Gurgaon (Haryana) [India] – WhizHack Technologies Private Limited recently announced the signing of a strategic MOU with IIT Madras Pravartak. This partnership will see them collaborate to develop innovative products and solutions that can detect, predict and mitigate cyber-attacks on cyber-physical systems. WhizHack also aims to leverage the ‘Made in India’ Shakti Chip to build OT security solutions on and embark on joint capacity-building programs of national importance.
A study conducted by Gartner in 2022 highlighted an alarming rise in cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure sectors – an increase of 3900% when compared to 2013 itself. These cyber-security threats have posed a major concern for Gartner security and risk leaders over the next three to five years.
Commenting on their association, Dr M. J. Shankar Raman, Chief Executive Officer, IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation said, “Cultivating strong partnerships between industry and academia is a need of the hour for an emerging India. We are delighted to be associated with an Indian specialist like WhizHack that is developing original products and training programs. Shakti Chip will be a key building block towards developing cost-effective security solutions for OT&IT infrastructure that are completely made and maintained in India.”
Kallol Sil, Co-Founder & CEO at WhizHack Technologies, expressed, “Advanced state-sponsored cyberattacks have been a major setback for India in its push towards digitization. As India’s only vertically integrated cyber security platform, we have developed and deployed our home-grown cyber threat detection and remediation system to protect critical infrastructure like Defence, Telecom, Power, and Enterprises. We hope this collaboration will pave the way for deep research towards creating next-generation security products that can be used in India and global markets across OT and IT networks. We want to also create a self-reliant cyber security workforce empowered with the latest techniques and training.”
WhizHack Technologies is the first Indian company with a vertically integrated cyber defence platform. In less than two years since its foundation, the company has recorded a 200% growth in both the Consumer and Enterprise sectors and a 20-time increase in shareholder value through a USD 3 million Pre-Series A funding round led by Vedswasti Holdings, Netherlands and SAA Capital, Singapore at a valuation of USD 40 million.
IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, under the Department of Science and Technology, has been collaborating with stakeholders in the market with an aim to conduct research in various fields of technology and global standardization of the same.
This joint efforts of IIT-Madras Pravartak and WhizHack will go a long way in developing and empowering a self-reliance cyber security ecosystem – thus taking India closer to its vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
