Dr. Saurabh Gupta, Advisor to the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), Government of India, delivered a compelling keynote address at the Veeamon Tour India event in Delhi, emphasizing the critical importance of data resilience in today’s rapidly digitizing world. Speaking to an audience of industry leaders and experts in data protection, privacy, and security, Dr. Gupta highlighted the catastrophic consequences of data breaches and the urgent need for robust data management strategies. “You just delay the world without data. What is going to happen if you don’t see photographs, emails, or have financial transactions? You’re lost, and your stock market dividends could vanish,” he warned. “Such a scenario can occur at any moment, leading to a data breach that could cripple us completely.”
Dr. Gupta also brought the attention of the audience towards the exponential growth of data in recent years, pointing out that every minute of our lives generates data, contributing to an expected 181 gigabytes of data by 2024. “We are currently at 131 gigabytes across all data centers. This growth demands that we discuss data resilience as a crucial topic,” he stated.
Reflecting on India’s digital transformation, Dr. Gupta credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 initiative to create a digitally empowered society. He noted that despite significant advancements in digital infrastructure, the growing threat of ransomware attacks poses a severe risk. He cited recent high-profile data breaches, including the 2023 ransomware attack on the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the data breaches at Haryana’s power distribution companies and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
“These incidents underscore the necessity of categorizing data based on its sensitivity and implementing critical infrastructure to protect highly sensitive data, such as financial transactions,” Dr. Gupta said. He advocated for a holistic approach to data resilience that includes technological advancements, a culture of awareness among employees, and enhanced coordination between government and private sectors.
Dr. Gupta also emphasized the need for business continuity plans, disaster recovery centers, and robust technological implementations to safeguard data at every level. He called for stronger physical security measures at data centers and the careful management of network traffic to prevent unauthorized access.
Further, Dr. Gupta reiterated the importance of preventing, protecting, and recovering data to maintain resilience in an increasingly digital world. “Data resilience is not just a technical issue; it’s a national imperative,” he asserted. The Veeamon Tour India event brought together key stakeholders from across the industry to discuss the challenges and opportunities in data management and security. The event also featured deep-dives into Data Resilience, Copilot & AI, Data Protection & M365 Backup, Veeam Data Cloud (VDC), Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Collaboration and Partnerships, all integrated into solution-oriented roundtable discussions.
