Indian enterprises face cybersecurity, compliance & resilience challenges: Commvault's CTO & AI Head

As the backup and recovery industry has significantly evolved, US-based enterprise data management company Commvault that offers cloud workload management solutions to enterprises, is pursuing acquisitions and advancing technologies like cyber resilience and artificial intelligence (AI) to stay ahead of its peers. In an exclusive interview with TechCircle, Pranay Ahlawat, Chief Technology and AI Officer at Commvault, discusses how the publicly traded company is betting on data resiliency and AI innovation in strengthening data protection, with a focus on the Indian market. Edited excerpts:

What key technologies have you been investing in recent months?

We are heavily focusing on areas including cloud, cyber resilience, and AI. In April, we introduced Commvault Cleanroom Recovery, an automated cloud service for infrastructure and data restoration to enhance enterprise continuity during cyber-attacks. The Cleanroom Recovery feature offers a secure environment for restoring clean data copies, reducing downtime and supporting business continuity. With our cloud-native solutions, organisations can swiftly recover entire environments, allowing them to continue operations even after significant breaches.

We have already maintained our leadership position in software-as-a-service (SaaS) with Commvault SaaS, our cloud-based service, designed for data protection and management across various environments. It enables backup, recovery, and data management through a unified platform, often targeting environments such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other cloud and on-premise storage systems.

Also to fight against ransomware, we’re focusing on customer experience through a unified platform that merges data protection, security, intelligence, and recovery. This is further enhanced by AI and machine learning to effectively manage complex data flows and security challenges. Our solutions are designed to integrate smoothly into existing workflows, providing robust security while ensuring operational efficiency.

How do you think your recent acquisitions such as Appranix, Clumio, etc., can help you gain an edge over your competition?

Since acquiring Appranix in April, Commvault has strengthened its capabilities in capturing metadata for cloud applications. We excel in data backup and recovery, with Appranix facilitating rapid application reconstruction after cyber-attacks, ensuring operational recovery. With regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and India’s DPDP Act of 2023 emphasising the secure management of personally identifiable information (PII), we are committed to enhancing our platform with features for automated evidence collection, reporting, and risk management to help customers maintain compliance.

Clumio is a technology company in data protection for critical cloud data in AWS. This transaction enabled Commvault to leverage Clumio’s AWS offerings to provide cyber resilience to next generation applications built on AWS. Clumio serves a wide range of customers including Atlassian, Cox Automotive, Duolingo, and LexisNexis.

What kind of growth potential do you see in the Indian market?

In India, we see immense growth potential in line with our global growth. India is a strategic market for Commvault, with significant operations in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where a substantial portion of our engineering, product management, and support functions are based, with significant product innovation originating from the region. Enterprise customers here face cybersecurity, compliance, and resilience challenges, alongside unique regional nuances. The rapid digital transformation in India necessitates agile and scalable solutions to meet both global security standards and regional compliance demands.

What are your plans for the Indian market in the next 12-18 months?

Commvault is focused on expanding its presence in India. We plan to enhance our cloud and SaaS offerings through strategic partnerships with major cloud providers. Investing in local talent skilled in cloud engineering, cybersecurity, and AI-driven data management remains a priority. Additionally, we will drive innovation in AI and automation to improve data protection and simplify management workflows, particularly in key sectors like banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, public service, and manufacturing.

What are your views on responsible AI and what CIOs should do to ensure responsible, ethical AI in their organisations?

Responsible AI provides a framework for developing ethical and transparent AI systems aligned with societal values. Organisations face challenges beyond technology, starting with understanding AI's limitations and risks. It's crucial to design systems for auditability and clarity in decision-making to ensure accountability. Training employees on safe AI use is essential, as their proficiency impacts effectiveness. Dedicated teams for AI governance are necessary to address potential issues, while procedural aspects like testing and compliance ensure adherence to regulations.

Establishing a robust AI ethics framework helps clarify objectives, often aligning with NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) or similar standards. Organisations should also form teams to manage AI-related risks. For example, Commvault has appointed a chief trust officer to evaluate AI risks continuously. Ultimately, developing AI responsibly is crucial.

Can you outline the company’s AI-related roadmap for FY25?

Our overall focus includes transforming customer experience, especially through our chatbot, Arlie, which enhances user interaction and support. We are also investing in advanced product offerings such as risk analysis, AI-enhanced threat detection, and automation to elevate our response to threats. Our vision involves embedding AI across all business functions, ensuring Commvault remains at the forefront of technology use and innovation. Besides, we want to continue to maintain our leadership position in SaaS and IaaS with continued best-in-class support for Office 365, Active Directory, etc. We have multiple announcements that we are planning in the coming quarter.