Digital Edge Enterprise Channels Summit & Awards 2022 being inaugurated: (L-R) Mr. Sanjiv Bhavnani, Founder & Chief Mentor, Mentorpreneur Advisors; Mr. Gagan Verma, Executive Director, India & SAARC, Crestron Electronics India; Mr. George Paul, CEO of MAIT (Manufacturers’ Association of Information Technology); and Md. Qaisar Alam, Editor, Digital Edge Magazine
Just when Omicron showed the definitive signs of its abatement, Digital Edge has taken an initiative to organize its annual event titled DIGITAL EDGE ENTERORISE CHANNELS SUMMIT & AWARDS 2022 on 11th February 2022 at Hotel Eros, Nehru Place, New Delhi.
The event turns out to be a big success, which has striven to galvanize Technology Vendors, IT Distributors, VADs (value added distributors), VARs (value added resellers), IT Solutions Providers as well as CIOs (chief information officers) and CISOs (chief information security officers) of India’s leading enterprises & organizations. This event, a hybrid one, has been a concerted attempt to effect a handshake between vendors and channels on the one hand, and technology leaders on the other.
Now, this endeavour has met with a good success at the event, where attendees in both physical dispositions as well as virtual manifestations have participated from all across the country. The event has seen a slew of keynote speeches, and a number of panel discussions on key issues defining and shaping the IT industry as a whole.
The event witnessed over 100 CIOs/CISOs getting recognized and felicitated with Channel-Recommended Top CIO/CISO Award. Some 100 IT Solution Providers, Cloud Services Providers, VADs, IT Distributors and Technology Vendors have also been conferred with various categories of Awards. The event has also seen special Awards being conferred on leading luminaries of the IT and legal fraternity of India.
Channel Manthan
The event began with CHANNEL MANTHAN, a collective introspection by heads of leading IT Associations from all across the country. The session, a hybrid one, was moderated by the Editor of Digital Edge Magazine, Md. Qaisar Alam.
From Delhi, the CHANNEL MANTHAN was joined by Mr. Alok Gupta, President, PCAIT (Progressive Channel Association of Information Technology). From Ahmedabad, Mr. Kaushik Pandya, President, FAIITA (Federation of All India IT Associations) joined the session; Mr. Jitesh Chauhan, President ISODA (Infotech Software Dealers Association) joined from Mumbai; Mr. Nilesh Kadakia, Secretary, ASIRT (Association of System Integrators and Retailers in Technology), from Mumbai; Mr. Viren Bavishi, President, TAIT (Trade Association of Information Technology), from Mumbai; and Mr. Sai Rao, President, FITDAK (Federation of IT dealers’ associations of Karnataka) joined the CHANNEL MANTHAN from Bengaluru.
The CHANNEL MANTHAN discussed various aspects of challenges faced during the pandemic, and the way forward in the post Omicron era. The entire discussion was full of optimism and belief that the coming days would be full of business growth and expansion for channel partners.
Inauguration
The formal inauguration of the event took place at 10.30 AM. The inaugural ceremony was led by the Chief Guest of the event, Mr. George Paul, CEO of MAIT (Manufacturers’ Association of Information Technology). Other prominent participants who were the part of the inaugural ceremony included Mr. Sanjiv Bhavnani, Founder & Chief Mentor, Mentorpreneur Advisors; Mr. Gagan Verma Executive Director, India & SAARC, Crestron Electronics India; Mohd Nadeem, Marketing Manager, India & SAARC, Crestron Electronics India; and Md. Qaisar Alam, Editor, Digital Edge.
After the opening remarks made by the Editor, Digital Edge, the audience were addressed by the Chief Guest of the event, Mr. George Paul. He extensively discussed on the progress made on the indigenization of hardware design and manufacturing in India. He talked about the governmental push on the hardware design and manufacturing in the country and various initiatives taken by MAIT in the field of electronic hardware sector in the country.
Mr. Ignesius Ernest Thambyraj, Director General, CCICI (Cloud Computing Innovation Council of India) was another keynote speaker, who addressed the audience over the video-link from Bengaluru.
Panel on Data Centers
The 1st panel discussion was held between 11.30 AM and 12.15 PM, and the topic was the Centrality of Data Centers in Automating India to Digital Excellence. The esteemed panelists included Mr. Ignesius Ernest Thambyraj, Director General, CCICI (Cloud Computing Innovation Council of India); Mr. Sunil Gupta, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Yotta Infrastructure. The panel was co-moderated by Mr. NK Singh, Founder, Data Center Guru and Md. Qaisar Alam, Editor, Digital Edge.
The panel discussed on various issues related to the further growth of data center market in India. The esteemed panel also debated on the positive impact of the governmental norm on data localization on the data center industry in the country. Mr. Sunil Gupta of Yotta Infrastructure talked in greater detail on the advantages of Tier-IV data centers for running modern enterprises & organizations. The efficacy of green data centers was also deliberated extensively.
Panel on Cyber Security
The 2nd panel discussion was held between 12.15 PM and 12.45 PM. The topic was the broadening cyber security strategic landscapes. The members of the esteemed panel included industry stalwarts such as Mr. Dhruv Khanna, CEO & Co-Founder, Data Resolve Technologies; Mr. Gaurav Chawla, Business Development Manager, APAC, VMRay; Dr. JS Sodhi, Group CIO & Senior VP, Amity Education Group; Mr. Shams Khan, Head of IT Infrastructure and Information Security, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co; and Mr. Ganesh Viswanathan, Senior VP-PMO & CISO, Head-IT & Analytics, Aithent Inc. The panel was moderated by the Editor of Digital Edge.
The panel discussed on the widening security threats, more so during the pandemic and thereafter. The panel agreed that the rising threats seek better network security systems, improvised endpoint security measures and security analytics – all accompanied by well-defined security policies.
Panel on Hybrid & Multi Cloud
The 3rd panel discussion took place between 12.45 and 1.30 PM. The topic was the Hybrid & Multi-cloud becoming integral part of IT infrastructure. The panel constituted by leading luminaries of the Industry including Mr. Neeraj Mediratta, CEO, Ace Data Cloud Services; Ms. Priyanka Khanna, JCOO, Shivaami Cloud Services; Mr. Vidhu Nautiyal, Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, Cloud Connect Communications; and Mr. Biswajit Mahapatra, Partner & Executive Director, CIO Advisory & Hybrid Cloud, IBM India. The panel was moderated by the Editor of Digital Edge.
The panel was near unanimous on the indispensability of hybrid & multi cloud regime, which drives today’s enterprises & organizations. Even though, a large number of organizations have their own on-premises data centers, most of them make use of hybrid as well as multi cloud services. Not to talk of myriad of those which primarily depend on cloud services for running their operations.
Panel on Remote working
The 4th panel discussion was held between 2.45 PM and 3.15 PM. The topic was on the REMOTE WORKING MODEL TURNING MAINSTREAM. The panel consisted of Mr. Jayaprakash Chinnamuthu, Director, Customer Experience, Crestron Electronics India; Mr. Krushna Shivaji Garkhede, Head of Marketing, Digisol Systems; Mr. Vijay Mishra, Director & IT Business Partner, Capgemini; Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Director, CIS, JNU; Mr. Saurabh Gugnani, Head-IT, Peoplestrong Technologies Pvt Ltd; Mr. Manish Gaur, Head-IT, Patanjli; Dr.Sushil Kumar Meher, Head Health-IT, AIIMS, New Delhi. The panel was moderated by the Editor of Digital Edge.
The panel discussed on the remote working becoming widely accepted a norm even if though COVID turns milder and relatively innocuous.
There have been willingness on the part of enterprises & organizations to continue with the remote working model – having different shades of its manifestations – for elevating the efficiency of their workforces. The remote working model is very much supported by technological innovations covering both clouds as well as hardware platforms. Mr. Jayaprakash Chinnamuthu of Crestron on the panel talked about how work places have negotiated the idea of time and space. The company offers a wide range of products and solutions that makes the remote working model a thundering success. While, Mr. Krushna of Digisol Systems put focus on how better networking infrastructure ensures the ultimate success of any remote working model.
Panel on Post-Omicron Business Model
The 5th Panel Discussion was held between 3.30 PM and 4.00 PM. The topic was the POST-OMICRON BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANNEL PARTNERS. The panel consisted of Mr. Himanshu Chawla, CEO, Iris Waves; Mr. Saurin Shah, MD, Ashtech Infotech; Mr. Chintamani, Director, Vintech Electronic Systems; and Mr. Nikesh Sakaria, Chairman & MD, CDP India. The panel was co-moderated by Mr. Sanjiv Bhavnani, Founder & Chief Mentor, Mentorpreneur Advisors and the Editor of Digital Edge. The panel extensively discussed on the post-Omicron business opportunities for solution partners.
Panel on Defending IT Infrastructure
The 6th and final panel discussion took place between 4.00 PM and 4.45 PM. The topic of the panel was DEFENING IT Infrastructure in the right way – moving from a perimetric protection to holistic cyber strategy. The panel consisted of Dr. Makarand Sawant, Senior GM-IT, Deepak Fertilizers and Pertrochemicals Corporation Limited (DFPCL); Mr. Sourabh Chatterjee, President & Head-IT, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance; Mr. Narottam Sharma, Group CIO, Mastek; and Dr. Lopa Mudraa Basuu, Executive VP, Cyber Security & Technology Controls, APAC & EMEA, JPMorgan Chase & Co. The panel was co-moderated by Mr. Alain Sanchez, CISO, EMEA & Senior Evangelist, Fortinet; and the Editor of Digital Edge. The panel discussed the integrated approach to defending IT infrastructure as part of wider strategic moves effected by CIOs & CISOs of enterprises & organizations.
Corporate Presentations
The event also saw three corporate presentations being delivered; one by Fortinet India, another by Crestron Electronics India, and yet another by Shivaami Cloud Services. On the part of Fortinet India, Mr. Ramanan Chidambaram, Director – Sales (SD-WAN) Fortinet, delivered the corporate presentation; while Mr. Jayaprakash Chinnamuthu, Director, Customer Experience, Crestron Electronics India, dispensed with his company’s presentation. On behalf of Shivaami Cloud Services, Junaid delivered the corporate presentation.
Special Awards
The event stands as a witness, where four special Awards were conferred on industry veterans as well as a legal luminary of India. Mr. Sanjiv Krishen, Chairman of Iris Group & CMD of Iris Global Services, was bestowed with the IT DISTRIBUTION DOYEN OF INDIA AWARD 2022. Dr. Pavan Duggal, Supreme Court Lawyer & Cyber Law Expert, has been conferred with the TOP CYBER LAWYER OF INDIA AWARD 2022.
Mr. Sanjiv Bhavnani, Founder & Chief Mentor, Mentorpreneur Advisors, was conferred with the IT CHANNEL EVANGELIST OF INDIA AWARD 2022. While, Ms. Kamini Talwar, Director, Iris Global Services, was bestowed with the TOP CHANNEL STRATEGIST OF INDIA AWARD 2022.
Sponsors
The event has got concerted and brave support from some of the leading IT companies of India. Dell India along with Iris Global Services supported the event as an esteemed PRESENTING PARTNER. Shivaami Cloud Services supported the event as an esteemed GOLD PARTNER. Fortinet India along with Savex Technologies supported the event as an esteemed NETWORK SECURITY PARTNER. Crestron Electronics India supported the event as an esteemed UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS PARTNER. While, Digisol Systems, Crayon Software Experts, Data Resolve Technologies, VMRay India and Frux Technologies supported the event as esteemed NETWORKING PARTNER, TECHNOLOGY ENABLING PARTNER, SECURITY INTELLIGENCE PARTNER, ENDPOINT SECURITY PARTNER and VAD PARTNER respectively.
Digital Edge takes this opportunity to extend its heartiest thanks to all the esteemed Dignitaries, Speakers and all the Attendees as well as Sponsors for making the DIGITAL EDGE ENTERPRISE CHANNELS SUMMIT & AWARDS 2022 a huge success.
Qaisar
