AI chatbots present both – opportunities and challenges

Published on : Friday 05-05-2023

Zakir Hussain, CEO – BD Software Distribution Pvt Ltd.

How has India's cybersecurity industry evolved since the Covid-19 pandemic?
Today, the term is almost exclusively used to describe information security matters, because it’s hard to visualise how digital indicators moving across a line can represent an attack. A cyber-attack is an attack mounted on our digital devices by means of the internet. With every year, we are getting more reliant on the internet and the devices connected to it. However, our dependence on the internet has also invited the rise of cybercrime. Cybercriminals or hackers all around the world are now actively looking for ways to make money by exploiting the exchange of information and online transactions occurring on the internet. With many Covid-19 obligations still in effect, remote work will remain widespread, cyber criminals have taken advantage and may continue to do so. Lack of talent will hurt organisations as the inability to hire and retain appropriate talent to defend against attacks will leave the public sector highly vulnerable. Malwares is more automated, continuing a recent trend that has forced the cybersecurity industry to catch up. Hackers use machines to automate cybercrime activities, allowing them to execute more attacks. Unnecessary software that has been installed on your computer against your will can duplicate itself all over the web and spread. Phishing attacks are going to become even more sophisticated, since a lot of strategies have already been initiated.
 
What are the opportunities and challenges for the cybersecurity sector with the launch of AI chatbots in India?
With the launch of AI chatbots in India, the cybersecurity sector is presented with both opportunities and challenges. AI chatbots can help organisations detect and prevent malicious activities more efficiently than ever before. They can detect potential threats and respond to them quickly and accurately. On the other hand, they also bring new challenges for cybersecurity professionals as they need to be constantly updated to protect against the latest threats. The use of AI chatbots can also help organisations automate mundane tasks related to cybersecurity, such as scanning for vulnerabilities or monitoring networks for suspicious activities. This will free up resources that can be used for more complex tasks such as threat analysis and incident response. However, it is important to ensure that these automated systems are secure from malicious actors who could exploit them to gain access to sensitive data or disrupt operations.
 
Tell us about your recent collaboration with PHISHED and how it will assist SMB and Enterprise companies in keeping their data secure.
Global security awareness company Phished has appointed BD Soft as its distribution partner in India. Phished with the aid of a smart and fully automated AI-driven platform, trains employees to become a human firewall for its organisation. With BD Soft as its India distribution partner, Phished aims to offer SMBs and enterprises the latest standard in security awareness training solution that is 100% automated and personalised, without manual intervention. Because human error causes 90% of all data breaches, focusing on the human factor to prevent cyberattacks is more important than ever. Phished and BD Soft have joined forces to help their customers protect their money, reputation, employees, and assets. BD Software is now focusing even more on cybersecurity awareness by providing employee training and coaching to its clients. Phished’s multi-award-winning solution addresses the needs of modern enterprises and institutions seeking an all-in-one solution to build and maintain their human firewall. Through a holistic combination of personalised simulations, training sessions, active reporting and threat intelligence, the solution guarantees permanent behavioral change. The expansion with Phished’s self-learning solution strengthens BD Soft’s state-of-the-art SaaS technology.
 
Could you please shed some light on the brand's expansion strategy into India's Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities?
BD Soft has steadily and remarkably reinforced its position as one of the leading IT security distributors offering industry-leading consumer, SMB and enterprise-level solutions in India. The brand is now looking forward to expanding its reach and developing an expansion strategy to contribute to development in areas with a strong security market. BD Soft has already established a significant presence in Tier 1 markets. As part of the next stage of expansion, BD Soft will concentrate on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India. The intent is to be present in over 100 cities by the end of 2023. To bring the plans together, we plan to further expand our team by bringing on skilled individuals, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The SMB and SME market in India is rapidly expanding, as are the cybersecurity challenges they face. BD Soft hope to assist them in resolving their cybersecurity concerns and providing solutions that are best suited to their environment.
 
You are Bitdefender's exclusive distribution partner in India; how has their growth trajectory been?
Bitdefender has been growing consistently over the last 6-7 years in India. The products and solutions are well accepted and used across the world and they have received numerous awards from testing bodies and other awards. We can say that more than 10 lakh users have used Bitdefender in India and we are growing our user base in consumer and corporate and SMB sectors. Our government business is also growing. The reason for the growth has been consistent and user-friendly support to the users and partners, continuous partner policies and aggressive marketing. We look forward to continuing our growth in this financial year and we have a certain aggressive target in mind to achieve the same.