Zscaler and Airtel Expand Cyber Security Defenses with New AI Initiative in India

Zscaler, Inc., a renowned cloud security provider, has partnered with Bharti Airtel to establish the AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre - India. This new center intends to improve cyber security in India, protect important industries, and encourage the safe use of artificial intelligence throughout the country's expanding digital ecosystem.

The corporations said the center will concentrate on sectors critical to India's economy and national security. These include telecommunications, banking, and energy. As cyber attacks get more advanced, securing these areas is more critical than ever.

The initiative represents the goal of "In India, For India." The center will act as a national collaboration hub, bringing together the commercial and public sectors, government organizations, and academic institutions. The purpose is to strengthen cyber defenses and train a skilled workforce for the future. This contributes to India's digital growth and goal of creating a self-sustaining digital economy.

According to Jay Chaudhry, CEO of Zscaler, India operates large digital systems. He emphasized that traditional security technologies such as firewalls and VPNs are no longer sufficient in today's hyper-connected world. Instead, modern approaches such as the Zero Trust security architecture are required. Zero Trust prioritizes authenticating each person and device before allowing access, making systems more secure by design.

As part of the collaboration, Zscaler will set up a specialized India-focused threat research team. Using its Zero Trust Exchange technology, the company processes billions of transactions per day to detect cyber threats. On the other hand, Bharti Airtel will give network visibility, particularly for IoT and mobile traffic. This will allow for better monitoring of suspicious activities and faster detection of cyber threats.

Airtel's leadership remarked that this collaboration underlines their commitment to safeguarding customers and India's digital infrastructure. The center also intends to attract more members from various industries to increase collaboration and strengthen national cyber resilience.

With the advent of AI-driven cyber threats, this project represents a significant step toward creating a safer digital India. Zscaler and Airtel aim to establish a secure and trustworthy digital environment for both enterprises and citizens by combining global competence and local knowledge.

This article is based on information from The Mint