E-Security is a global issue and we require a global vision to deal with the scourge. There is no one magic bullet that can resolve all our e-security problems. If there was (a single magic bullet for the problem) large companies like Microsoft would have solved their and our e-security problems.

Solutions to e-security problems are complex and involve a mixture of technology, management, legal, accounting and other domain areas. As the attack vectors keep shifting we need to keep updating our thought processes at the same time. Unfortunately, most of us in this space use one-dimensional methodologies like a Firewall or an Intrusion Detection System or a ISO audit or an anti-virus etc. We need to look beyond the conventional means and find ways to actually stop the cyber criminal. Our track record globally has been very poor.

This forum would look at the different problem areas in the world of e-security and allow people from all over the world to actually suggest solutions that have been successful. It would also look at how law enforcement and the judiciary should tackle the growing problem of catching and punishing cyber criminals. We would also discuss the efficacy of the various tools in our arsenal and whether our thinking about e-security is along the right lines or not. We would look at the newer areas of cyber crime all over the world and whether our e-assets would be safe today and in the future. Finally we would see whether countries like India who are Global players in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) space can also take care of the world's e-security needs.

Forum Moderator: Vijay Mukhi, President
Foundation of Information Security and Technology (FIST)

Strategic Outsourcing has two connotations – outsourcing as a strategy and the strategy of outsourcing.

Outsourcing as a strategy involves looking at ones company in detail, analyzing the growth and pain areas and figuring out how to use outsourcing as a tool for building a stronger organization. This involves looking at the costs and benefits of outsourcing, evaluating the risks of outsourcing and finally deciding on whether or not to outsource any of the company processes.

Once a decision on outsourcing is made, the next is the strategy of outsourcing. This is the nuts-and-bolts of outsourcing. How to break down company processes so that smaller sub-processes can be outsourced, how to handle internal strife and uncertainties, how to select outsourcing partners, how to implement the outsourcing strategy and so on.

While outsourcing as a strategy is something that the CEO and Board of Directors should deliberate on, the strategy of outsourcing is something that the CEO should have the COO and the rest of the team implement.

This form will broadly discuss these two areas as separate threads:

1. Outsourcing as a Strategy
2. The Strategy of Outsourcing

Forum Moderator: Chirag Unadkat, CEO of WESRA India, Chairperson of the Department of Advanced Modes of Learning (DAML) at SVKM’s NMIMS University