing markets. According to the DSCI, the Indian cyber security market is expected to account for 5% of the global market by 2028. Gartner predicts cyber security spending will increase, with end-user spending on security and risk management (SRM) in India forecasted to reach $2.9 billion in 2024, marking a 12.4% rise from 2023. While these figures highlight India’s strong position in cyber security, the country has long been of strategic importance to Check Point. We have been in India for over 23 years, with our operations growing steadily year after year. Our footprint now spans major cities like Bangalore and Chennai, employing around 400 people in India.
In India, we maintain a strong network of partners across key sectors such as public services, banking, financial services, and healthcare, collaborating with organizations like LTI Mindtree, Alkem Labs, and Kokilaben Khirubhai Ambani Hospital. We have also made significant investments in the region. Recently, Check Point opened a 42,700-square-foot office in Bangalore, which is our second-largest office globally, trailing only behind Tel Aviv. This office features AI demo zones and customer experience centers to foster innovation and address local security needs. Additionally, our collaborations with local universities are nurturing India’s cyber security talent pipeline, further reinforcing its pivotal role in Check Point’s growth strategy.
The post Check Point has been integrating AI into its security solutions since 2014, says Sundar Balasubramanian, Managing Director for India and SAARC at Check Point Software Technologies appeared first on CXOToday.com.