The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2024 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 20, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 21.
Next is Vinit Duggal, chief information security officer at Intelsat, and finalist in the Cybersecurity Executive of the Year, Private Company, category. Here, he talks about recent achievements, shares career advice and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2024?
Among the many achievements of Intelsat’s security team in 2024 has been the successful introduction of an industry-first internal threat program designed to identify insider threats, enhance awareness of potential malicious activity, and gain greater control over the movement of data both within and outside our network. As an output of this program, each piece of data now has some level of classification that aligns with policy and advanced technical controls.
By putting more formality around the types of data routed within and outside our network, and by categorizing all data with greater detail and specificity, we now have greater overall control and more ability to ensure that data is accessible only to those audiences for whom it is intended. Data can still be safe even if lost or if it were to leave the company network inadvertently. No other satellite communications company has deployed as comprehensive a strategy to govern data movement and protect the organization, our customers, and partners from potentially harmful breaches.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
Earlier this year, Intelsat announced the planned $3.1 billion acquisition of the company by SES, bringing together two of the largest and most influential companies in the satellite industry to ultimately deliver greater value for customers and propel the satellite communications industry forward. When the transition and merging of the two companies ensues upon transaction close, ensuring security will be a major priority for both companies.
From a security perspective, the merging of two of the biggest GEO satellite operators in a safe and secure manner is a massive undertaking with tremendous complexity. It involves reviewing existing programs for each entity, determining which components will remain and ultimately bringing together two expansive and extensive security programs. This will be the major focus for our security team in the future.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Cybersecurity professionals are in a unique position. In addition to possessing deep technical expertise in their own field, they also need to understand the broader mission of the companies they serve and the intricacies of the individual functions and business units. They must learn the dynamics of the business and the technologies being used to deliver services that drive revenue growth. And since most security programs have direct reporting lines to management executives, cyber professionals also have access to the leaders of the organization. All this taken together provides cyber pros with an opportunity to expand their horizons and take on larger roles within their companies.
Cyber pros do not need to be siloed into security-only career positions. However, the onus is on them to proactively engage executives with solution-oriented ideas that solve challenges, demonstrate knowledge of the business objectives, and acquire whatever supplemental training is required to pursue and assume larger roles within their respective organizations.
Fun Fact: What is something about you that most people do not know?
I am passionate about golf and have teed off at 35 of the top 50 golf courses around the world.