Thursday, September 7, 2023
Rubrik and India
My son Arvind Founder CTO, Rubrik and Ashish Gupta, VP
Engineering at Rubrik India, Bangalore.
Globalized Growth Needs Cyber Resilience
What I learned from hearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi address the U.S. Congress
Recently, I had the privilege of traveling to Washington to attend the Joint Session of Congress, where I met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was such a special experience for me - as an Indian immigrant, as a citizen of the US, and as someone who conducts extensive business in both countries. It gave me space to reflect on the value of America’s partnership with India, and to consider how the rise of India’s digital economy will impact both countries.
India’s growing digital economy creates massive opportunities
Prime Minister Modi’s speech to Congress focused on what India and America’s ongoing relationship will look like. Modi emphasized America’s status as India’s chosen strategic defense partner, and I was heartened to see how a warm relationship between America and India was well-received across the aisle.
Prime Minister Modi’s growth-oriented mindset and Congress’ bipartisan enthusiasm indicate that India and America are ready to partner to support the rise of India’s digital economy. Both countries stand to mutually benefit.
How America and India can benefit from each other
India is the world’s fifth largest economy, and one of the fastest growing, with some estimates projecting 6.5% for the year. A major deal from earlier this year between Boeing and Air India will create 1 million jobs in the US, and the sheer population size of India introduces major opportunities for Indian and American companies to innovate in digital healthcare and in AI advancement.
As India continues to expand its digital power, American companies have major opportunities to leverage an enormous talent pool and a fast growing sizable middle class. American technology combined with Indian skill-set and scale is a promising combination. Plus, Prime Minister Modi is intentionally creating an environment where American businesses can invest in India. He sees this as a defining partnership between the oldest and the largest democracies of the world. Working together across borders will be a boon for both.
Critical to digital growth: digital security
But as India’s digital economy scales, we will need to keep in mind that one of the world’s largest technology bases will require enormous amounts of cyber security. With increased growth comes increased risk. A flourishing digital economy is a welcomed invitation for cybercriminals to launch attacks on both private companies and governments and so cyber resilience will be paramount.
This is where Rubrik can make a major difference to help secure India’s digital future. There are countless opportunities in this space. With such a large population and the need for remote healthcare services, for example, securing digital delivery will be critical. This can only be accomplished with a partner who is familiar with building security solutions at scale - which is Rubrik’s bread and butter. We need to be able to manage the risks that go hand-in-hand with growth so that India can reach its full digital potential.
Massive potential
My time in DC was instructive and energizing. I left feeling excited about the impact Rubrik can have on the digital landscape in India. We established our Rubrik India office early in our journey because we had seen the incredible potential in this market. We will continue to foster this long-term partnership.
In a broader sense, I left feeling buoyed by the bipartisan support that a strong India-America relationship received. I feel confident that we can accomplish all of our goals if we continue to work together as partners. As the world accelerates toward new technologies and opportunities, let’s continue to jointly lift each other up.