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Introduction: Inside the First Minutes of a Cyber Crisis
When a cyberattack slams into a large organisation, the impact is immediate and visceral. Screens lag, alerts multiply, systems behave unpredictably and decision-making collapses under pressure. In those early moments, there is no clean narrative, only fragments of information and a rising sense of urgency. For cybersecurity leaders who have lived through these events, the experience is not theoretical. It is exhausting, disorienting and relentless. What separates organisations that recover from those that spiral, experts argue, is not heroics during the breach, but the discipline built long before it ever happens.
Summary: Lessons From the Frontlines of Cybersecurity Resilience
Veteran security leaders speaking at a cybersecurity panel shared hard-earned insights from managing real-world cyber crises. Arunkumar Selvaraj, global head of security and compliance at TCS Enterprise Cloud, described cyber incidents as physically and mentally draining experiences, marked by sleepless nights and constant uncertainty. Having overseen recovery from multiple major attacks, he stressed that frantic activity during a breach rarely determines the outcome. Instead, the deciding factor is preparation that is calm, methodical and deeply embedded into organisational culture.
Burgess Cooper, CEO of cybersecurity at Adani Enterprises, reinforced this view by highlighting the importance of cyber war games and repeated simulations. Since no two attacks unfold in the same way, organisations must train themselves to act decisively even when information is incomplete. Practiced clarity, rather than perfect intelligence, becomes the only real advantage when attackers adapt in real time.
For critical infrastructure operators, the stakes are even higher. Jacxine Fernandez of Bangalore International Airport Limited explained that airports cannot pause operations during a cyber incident. Flights must depart, passengers must move and safety cannot be compromised. In this environment, resilience is not about preventing every breach, but about surviving compromise and restoring systems faster and stronger than before.
Artificial intelligence has reshaped both offense and defense in cybersecurity. Vishak Raman of Fortinet noted that AI-driven attacks now operate at machine speed, identifying vulnerabilities and launching exploits faster than human analysts can respond. At the same time, defenders are using AI to improve visibility across hybrid cloud environments, predict threats earlier and reduce breach costs. AI, the panel agreed, is not a replacement for engineers but a force multiplier that enables better decisions.
Security architecture itself has evolved. Selvaraj pointed out that security can no longer be layered on after systems are built. In cloud, AI and multi-tenant environments, guardrails must exist from day one. Even the AI systems used in security operations must be protected, as they become critical assets in detection and response workflows.
Recoverability emerged as a central pillar of resilience. Selvaraj shared an incident where both primary and secondary data centres were compromised, yet the organisation survived because it maintained a third, isolated backup copy. Immutable, write-once-read-many backups allowed reconstruction even after ransomware attacks. This layered backup strategy, he argued, is essential for rapid recovery.
Looking ahead, the panel addressed quantum computing as both a threat and an opportunity. Raman urged organisations to begin preparing for a post-quantum world by assessing cryptographic dependencies. Burgess compared the shift to the Y2K transition, calling it “Y2Q,” and suggested India could lead globally in quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions. With its engineering talent and scale, India is well positioned to become a cybersecurity powerhouse.
Despite advances in technology, the panel concluded that tools alone cannot guarantee resilience. Attackers now exploit human trust using AI-generated voice clones and communication mimicry. Over-automation without sound processes, Cooper warned, only accelerates failure. Ultimately, cybersecurity remains a human challenge as much as a technical one.
What Undercode Say: Cyber Resilience Is an Organisational Mindset, Not a Toolset
The most striking insight from this discussion is how consistently experienced leaders downplay the myth of the “perfect defense.” Cybersecurity is no longer about building impenetrable walls. It is about designing systems and teams that can absorb impact, adapt under pressure and recover with minimal damage. This shift mirrors how modern organisations must think about risk in an era of constant digital exposure.
Preparation, as described by the panelists, goes far beyond checklists and compliance audits. Cyber war games and simulations are not symbolic exercises. They train decision-making muscles under stress, exposing gaps in communication, authority and escalation paths. When a real attack unfolds, those rehearsed instincts matter more than any individual tool.
The emphasis on recoverability is particularly telling. Too many organisations still measure security maturity by prevention metrics alone. Yet ransomware and supply chain attacks have proven that breaches are inevitable. The ability to restore operations quickly, using immutable and isolated backups, is often the true determinant of business survival. Backup architecture, once treated as mundane infrastructure, has become a frontline defense.
AI’s dual role highlights another uncomfortable truth. As attackers automate faster than humans can react, defenders cannot rely on manual processes. However, blind faith in AI-driven security platforms is equally dangerous. AI systems inherit the assumptions, data quality and biases of their designers. Securing AI workloads and validating their outputs must become part of standard security governance, not an afterthought.
The discussion around airports offers a broader lesson for all industries. Cybersecurity strategies must align with operational realities. A hospital, an airport or a power grid cannot simply shut down to contain a breach. For these environments, resilience planning must assume continuity under compromise. That demands close coordination between security teams, operations and leadership, breaking the traditional silo where cybersecurity is treated as a purely technical function.
Quantum computing introduces a rare strategic window. Unlike most cyber threats, it is visible years in advance. Organisations that delay preparation risk scrambling later under regulatory and security pressure. Countries and companies that invest early in quantum-safe cryptography can shape standards rather than react to them. India’s opportunity here is not guaranteed, but the ingredients, talent, scale and global trust are undeniably present.
Finally, the recurring warning about the human element should not be underestimated. Social engineering amplified by AI undermines even the most advanced defenses. Training, awareness and process discipline remain irreplaceable. Automation can accelerate response, but only if the underlying decisions are sound. In cybersecurity, speed magnifies both competence and mistakes.
Fact Checker Results
✅ Cyber war games and simulations are widely recognised as best practices in incident response preparedness.
✅ Immutable and isolated backups are proven to improve recovery outcomes after ransomware attacks.
❌ AI-driven security tools alone cannot eliminate the risk of human-targeted social engineering.
Prediction
📊 Quantum-safe security planning will move from niche concern to regulatory requirement within the next decade.
📊 Organisations that prioritise recoverability over pure prevention will show measurably faster breach recovery times.
📊 India is likely to emerge as a major global hub for managed cybersecurity and post-quantum security services.
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References:
Reported By: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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