Udaipur, April 20, 2025: The growing digital landscape of Udaipur, coupled with a rise in cyber threats and new regulations, has necessitated a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. Recognizing this critical need, Aftab Saloda, a recognized Cyber Security leader, SVP from Silverse (a leading cybersecurity firm based in Delhi) and Mazher Hussain, Head of Udaipur National Informatics Centre (NIC), jointly hosted an awareness session titled “Cybersecurity: A Critical Need for Udaipur’s Businesses and Governance”.

This session was intended to equip participants with practical knowledge about cybersecurity strategies and provide guidance on the recently introduced Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA). The event, held earlier in April, was attended by participants from various sectors, including government departments, private enterprises, and IT professionals. The session explored the theme of “Cybersecurity & DPDPA – Challenges, Solutions & Compliance Strategies.”

Speakers who Led the Charge

The event featured distinguished speakers, including Prashant Kumar Mittal, Deputy Director General (DDG) and Head of Group (HoG) for the Data Governance and Strategy Division at NIC, and Jitendra Kumar Verma, State Informatics Officer (SIO) and Scientist-F at NIC, Rajasthan.

Aftab Saloda, a seasoned cybersecurity expert from Silverse, known for his deep expertise in safeguarding digital ecosystems and fostering innovative security solutions, shared the broader agenda of the Cybersecurity Community at Udaipur, which will form a part of the community's Vision and Mission. The Vision is to make Udaipur the Cybersecurity Capital of Rajasthan. He shared his experience on helping the businesses in building Cyber resilience on the DPDPA compliance framework.

Pawan Duggal a distinguished advocate at the Supreme Court of India, globally recognized as a leading expert in cyber law, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence law provided insights on the implementation of DPDPA compliance and penalties which ranges from Rss. 50cr to 250cr. There will be no exception from the Government on non-compliance and business will have to pay the price for it.

Dr. Mazher Hussain, a distinguished IT professional and Senior Director (IT) at NIC, with over 27 years of extensive experience in managing large-scale e-governance projects shared his wisdom on the Government initiatives to drive DPDPA and enforcement.

Prashant Mittal, a visionary leader in data governance, has been instrumental in advocating for the DPDPA and promoting sustainable digital frameworks. His vast experience in enhancing data privacy and security across governmental platforms makes him a prominent voice in the session.

Jitendra Verma’s leadership in implementing transformative ICT projects across Rajasthan, including initiatives like IFMS and ePanjiyan, added a practical dimension to the discussions. His expertise in leveraging technology to enhance transparency and efficiency provided participants with a clear roadmap for digital transformation.

Cybersecurity: Imperative need for Udaipur

With Udaipur’s significant presence on the global tourism map and the city's emergence as hub for tourism and IT as well as Finance related businesses and planned industrial growth under the Rising Rajasthan initiative, the city imperatively faces mounting threats in the digital space. Cyberattacks targeting financial institutions, sensitive data repositories, and critical operational systems have the potential to severely disrupt business operations, erode customer trust, and impede the city’s economic progress. Southern Rajasthan, with Udaipur at the helm, is open to the risk of cyber threats as a very large part of the business and tourism infrastructure as well as ministerial and departmental technology work flow is consolidated.

In an effort to mitigate these risks, Mazhar Khan from NIC and Aftab Saloda from Silverse initiated a public-private partnership to spearhead a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness campaign for this region. This collaborative initiative emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to safeguard Udaipur's and Southern Rajasthan's digital future.

Role of DPDPA in Cybersecurity

Central to the discussion was the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), enacted by the Government of India. This legislation sets a robust framework for protecting personal data in the digital age. It places significant responsibility on businesses to implement stringent data protection measures and comply with regulatory standards.

The session provided attendees with valuable insights into the DPDPA's key provisions, compliance requirements, and practical implementation strategies. Cybersecurity experts and legal advisors delved into the Act’s implications, offering actionable advice to help organizations navigate the evolving regulatory landscape.

Building a Cyber-Resilient Future

This awareness session signifies a pivotal step toward securing Udaipur’s digital ecosystem. By fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders, the initiative aims to empower businesses and government entities to adopt robust cybersecurity practices and comply with the DPDPA.

As Udaipur continues to embrace digital transformation, this event underscored the importance of vigilance and preparation in countering cyber threats. This session euipped  the participants with a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity challenges and solutions, as well as a renewed commitment to safeguarding their digital assets.