With the increasing digitisation in the government ecosystem, security as an issue has gained huge importance and created opportunities for various IT vendors to offer their solutions to cater to the need. As a leading global cybersecurity company, Forcepoint provides timely and integrated security solutions to the government. Surendra Singh, Country Director – India & Saarc, Forcepoint, talks about the company’s platform security approach and products his company offers to secure government networks and sensitive data in an interview Poulami Chakraborty of Elets News Network (ENN)
Please take us through the journey of Forcepoint in the Indian market.
Forcepoint is a joint venture between Raytheon (80%) and Vista Equity Partners (20%) with an independent board of directors. The company derives its rich legacy and synergy from the coming together of Websense Raytheon Cyber Security Products, and Stonesoft Next Generation Firewall Company. Thus, Forcepoint is not a new company but backed by history of developing successful enterprise security solutions. Due to changing threat landscape, the requirements of customers are also changing. Today the requirement is for organisations to respond quickly and accurately to advanced cyber attacks that use multi-stage cycle and combine two or more communication channels. It is difficult to detect such advanced attacks through a myriad of point products as are often not integrated. The approach at Forcepoint is to have unified, platform security approach that safeguards users, networks and data of organisations.
Forcepoint has been in India for more than 10 years, earlier known as Raytheon | Websense, helping large number of enterprises and government protection from cyber attacks coming from the web and email and protecting their sensitive data from leakages and data theft. With addition of new solutions like Forcepoint SureView Insider Threat and Forcepoint Stonesoft Next Generation Firewall, we look to provide a unified security platform that will protect organization not only from outside but inside attacks and secure their network from breaches.
Forcepoint has proven industry-recognised web security and data security solution, along with e-mail security. The key here is not just to provide best-in-class products but also to ensure that the products are integrated
Now that Forcepoint is in the Indian ecosystem as an established player in cyber security domain, how do you perceive its presence in this highly competitive market?
The Indian market is highly competitive, but organisations in India choose to go for the best-in-breed products over price-sensitivity at any point of time. When it comes to private organisations, it is also important to be compatible besides being competitive and price sensitive. Forcepoint provides best of breed products on a single platform that enables customers to see complete life cycle of threat and stop the advanced threat from disrupting the network or exfiltrating the sensitive data.
What is the USP that Forcepoint vouches for while exploring opportunities in India?
We have proven industry-recognised web security and data security solution, along with e-mail security. The key here is not just to provide best-in-class products but also to ensure that the products are integrated proven industry recognised web security and data security solution along with e-mail security. The key here is not only to provide best-in-class products but to ensure that the products are integrated.
Our endeavour is to provide unified, cloud-centric platform to organisations to defend against attacks, detect suspicious activity sooner, and provide context needed to decide what actions to take and defeat the attack and stop data theft.
Defend, detect, decide, defeat – that is our vision for Forcepoint 4D Security. We have the expertise, financial commitment and ongoing access to unique, defense-grade security technology necessary to deliver on this vision.
Defend, detect, decide, defeat – that is our vision for Forcepoint 4D Security. We have the expertise, financial commitment and ongoing access to unique, defense-grade security technology necessary to deliver on this vision
Does Forcepoint work only with the Centre or also state governments?
We work across Central and state government agencies and departments. We participate in various tenders, which are issued by the central government and various state governments to provide them with IT security solutions. Till a few years back, security was an issue of comparatively lesser importance. However with digital India program push and the government agencies are taking steps to ensure that the sensitive data is protected and their network is available to citizen without any disruption.
The recent incident of Ukraine’s electricity board website being hacked highlights the rising threats a country can be hit with. This can be addressed only with deep awareness about the importance of data and IT security in the government sector.
What is the roadmap for further increasing Forcepoint’s footprint in India?
We have grown rapidly over the years to cater to a wide array of sectors assisting them to overcome diverse cyber security challenges. We continue to have a strong focus in sectors such as BFSI, IT/ITeS, Telecom, Manufacturing, Automobile, Pharma and Government sector. The industry preference to Forcepoint solutions has also enabled us to consolidate our partner network in the country. Overall, we remain committed to the Indian market like before and a commitment to deliver security solutions that are industry benchmark.