The 13th EIITF 2024- Showcased the impact of AI in modern era

The 13th edition of VARINDIA Eastern India Information Technology (EIITF) 2024 held on 13th September at Hotel Raajkutir, Kolkata, witnessed enormous success and extensive support from the esteemed technology leaders from the corporate world, CXOs, members of COMPASS, and Value-Added Resellers (VARs) from Eastern India.

A landmark event – EIITF has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth in the technology industry in the eastern region. This fair provides a unique platform for networking, learning, and showcasing the latest technological advancements.

Themed, ‘Enhancing Access and Connectivity’ which is the need of the hour, the 13th EIITF 2024 incorporated topics like Navigating the risks, Defending Against Attacks - Adversarial Neural Cryptography, Revolutionizing AI: GenAI and Data ChatGPT and more.

The event commenced with the ceremonial lamp-lighting by Hari Kishore Kusumakar, IPS- ADG & IGP Cybercrime West Bengal and CISO West Bengal; Manjit Nayak, Director, STPI; Dr. Arindam Sarkar, Head of Department of C S & Electronics - Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira – Howrah; Pradeep Biyani, President, COMPASS; Anil Kaushik, Founder Vice Chairman, CyberCorp; K L Lalani, Chairman, Lalani Group of Companies; Sourav Das, Group Chief of Digital & IT, Rupa & Co.; Dr. Pallab Ganguly, CISO Generation & Alt CISO Distribution, CESC; Prakash Mani Tripathi, GM – IT, Shyam Steel Industries; Ashwin Mittal, Regional Head, OPSWAT India; Bijoy Kumar Mitra, Sr. V.P, Intensity Global Technologies; Minal Bhagat, Co-founder, Ensonic Computech; Bibek Maity, CIO & CDO, LUX Group; Sandip Banerjee, Sr. V.P & CISO- Bandhan Bank; Narayan Basak, CISO & Head of IT Operations, TCG Digital; Zakir Hussain, CEO, BD Software Distribution and Dr. Deepak Sahu, Editor-in-chief, VARINDIA.

(L - R) : Mr. Zakir Hussain Rangwala, CEO, B D Software Distribution, Mr. Sumanta Sahu, Director, Macaws Infotech, Ms. Minal Bhagat, Co-founder, Ensonic Computech, Mr. Bijoy Kumar Mitra, Sr. V.P., Intensity Global Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Ashwin Mittal, Regional Head, OPSWAT India, Mr. Pradeep Biyani, President, COMPASS, Mr. Sourav Das, Group Chief of Digital & IT, Rupa & Co., Mr. Hari Kishore Kusumakar, IPS- ADG & IGP Cybercrime West Bengal and CISO West Bengal, Mr. Manjit Nayak, Director, STPI, Mr. Anil Kaushik, Founder Vice Chairman, CyberCorp Limited, Mr. Sourabh Khemani, Founder Chairman & CEO of CyberCorp Limited, Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-chief- VARINDIA and Dr. Arindam Sarkar, Head of Department of C S & Electronics, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira - Howrah.

The inaugural speech was presented by Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-chief, VARINDIA where he spoke about the growing importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital age.

After the inaugural speech, Manjit Kumar Nayak, Director, STPI enlightened the audience regarding the opportunities with STPI. This was followed by a power-packed presentation by Dr. Arindam Sarkar, Head of Department of C S & Electronics, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira - Howrah who elaborated on the various types of cyber frauds, Generative AI, Federated Learning, Adversarial Neural Cryptography, Soft Computing and more. After the two enthusiastic and informative presentations, the keynote was delivered by Hari Kishore Kusumakar, IPS- ADG & IGP Cyber Crime, West Bengal and CISO of West Bengal. He spoke about the rising trends of cybercrime in the state and how the Government of West Bengal is gearing up to protect the netizens.

Also, there were three distinguished corporate speakers from the industry who briefed about their company's perspective, innovations, and strategies in the evolving tech landscape.     The first corporate speaker was Bijoy Kumar Mitra, Sr. V.P, Intensity Global Technologies who talked about scope, opportunities and the untapped market in the Eastern region.    Ashwin Mittal, Regional Head, OPSWAT India, the next speaker enlightened about the innovative solutions of the company.  And finally, Sandeep Gandhi, CTO, Cybercorp, the last speaker, enlightened the audience with his presentation on their company’s products and solutions.

In this new era of advanced technologies and innovations, Artificial Intelligence is set to significantly reshape the future of work across industries. While AI offers tremendous opportunities for automation, efficiency, and innovation, its impact will be determined by how businesses, governments, and individuals adapt and respond to the challenges it presents. The panel discussion, with the topic - AI and The Future of work, was moderated by Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Chief Editor, VARINDIA. The eminent panelists who participated in the discussion included Sourav Guha Thakurta, CIO, WEBEL; Dr. Pallab Ganguly, CISO Generation & Alt CISO Distribution, CESC; Prakash Mani Tripathi, GM – IT, Shyam Steel Industries; Narayan Basak, CISO & Head of IT Operations, TCG Digital and Sourav Das, Group Chief of Digital & IT, Rupa & Co.

The event set a platform and acknowledged an organization that is dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to drive meaningful social change and create a more equitable world - “PHILANTHROPIC TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION”. The association includes CIOs, CTOs, Heads of IT, and technology experts based in Kolkata and West Bengal. 

The event concluded on a high note.

Social media is the biggest platform for FinTech frauds

Hari Kishore Kusumakar  
ADG & IGP Cyber Crime, West Bengal Police

“The government has introduced the 1930 National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal as a solution for cybercrimes. The advantage of this system is that it consolidates all complaints in one place. If a single mobile number is used to make thousands of calls across the country, the system flags it, enabling the authorities to take action. However, criminals are becoming more sophisticated, using multiple states and methods to avoid detection. They might buy a SIM card in one state, reside in another, target victims in a third, and use mule accounts in a fourth state. This complicates the jurisdictional issues, as state police are often limited to their respective states.
Our primary focus is to block fraudulent transactions within the banking system. Unfortunately, in about 90-95% of cases, victims report the fraud only after a substantial delay, by which time the money has already been withdrawn. About 90% of the money is withdrawn through ATMs, often from locations far from where the victim resides.

We are actively working with banks to freeze accounts and block transactions to prevent further losses. Earlier, our success rate in blocking funds was about 3.3%. Now, after establishing the cybercrime unit in February, we have increased this rate to 13.3%, aiming to reach 20% in the near future. The idea is to make the process less lucrative for criminals by reducing their financial gain.

In terms of the types of fraud reported through the NCIP portal, we encounter various forms of financial fraud, including internet banking fraud, credit card fraud, UPI fraud, and more. In some cases, people use highly sophisticated technology to carry out these crimes. Since February, we have been working on managing the 1930 helpline in West Bengal, expanding from one line to ten to ensure we record 100% of the complaints. Even if we cannot recover the money, the data helps us identify patterns and prevent further crimes.”

India's IT and Electronics Industry driving economic growth and global leadership

Manjit Nayak  
Director-STPI (Kolkata), Govt. Of India

“Since the 1990s, the IT industry has blossomed into a global powerhouse. By the end of 2023, the total revenue generated by IT exports from India reached an impressive $194 billion, nearly doubling since 2016, highlighting the sector's robust growth. Despite various global challenges, the IT industry's contribution to India's GDP has risen significantly, from 1.2% in 1998 to 7.5% in 2023. This growth is not just about numbers; it has also created millions of jobs, transforming the country's economic landscape. The IT industry has become a cornerstone of the nation's economy, accounting for around 79% of total revenue through exports.

Turning our attention to the electronics industry, we see another area with tremendous growth potential. The electronics sector in India contributes about 3.4% to the country's GDP. The government has shown its commitment to this sector by pledging nearly $17 billion over the next six years through various incentive schemes. This support has already yielded impressive results, making India the second-largest mobile manufacturer, with nearly 200 units now producing mobiles and accessories. In 2014, only two companies were involved in mobile manufacturing, but now, the government's vision aims for a $400 billion turnover in the electronics sector by 2025. This ambitious plan includes setting up clusters for the entire value chain and employing over 10 million people directly and indirectly. Incentives like production-linked incentive schemes and the promotion of manufacturing electronic components and semiconductors are part of this vision.”

Federated learning is the new frontier, as centralised machine learning becomes outdated

Dr. Arindam Sarkar  
Head of Department of C S & Electronics, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira- Howrah

“Data has become the new oil, the new gold—it's everything. We deal with massive amounts of data, but the challenge lies in managing it. Criminals use land records and other documents to tamper with biometric authentication. In response, we're shifting to Virtual IDs (VIDs), thinking they are more secure. However, the apps we download for conveniences often contain malicious software, putting our data at risk.

We have seen a rise in scams, especially involving loan apps. Cybercriminals use generative AI extensively. They can alter messages, including timestamps, in real-time. To combat this, we need to focus on three key areas: educating people about cyber threats, adopting resilient processes, and ensuring adequate defense mechanisms.

Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) can be used for cyberattacks. Social engineering, phishing, and fake impersonation are becoming more sophisticated with AI. Generative AI acts as a double-edged sword; it can be vulnerable, but it can also be used to defend against attacks. By advancing automated responses and enhancing security measures, we can protect against AI-driven threats.

Generative AI is a subset of deep learning, consisting of two components: a generator and a discriminator. The generator creates new data, while the discriminator evaluates its authenticity. This technology is crucial for fraud analysis. Often, the actual crime data and reported data differ significantly, and generative AI can help fill in these gaps.

Federated learning is the new frontier, replacing centralized machine learning. It allows multiple organizations to collaborate on machine learning models without sharing their data directly, enhancing privacy and security. This shift to federated learning addresses the concerns of companies that are reluctant to share their data, even in cloud environments.”

Intensity Global Technologies helps customers unlock the power of technology 

Bijoy Kumar Mitra  
Sr. V.P, Intensity Global Technologies 

“Intensity Global Technologies is a system integrator headquartered in Delhi. Our journey began 20 years back, promoted by Aditya Kakkar. Over the years we have established ourselves in the northern part of the country and it was very recently that we took a decision to expand our footprint into other parts of the country, beginning with the eastern region because everybody feels that East is the smallest part of India in terms of business which is perhaps not true. There is huge potential in the market in the region, it is only that it has not been tapped well. So, we have our office in Kolkata and we have also expanded into western region with an office in Mumbai.

At Intensity Global, we view technology as a game changer, especially in today’s highly competitive business landscape. Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to helping customers and partners harness the full potential of technology to elevate their business. With a workforce of 200, over 25% of our team is focused on pre-sales, post-sales, and support services—areas we believe are the foundation of long-term success. Our engineers are certified across both pre- and post-sales, ensuring top-notch service. We proudly partner with industry-leading OEMs in infrastructure, networking, security, and managed services, allowing us to deliver comprehensive, cutting-edge solutions. Our comprehensive offerings cover the entire spectrum of infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking, and cloud services. AI is the buzzword of today, and we not only have expertise in this area but also provide AI solutions. Our dedicated team specializes in SAP services and applications, a capability that sets us apart, as only a few integrators possess this expertise. Artificial Intelligence is creating value across industries, yet many have not fully realized its potential or how to harness it effectively. The solutions are available, and we’re ready to collaborate with you to unlock them. In addition, our strong post-sales support team ensures seamless IT service management, including AMC support, professional services, staffing, warranty support, and more.”

“Trust no file and trust no device” 

Ashwin Mittal  
Regional Head, OPSWAT India  

“OPSWAT is into critical infrastructure protection which is not only limited to IT but also to the operational technologies. The motto of the company - Trust no file and trust no device.

Many organizations are investing heavily in cybersecurity, focusing on areas like network and application security. However, a critical aspect is often overlooked - the protection of legacy files, which are common entry points for cyber-attacks. According to DSCI, a significant portion of attacks, such as ransomware, adware, and cryptojacking, are file-based, with 80% originating from emails and the remaining 20% from portals. Over 60,000 cybercrime cases have been reported to the crime bureau, where evidence is typically uploaded in files, pictures, and videos. But the question is: how do we ensure these files are free from malicious content? Although HTTPS offers secure transmission, it doesn’t address threats embedded within the files themselves. This is where OPSWAT's technology comes into play, offering advanced file sanitization.

Files commonly reach us through four main channels - email, portals, SFTP, and removable media. OPSWAT has these six different technologies, first is the Multi Scanning where we use multiple AV engines at the same time without affecting the performance. Then we have Content Disarm and Reconstruct where we break the file into its components, we inspect each of the components and then remove anything malicious. Third is Threat Intel, so we offer Threat Intel feeds and we also provide solutioning on specific files. We also offer Sandboxing and it is emulation based. It is a VM independent solution and 10x faster.

OPSWAT has an extensive suite of solutions for OT Security and all the solutions are non-intrusive in nature which means that we do not need to install anything on your existing systems. 

When it comes to email security, OPSWAT provides advanced protection for files such as Excel or Word documents that may contain elements like text, images, logos, hyperlinks, macros, DDEs, and OLEs. Our technology thoroughly dissects these files into their individual components, removes potentially harmful elements and then reconstructs the file back into its original format.”

CyberCorp committed to foster a secure digital environment 

Sandeep Gandhi     
CTO, CyberCorp  

“CyberCorp is a pioneering cyber security company. The company is committed to fostering a secure digital environment by leveraging advanced technologies like AI-driven analytics, blockchain security and Quantum Resistant Cryptography etc.

We developed four different segments - Thin Computing, Digital workspaces, Digital transformation and Cyber security. At CyberCorp we offer a comprehensive suite of products designed to address several challenges. To begin with the first category is secure Thin Computing products, our secure embedded OS with VDI clients and lockdown mode along with secure device management software provides a comprehensive life cycle management ensures that the devices are protected throughout their lifecycle, providing robust security configurations and management. Thus, ensures Regulatory Compliance and robust data protection. Second is the secure Digital workspaces provide secure efficient access management, supports complex regulatory requirements and customer data protection, all built on zero trust architecture. It facilitates and ensures secure, efficient and manageable work environments. The third category is digital transformation. We have integrated our products with the document management system, we have developed a digital signage software and a unified communication software which enhances customer engagement, streamline operations, supports digital transformation initiatives and are tailored to enhance data handling, visual engagement and communication. The last category is Cybersecurity. We have developed Secure Desktop Software which integrates a PKI-based Zero Trust Architecture Trust Center software. It offers advanced security protection and monitoring solutions to safeguard and protect sensitive data and combat emerging and evolving cyber threats.”

Panel Discussion Session: 

L to R: Sourav Guha Thakurta, CIO, WEBEL, Dr. Pallab Ganguly, CISO Generation & Alt CISO Distribution, CESC, Sourav Das, Group Chief of Digital & IT, Rupa & Co., Prakash Mani Tripathi, GM – IT, Shyam Steel Industries, Narayan Basak, CISO & Head of IT Operations, TCG Digital and Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Chief Editor, VARINDIA

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu
Chief Editor, VARINDIA
The emergence of AI has been a pivotal point of innovation reshaping the contour of industries worldwide. The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is sparking global conversations about the future of work. As AI technology has become more advanced and capable, there is growing concern about the potential impact on job skills, overall nature of the employment etc.     

Dr. Pallab Ganguly  
CISO Generation & Alt CISO Distribution, CESC
In the energy sector, AI can be viewed through the lens of the good, the bad, and safety. The positive aspect is, for example, Dr. Sahu's home and both Sourav Guha Thakurta and Sourav Das’ households are equipped with smart meters. These smart meters generate substantial data on consumer patterns, allowing the use of clustering algorithms, whether supervised or unsupervised, to analyze this data effectively. With this vast data lake, AI algorithms can manage energy distribution efficiently. The capability to manage energy distribution in real-time and optimize it through AI represents the significant good part of AI's role in the energy sector.

The bad part is data overload, leading to ambiguity, inadequate clustering algorithms, improper hierarchical models and the absence of robust mathematical frameworks which can result in AI making wrong decisions.

The safety aspect is, in case of an emergency like a fire alarm, the AI algorithm is designed to react immediately by shutting down the entire distribution system.  

Prakash Mani Tripathi  
GM – IT, Shyam Steel Industries
In human-AI partnerships, two primary challenges are transparency and trust. When AI processes data points, the first concern is whether the generated results are accurate. Since outcomes are often based on how large language models (LLMs) interpret data, there is uncertainty around the reliability of these untrained models. The first challenge is trust in the result. The second challenge is the lack of skilled professionals in AI development. Despite these challenges, there are significant opportunities in areas such as productivity, performance, automation, and innovation, which demonstrate the potential benefits of AI integration. 

Narayan Basak  
CISO & Head of IT Operations, TCG Digital
I am from TCG Digital Solutions and we are a pure analytics company. When we reach clients, we notice that they are running monolithic applications and are worried about their data when it moves to the cloud, and they also want an AI implementation. Our suggestion to them is please switch to microservices, serverless components as soon as possible which is basically digital transformation. By doing so, we have created a digital twin for our clients. Now they have realized the power of analytics and AI because the data is at their fingertips. The digital transformation should come first and then we can think of the AI models, the data that can be fed into the AI models to give us the desired output.     

Sourav Das  
Group Chief of Digital & IT, Rupa & Co.
The challenges of implementing AI in the industry begin with navigating the unknown, as many AI initiatives lack proven case studies or precedents. Secondly, there is a significant shortage of skilled AI professionals in the market. Third, the element of risk-taking is prominent, as the benefits of AI projects are often unclear until they are fully realized, leading to many initiatives failing after the proof-of-concept (POC) stage. Fourth, security and privacy concerns often emerge unexpectedly, becoming critical factors that weren't considered at the outset of the POC. Lastly, most organizations are still not fully equipped with the necessary infrastructure and platform readiness required for successful AI implementation. Despite these challenges, the potential achievements with AI are vast. 

Sourav Guha Thakurta  
CIO, WEBEL

There is a lot of apprehension among people that they might lose their jobs and there might be a revolution in the job market. In the healthcare industry there is a possibility because of the augmentation of healthcare related services like Diagnostic Center etc. and AI is aiding the sector. But if we enroll more people and provide training then it will augment the sector.

In the financial sector there are a lot of financial transactions and detection of frauds are happening. AI's capabilities can significantly enhance the identification of the origins of fraudulent transactions. However, this advancement also poses a potential risk to certain roles within financial institutions, such as tellers and cashiers, as AI might gradually reduce the need for these positions.  

Third is the manufacturing industry which is more into Supply Chain Management, inventory monitoring, quality processes control. AI will definitely help in revolutionizing this particular process. So, there is a potential risk involved in the routine process and it will be undertaken by AI-based software or algorithms.

In transportation and logistics, AI is playing a significant role in enhancing route planning and safety measures, making it a rapidly growing sector. While this AI-driven automation offers many benefits, it also poses a potential threat to job seekers, as the industry becomes increasingly automated. The use of drones is expected to further streamline transportation processes, contributing to this shift.

In agriculture, AI is being utilized in areas like farm management and soil health monitoring, with applications such as Webel's "Matir Katha" leading the way. While this technology may reduce the need for manual labor, there is still an opportunity to enhance AI usage by involving individuals with AI expertise to support and optimize these advancements.

AI can be leveraged to combat cyber threats  

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu  
Editor-in-chief, VARINDIA  

“The growing importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital age cannot be overstated, especially as India emerges as a global leader in digital transactions, managing 46% of the world’s digital payments. This remarkable digital growth has also introduced heightened risks, making the task of securing cyberspace a national priority.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become ubiquitous in the technologies we interact with daily, transforming the way we live, work, and communicate. From smartphones and virtual assistants to autonomous vehicles and healthcare diagnostics, AI is at the heart of the systems shaping modern life. The rapid advancements in large-scale AI are fueling even greater breakthroughs, ushering in new waves of discovery and innovation across industries.

In today's data-driven world, data breaches are no longer just a security concern; they pose a significant threat to a company's brand reputation and customer loyalty. With a staggering 77% of companies experiencing data breaches in the past year, it's evident that safeguarding customer data is a critical marketing strategy.

While enhancing access and connectivity, Artificial Intelligence can address the growing challenges of online fraud, fake news, and cyber abuse. It is time to leverage Artificial Intelligence in tackling online fraud, fake news, and the growing menace of cyber abuse, especially targeting women and children.”