CIOs Now Drive Strategic Growth, Not Just IT Management

BHARAT B. ANAND
GROUP CIO AND CTO, CONNECT GLOBAL

Today, AI offers both opportunities and challenges for organizations, especially in safeguarding sensitive data. While AI—particularly supervised and unsupervised models—can enhance threat detection and pattern recognition, it must be applied with caution. Rather than replacing human intelligence, AI serves as augmented intelligence, supporting better decision-making. Despite significant advancements since the 2010s, AI is still evolving, and organizations must stay agile to keep up.
The role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has transformed from managing IT infrastructure to driving strategic innovation across the organization. CIOs are now instrumental in aligning technology initiatives like AI adoption with overall business goals, requiring ongoing learning and adaptability.

Cybersecurity has become a shared responsibility, demanding vigilance from every individual. From using banking apps to handling internal data, employees must be aware of cyber risks. Building a cybersecurity-first culture through regular training, awareness programs, and zero-trust security frameworks is essential to mitigate threats and ensure organizational resilience.

As data volumes explode from numerous devices, managing and analyzing this information remains a key challenge. Diverse formats and sources complicate threat detection, demanding innovative solutions.

With cyber threats constantly evolving, even as large firms strengthen defenses, small businesses often struggle due to limited resources. To level the playing field, it’s crucial to democratize cybersecurity and make protection accessible to organizations of all sizes.