“AI-driven security strategies are the future, empowering us to stay ahead of emerging threats.”
On February 21, 2025, the prestigious Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach buzzed with excitement as the CISO 100 & Cyber Sentinel Awards 2025 unfolded. This highly anticipated annual event, organized by Accent Info Media Pvt. Ltd., brought together the top 100 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and security leaders from various industries to celebrate their contributions to the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
The day began with a warm welcome tea at 10:00 AM, where attendees mingled and exchanged pleasantries. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the EMCEE officially kicked off the event, followed by an inspiring speech from Sanjay Mohapatra, the Editor of Enterprise IT World.
“AI-driven security strategies are the future, empowering us to stay ahead of emerging threats.”
– Sanjay Mohapatra, Editor, Enterprise IT World
The first panel discussion, moderated by Amey Subhash Lakeshri, Director of Cyber Forensic Technology and Discovery Services at Ernst & Young LLP, set the tone for the day with a deep dive into creating AI-led security strategies. Esteemed panelists, including A. N. Srinivasan N., VP – IT at SRF LTD., Selestin KT, GM-Cyber Security, Digital Technology and IT Infra at Nissan Digital, Pradipta Patro, Head IT and Cyber Security (CISO) at RPG Group (KEC International Ltd.), Prabhakar R, CISO & AVP – IT at TNQ Tech Pvt. Ltd., Prakash Chandra Keshav Agrahari, CISO at GAZPROMBANK, and Arun Goyal, Director, CIO, CISO, DPO at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, shared their insights, sparking engaging conversations among the attendees.
A lucky draw added a touch of excitement before the second panel discussion on high-level cybersecurity strategies in the boardroom. Moderated by Venkata Satish Guttula, this session featured industry leaders like Cdr Sanjeev Singh (Retd) from Birlasoft, Arockiaraj Martin from EnKash, Shashank Bajpai from Yotta Data Services Private Limited, and Chetana Chaudhari from Shivaami. They provided valuable perspectives on integrating cybersecurity at the executive level.
Adv. Ghuge Aditya Chandrakant‘s talk on DPDPA and GDPR was a highlight, offering crucial information for CISOs navigating data protection regulations. After a delightful lunch break, the event resumed with another lucky draw, followed by a panel discussion on data privacy and cybersecurity frameworks, moderated by Hetal Presswala from Kalpataru Projects International Limited. This session featured Dr. Jagannath Sahoo from Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd., Srinivasan Balraj from Muthoot Fincorp, Narayan Basak from TCG Digital Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and Susil Kumar Meher from AIIMS, who shared their expertise on creating robust frameworks for data privacy and cybersecurity.
The afternoon sessions were packed with informative presentations on digital forensics, OT-IOT security, application security, and cloud security. Notable speakers like Swapnil Rajepawar from Lyseis Technologies Pvt Ltd.
We were honored to witness an insightful presentation from Sijesh Sreedhar, head of security engineers at Google Cloud Security India. The presentation covered critical aspects of cybersecurity, emphasizing the latest trends and strategies to combat evolving threats. Google Cloud’s commitment to enhancing security measures and providing robust solutions was evident throughout the session.
We were also delighted to have Punit Thakkar, CEO of Shivaami Cloud, who introduced his team and spoke about the value-based approach of his company. His presentation highlighted how Shivaami Cloud is dedicated to delivering solutions that align with their clients’ core values and business objectives.
Pratap Mondal, Head – Alliance & Marketing at Satcom Infotech Pvt Ltd, also spoke about the offerings of Satcom. In addition to that, there were booths of eScan, Netpoleon, Data Resolve, Five Tattva, Satcom and Fortra, Shivaami, Google Cloud, and Lyseis Technologies Pvt Ltd, showcasing their latest products and solutions.
As the day drew to a close, the much-anticipated CISO 100 Cyber Sentinel Awards 2025 recognized the outstanding contributions of leading CISOs and Security leaders. The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Sanjib Mohapatra, followed by a group photograph, networking, and a delightful cocktails dinner.
The event was not just a platform for knowledge sharing but also a melting pot of ideas and innovations, leaving attendees inspired and ready to tackle the future of cybersecurity. With AI-driven security strategies taking center stage, the future of cybersecurity looks promising, empowering organizations to stay ahead of emerging threats and safeguard digital assets effectively.
