Event Overview

South East Asia’s prominence as a global and regional hub for finance, commerce and other business services is fueled by technology innovations across domains that influence the other regions of Asia-Pacific. This has made it equally vulnerable to cyberattacks.

According to a survey report, 84% of organizations in South East Asia were victims of ransomware attacks between March 2022 and March 2023. The country had the highest ransomware attack rates worldwide during this period.

In 2024, we anticipate the prevalence of cloud technologies, DevOps, big data, adaptive AI, 5G, API, SaaS, blockchain, and environmental, social and governance technology, which will have a cascading effect on cybersecurity.

ISMG’s Cybersecurity and Business Transformation Summit centered around the theme, “Leadership, Strategic Innovation and Cybersecurity Defense,” addresses the key challenges that IT and security leaders face. The event aims to explore the implications of these challenges and offer strategic and tactical approaches to implement technologies and employ robust defenses to protect critical systems from cyberattacks.

As enterprises increasingly adopt artificial intelligence to drive technological advancement, the associated risks have also risen exponentially, challenging them to evaluate the level of risk they are willing to accept to accomplish their business goals.

A successful business transformation will largely depend on the organization’s ability to balance customer convenience, innovation, offense and defense with the use of the right tools, technologies and best practices.

Join ISMG’s Cybersecurity and Business Transformation Summit to gain insights into how leaders are spearheading excellence across technology implementations, crafting unique user experiences and establishing a cyber-resilient enterprise that leverages innovation for business growth. The summit will cover topics, including managing risk and preparing for the generative AI era, the impact of APIs on the future of business governance, building custom-built IT architectures, unlocking innovation through CIO leadership, responding to ransomware attacks, developing risk mitigation plans against new forms of attacks, implementing effective authentication mechanisms, and more.

The summit will also delve into the diverse trends and opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity and business transformation.

You can also earn CPE credits by attending the summit.

ISMG’s agendas provide actionable education and exclusive networking opportunities with your peers and our subject matter experts.

Speaker

Santosh Nair (Conference Chair)

Regional Head of Innovation and Process Consulting, APAC IT, Siemens Healthineers

Speaker

Christophe Barel (Conference Co-Chair)

Managing Director-APAC, FS-ISAC

Speaker

Rishi Ganiswaran

Head of Legal (Technology) and Group Chief Privacy Officer, Yinson

Speaker

Sourabh Chitrachar

Speaker

Jenny Tan

President, ISACA-Singapore Chapter

Speaker

Reuben Athaide

Head, Cyber Security Advisory and DevSecOps, Standard Chartered Bank

Speaker

Steven Sim Kok Leong

Chair, Executive Committee, OT-ISAC

Advisors

Guiding Insights From Industry Leaders

Our Summit Advisory Committee comprises industry visionaries who guide the conference’s content, ensuring that it remains relevant, cutting-edge, and aligned with the most pressing cybersecurity challenges and opportunities.

Speakers

Thought Leaders Leading Deep-Dive Discussions on Stage

Industry leaders from various sectors in the technology domain share their experience on how the role of chief technology officers (CTOs) has become indispensable across organizations. They discuss unique strategies and techniques applied in businesses, making technology an intrinsic part of their organizational DNA. Additionally, these thought leaders delve into how they have redefined leadership to enhance the organization’s resilience and share their insights on artificial intelligence, sustainability, and the future of internet.

Speaker

Ruwanthi Fernando

Chief Information and Process Officer, Hela Clothing

Speaker

Carolyn Bigg

Partner and Global Co-Chair of the Data, Privacy and Cyber Group, DLA Piper, Hongkong

Speaker

Justin Ong

APAC CISO and Chief Privacy Officer, Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte.Ltd

Speaker

Guy Sheppard

Chief Commercial Officer, Aboitiz Data Innovation

Speaker

Sifat J N

Chief Information Officer, Bashundhara Group.

Speaker

Ali Abdulla Al Sadadi

Chief of Information Technology, Ministry of Oil & Environment, Kingdom of Bahrain

Speaker

Atif Najam

Chief Information Officer, Gatron (Industries) Ltd. (Gatro-nova Group)

Speaker

Abid Adam

Group Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, Axiata

Speaker

Arlene Romasanta

Director IV, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Agenda - Day 1

Day 1: ISMG Cybersecurity Conference

Welcome and Opening Remarks

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM SGT

9:00 AM - 9:20 AM SGT

Plenary: AI's Influence on Cybersecurity Leadership, Innovation and Defense

Artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in cybersecurity by proactively detecting potential cyberthreats, identifying new attack vectors and safeguarding sensitive company data.

This dynamic interaction between AI and cybersecurity underscores how leveraging AI in cybersecurity defense mechanisms is not just a strategic imperative but a necessity in today’s digitally driven environment.

Security practitioners must take a practical approach to integrate AI into cybersecurity frameworks. This will enable organizations to build a proactive defense mechanism along with the rapid response process. Although AI presents numerous opportunities, it poses challenges in fostering innovation and collaboration within the cybersecurity ecosystem. This requires continuous learning, adaptation and strategic leadership informed by AI-driven insights.

The session will cover:

  • The evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats in a global context, spanning Southeast Asia;
  • Use cases related to deploying AI-focused programs for enterprise security, innovation and defense;
  • The intersection of AI, data privacy and ethics in establishing cybersecurity governance.
Abid Adam, Group Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, Axiata
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM SGT

Keynote: Innovating and Thriving in a Digital Economy: Do Security Leaders Have the Right Defenses and Strategies?

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations are continuously embracing innovative technologies to drive growth, efficiency and competitiveness.

However, this digital transformation comes with a heightened risk of cyberthreats that can disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data and damage reputation. The keynote address aims to explore the crucial intersection between innovation, business success and cybersecurity preparedness.

The keynote will:

  • Highlight the digital transformation landscape;
  • Examine cybersecurity challenges in the AI era;
  • Evaluate security leaders’ role;
  • Explore adaptive defense strategies.
Esti Peshin, VP, General Manager, Cyber Division, IAI – Israel Aerospace Industries
9:40 AM - 10:10 AM SGT

Leadership Traits of a CISO: A Strategic Road Map

The industry expects CISOs to emerge as leaders and endeavor to build a cyber-resilient enterprise capable of enduring and containing attacks, along with innovating and thriving in a digital economy.

To accomplish this, CISOs must align their strategies with business priorities, move from a defense to an offense mindset, and collaborate to ensure that their organization’s cybersecurity approach delivers business value.

Building a resilient enterprise depends on the leadership traits of a CISO and the strategic road map to achieve the goal. Most security practitioners argue that CISOs need to embody all leadership traits, take ownership and wear multiple caps to build resiliency and demonstrate their inclusive leadership skills.

The session will cover:

  • How to become a strategic thinker and imbibe the qualities of a knight;
  • How to make “security” a part of the corporate strategy and DNA;
  • How to demonstrate leadership in countering information warfare and establishing organizational resilience.
Jagathesh Ragavasagam, Risk and Cybersecurity Officer, Abbott
Sourabh Chitrachar, Regional Vice President/Head- Asia Technology Strategy & Operations, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Justin Ong, APAC CISO and Chief Privacy Officer, Panasonic Asia Pacific Pte.Ltd
10:10 AM - 10.30 AM SGT

Fireside chat - Is Privacy a CISO’s Problem? How to Operationalize It?

Most security leaders believe that they are not protecting technology but people. However, can fraud, breach and privacy be viewed together?

The fundamental question that arises is, “should privacy be considered a CISO’s problem, and how privacy can be operationalized in the context of security and data protection issues?”

How much security is required in an environment where openly shared data and research results fuel business? Is a CISO more than just another corporate policy developer and technology evangelist in terms of privacy and security matters?

What role does a CISO play in operationalizing data protection and privacy regulations?

The session will cover:

  • The intersection between security and privacy;
  • How much is a CISO accountable for privacy;
  • Data protection versus security controls
Carolyn Bigg, Partner and Global Co-Chair of the Data, Privacy and Cyber Group, DLA Piper, Singapore
Sunari Dandeniya, Chief Information Security Officer, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PL

Networking & Exhibition Break

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM SGT

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM SGT

Panel: IoT Risks: Tactics, Techniques and Procedures to Remediate

Security leaders agree that IoT and OT devices, including network-attached storage devices, hold valuable data that ransomware groups seek to compromise.

These devices lack robust security measures such as those found in other endpoints.

Some security leaders believe that implementing endpoint detection and response on IoT and OT devices is challenging due to lack of agent support and specific security features. While IoT risks are an enterprise-wide challenge, having right remediation tactics, techniques and measures to counter the risks is critical.

It is crucial to have these to ascertain the behavior of a threat actor and assess the structured framework for executing a cyberattack.

The session will cover:

  • What should the TTPs constitute in remediating IoT risks;
  • Defending the devices while maintaining privacy;
  • CISOs’ consideration on the right investments and accountability.
Jenny Tan, President, ISACA-Singapore Chapter
John Lee, Managing Director-Asia Pacific, GRF
Steven Sim Kok Leong, Chair, Executive Committee, OT-ISAC
11:15 PM - 11:35 PM SGT

Spotlight: Conquering Software Supply Chain Insecurities: The Security Promise

Artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in cybersecurity by proactively detecting potential cyberthreats, identifying new attack vectors and safeguarding sensitive company data.

This dynamic interaction between AI and cybersecurity underscores how leveraging AI in cybersecurity defense mechanisms is not just a strategic imperative but a necessity in today’s digitally driven environment.

Security practitioners must take a practical approach to integrate AI into cybersecurity frameworks. This will enable organizations to build a proactive defense mechanism along with the rapid response process. Although AI presents numerous opportunities, it poses challenges in fostering innovation and collaboration within the cybersecurity ecosystem. This requires continuous learning, adaptation and strategic leadership informed by AI-driven insights.

The session will cover:

  • The evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats in a global context, spanning Southeast Asia;
  • Use cases related to deploying AI-focused programs for enterprise security, innovation and defense;
  • The intersection of AI, data privacy and ethics in establishing cybersecurity governance.
Reuben Athaide, Head, Cyber Security Advisory and DevSecOps, Standard Chartered Bank
11:35 AM - 12:05 PM SGT

Third-Party Suppliers: Risks and Response

With third-party-sourced breaches regularly making the headlines, most companies have become aware of the risks created by this extended attack surface — often because they have been victims themselves.

By following the right path, security and risk leaders can feel confident in their approach to managing the cyber risk posed by third parties.

This session will discuss:

  • How third-party risk environment has evolved;
  • Building an effective risk management program with right processes and tools;
  • Right prescription to third party SLAs;
  • The challenges of implementing third-party risk program;
  • How do you respond to third party risks.
Raina Verma, Advisory Council Member, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
Sujit Christy, Secretary/Immediate past president, ISC2- Colombo Chapter, Sri Lanka, President, Circulo de CISO
12:05 PM - 12:35 PM SGT

Fireside Chat: AI-Powered Shadow Data Monitoring: Rapid Threat Detection and Remediation

AI solutions are transforming data security by addressing the often-overlooked issue of shadow data.

These solutions can help in adeptly identifying and monitoring potential data access abnormalities, swiftly alerting cybersecurity professionals to potential threats. Therefore, they significantly reduce the time it takes to detect and remediate security issues in real time, ultimately bolstering data protection and safeguarding against unauthorized access or data breaches. This innovative approach not only enhances data security but also enables organizations to respond proactively to emerging threats, consequently fortifying their cybersecurity posture.

The session will cover:

  • The concept of shadow data and its relevance in the context of data security;
  • The capabilities of AI solutions in identifying and monitoring potential data access abnormalities;
  • Proactive response to emerging threats.
Dr. Jassim Haji, Executive Advisor for AI & Data Science, NAIRDC
Mahesh Chandran, Director AI, Fujitsu Research

Agenda - Day 2

Day 2: CIO.inc Business Transformation Conference

Welcome and Opening Remarks - ISMG

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM SGT

9:00 AM - 9:20 AM SGT

Plenary: The Upcoming Age: AI’s Influence on the Technology Innovation

This session delves into the intricate relationship between organizations and artificial intelligence, exploring the seamless integration of AI into the business.

It also examines the collaborative co-evolution of humans and AI systems, shedding light on the extensive societal impact in Singapore, spanning industries, workforce dynamics, and the broader societal framework. The session elaborates on the profound influence of AI in businesses and the technologies adopted. It delves in the transformative power of AI to revolutionize the way businesses innovate and operate.

The session will cover:

  • Exploring approaches to evaluate return on investment in business AI initiatives;
  • Navigating complexities in implementing AI-driven optimization solutions;
  • Identifying and discussing common challenges faced by businesses in adopting AI technologies.
Arlene Romasanta, Director IV, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
9:20 AM - 9:40 AM SGT

CEO Keynote: CEO Priorities in 2024: Impact and Strategies for CIOs 

In this session, CEOs will share their top priorities and strategic perspectives for 2024, shedding light on their vision for their organizations.

CIOs will gain valuable insights into aligning their technology and digital strategies with the broader corporate objectives. This collaborative discussion will provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and the formulation of strategies. The goal is to ensure that CIOs are well-prepared to contribute to realizing CEOs’ priorities and driving impactful technological transformations.

The session will cover:

  • The need to foster innovation and technology partnership to achieve business goals;
  • Harnessing Data-driven decision-making and nurturing talent development;
  • The importance of aligning strategic priorities.
Zaved Akhtar, Chairman & Managing Director, Unilever Bangladesh
9:40 am – 10:10 am

Panel: Making of a Resilient Enterprise: How Will CIOs Raise the Bar?

In the face of constant disruptions and a changing business landscape, enterprises must be resilient to overcome challenges, embrace change and sustain growth.

The panel will highlight the crucial role of CIOs in building and leading resilient organizations.

The session will cover:

  • A CIO checklist for driving resilience within organizations;
  • Emerging technologies that enhance agility, adaptability and robustness;
  • Building resilience through collaborative partnerships with vendors and suppliers;
  • Leveraging an agile and adaptive IT infrastructure, including cloud, microservices and containerization, to swiftly respond to changing business needs.
Ruwanthi Fernando, Chief Information and Process Officer, Hela Clothing
Atif Najam, Former Chief Information Officer, Gatron (Industries) Ltd. (Gatro-nova Group)

Networking Break

10:10 AM - 10:30 AM SGT

10:30 am – 10.50 am

Fireside Chat: Building a Data-Driven to Data-First Enterprise in the Digital Era

Organizations are undergoing a strategic evolution in their approach to data - transitioning from data-driven to data-first.

Both the terms are often used interchangeably but have distinct connotations. While both emphasize the utilization of data for decision-making, data-first involves inga comprehensive data-centric approach across the organization, placing data at the core of the operations – as opposed to specific projects – to inform decision-making.

The session will delve into what it takes for organizations to scale from a data-driven to data-first enterprise.

The session will cover:

  • Playbook for data-first enterprise;
  • Extensive cross-functional data integration;
  • New technology tools and opportunities for innovation.
Guy Sheppard, Chief Commercial Officer, Aboitiz Data Innovation
10:50 AM - 11:20 AM SGT

Panel: Macroeconomic Uncertainty: Establishing Digital Innovation and Resilience Guided by AI

As organizations embrace AI-driven transformations, CIOs confront challenges influenced by macroeconomic factors such as economic uncertainties, constrained IT budgets, talent acquisition struggles, skill shortages and geopolitical instability.

The session will explore the current macroeconomic landscape through the lens of AI-driven transformation, offering CIOs insights, recommendations and best practices to navigate digital evolution amid uncertainty.

The session will cover:

  • Market shifts and emerging trends in AI-driven transformation;
  • Analysis of challenges experienced by enterprises;
  • Agile methodologies organizations need to implement to adapt to the market dynamics;
  • Strategies for achieving excellence and innovation in turbulent economic times.
Bilal Javeri, CIO, Lucky Motor Corp
Ts. Izuddin Abdullah, Head of IT, TNB Integrated Learning Solution Sdn Bhd
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM SGT

Panel - APIs: Impacting the Future of IT and Business

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the role of application programming interfaces (APIs) cannot be overstated.

APIs are no longer just tools for developers, they are becoming the backbone of modern business strategies. As CIOs, understanding the pivotal role of APIs in your digital strategy is essential for staying ahead in the ever-evolving business landscape. Embracing APIs as the future of business can unlock new opportunities, streamline operations and drive growth.

The session will cover:

  • Security and governance;
  • Monetizing opportunity;
  • Enhancing innovation and customer experience.
Hussein Hassanali, Head of IT Advisory Internal Audit, HBL – Habib Bank Limited
TJames Thang, Group Chief Information Officer, UCSI Group Holdings Sdn. Bhd.
Rishi Ganiswaran, Head of Legal (Technology) and Group Chief Privacy Officer,Yinson
11:55 AM - 12:25 PM SGT

Charter for CIOs and Technology Executives in 2024: The Way Forward in Expanding Digital Delivery

The session delves into the evolving digital landscape in the realm of business transformation, where technology pioneers are leading the way to expand digital delivery.

CIOs and technology leaders will gain valuable insights into harnessing the potential of cutting-edge technologies to elevate customer experiences, streamline business operations and maintain a competitive edge. The session provides a platform to exchange knowledge and ideas as technology advances, shaping strategies for a future where innovative solutions and digital growth are central to business operations.

The session will cover:

  • Leveraging modern technologies;
  • Reshaping digital landscapes and revolutionizing business practices in 2024;
  • Personalizing customer experiences with advanced technologies and empowering CIOs and technology executives to enhance customer interactions;
  • Optimizing internal processes and decision-making through technology, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness across diverse industries.
Ali Abdulla Al Sadadi, Chief of Information Technology, Ministry of Oil & Environment, Kingdom of Bahrain

Closing Remarks

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM SGT