In Episode #2 of Guardians of the Enterprise, Dr. Pawan Chawla (CISO and DPPO, Tata AIA Life Insurance) joins Ashish Tandon (Founder and CEO, Indusface) to discuss the emerging cyber challenges facing the insurance industry. He highlights how cybercrime marketplaces are lowering barriers for attackers, the rise in third-party and internal risks, and other evolving threats shaping security priorities for insurers.

He also shares what it takes to protect critical insurance functions under growing pressure, including the need for stronger deepfake and AI defense across digital insurance channels. The conversation further explores the challenges insurance organizations face in meeting diverse compliance requirements and how these can be addressed more smoothly.

Key Highlights from the Discussion:

• The paradigm shift shaping the insurance industry
• Cyber risks and deepfake threats in managing critical systems
• Cybercrime marketplaces, third-party risks, and internal cyber risks
• Challenges in meeting compliance across multiple regulatory bodies
• Presenting security priorities and expectations to the board
• The evolving role of CISOs as business enablers
• Enabling innovation without compromising on security
• The importance of accurate data classification for planning
• Understanding the security landscape in the age of AI
• Hiring challenges for cyber roles in the insurance industry
• Rapid-fire segment with Dr. Pawan Chawla

In this episode of Guardians of the Enterprise, Nishith Datta (Head of Cybersecurity & InfoSec, Titan Group) shares his experience securing large-scale systems such as Aadhaar, the world’s largest digital identity programme, and his involvement in national cybersecurity initiatives that required protection at massive scale.In his current role at Titan, he discusses how the growth of omnichannel retail has introduced new cybersecurity challenges, from expanding attack surfaces to rising risks around loyalty platforms. He explains how the focus is shifting beyond compliance to building customer trust, and how cybersecurity today plays a central role in driving business growth across the digital retail landscape.