Cxo of the week: Raj Sivaraju, President, APAC, Arete

Arete is transforming the way organizations prepare for, respond to, and ultimately, prevent cyberattacks. With decades of experience, their global team of cybersecurity experts has been on the front lines of some of the world’s most challenging data breaches and ransomware attacks.

Their mission is to make the world a better place by protecting their clients and partners from compromise and theft of sensitive data through rapid incident response and the deployment of defensive measures.

Recently we have engaged in an interview with Raj Sivaraju, President, APAC, Arete. He talks about his journey so far and what Arete has been up to.

Introduction.

Arete is transforming how businesses and governments manage cyber risk through proven incident response, tech-enabled managed services, and robust data insights. Working on the front lines of thousands of ransomware attacks and some of the largest nation-state attacks, their team combines hundreds of investigative, technical, and cyber risk management practitioners with best-in-class data and software engineers.

They bring a tireless enthusiasm for innovation and a dedication to preventing cybercrime. They use that same drive to positively affect the collective defense of businesses, governments, and infrastructure against cyber thieves and give back to the communities they serve.

What is the objective of Arete?

As a highly data-driven organization, Arete focuses on security so businesses can concentrate on their growth. They use the data they gather and the information they curate to enhance client outcomes and develop new models and underwriting strategies for cyber risk.

What are the challenges and opportunities of the industry?

The cybersecurity sector is constantly changing as new technological developments appear and change the security procedures businesses use. Businesses across all market segments must give their IT departments the authority they need to enhance their organizations' cybersecurity architecture and offer the necessary training to all significant decision-makers within the company. If businesses want to move forward securely and prevent losses, they must create a resilient cyber infrastructure and ensure that their employees are always ready to respond to cyber threats.

What, as per you, are the five important things that Arete should be looking at today?

When it comes to defeating cybercrime, Awareness is step number one. Scams are constantly evolving and getting trickier all the time. Unfortunately, million-dollar breaches often begin with a few naïve mouse clicks, and email-enabled ransomware is not uncommon to shut businesses down cold — and keep them that way until ransoms are paid.

Below are the five critical things that Arete is looking at to support clients:

• Creating Awareness about cybersecurity
• Regulatory guidelines and compliance
• Building a Cyber resilient infrastructure for our clients
• Ensuring the fastest recovery in case of an incident
• Data-driven processes to enhance security for our clients

What are the types of cyber threats faced by businesses in the festive season?

Cyber-attacks and data breaches on businesses often rise around the festive season. Firms that keep data may have to deal with high and long-term costs and consequences when breached. As online shopping increases rapidly, threat actors target businesses and their clients through phishing scams with fake deals and discounts, thus making them more vulnerable than ever during festivals. Organizations must be mindful of the data breaches and attacks that tend to happen more during the festive season.

What changes is Arete bringing to the industry?

According to research, more than half of Indians (53.3%) experience cyberattacks over the holiday season compared to other times. However, just a quarter (27.5%) of people employ online security tools to protect themselves. As a response, businesses need to secure their networks and data against these severe break-ins. In addition, they should improve their security plan and inform customers how to stay safe to stop such incidents. The incident response and managed security services provided by Arete combine technical expertise, cutting-edge technologies, and a data-driven approach to help businesses recover from cyberattacks and lower the likelihood of future assaults.

What are the cybersecurity challenges that could potentially arise in the 5G era?

The emergence of 5G is expected to quicken industry advancements and promote transformations never seen before. We must keep in mind, though, that it increases cyber risks. Businesses and organizations must update their security protocols to stay safe in the 5G environment more than ever. 5G will change how business is carried out in India overall. However, organizations must continue to exercise caution as they adjust to this change. To keep trespassers out of the system, they must invest in strong security measures like using a VPN to block unauthorized access to the device, updating IoT devices with the most recent security patches, and periodically setting up strong passwords.

Tell us about the importance of building a robust cybersecurity policy and protected network.

Companies lose millions every year to ransomware, so it is imperative to strengthen cybersecurity systems. A cyber threat can lead to the loss of confidential information and damage reputation. Businesses usually run on the back of several virtual devices that are interconnected. A denial-of-service attack explicitly targets shutting down these systems, rendering them useless with ceased operations. Such an attack is usually triggered by sending information that catalyzes a crash. Businesses must take decisive action to address cyber risk and data leaks. Employees need regular training on cyber risk best practices to help them understand the risks and how to reduce them. Given the hybrid working patterns and expanding cyber threats, businesses must prioritize ensuring they avoid hostile attempts and safeguard their sensitive data.