From ransomware to crypto jacking: Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President, Asia Pacific and Japan at SonicWall Inc. shares the company’s unified approach to infosec challenges.
In a recent interview, I had the privilege to sit down with Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President of SonicWall Inc., overseeing the Asia Pacific and Japan region.
With cyber threats looming large and security solutions flooding the market, Mukherjee shed light on the evolving security landscape and SonicWall’s pioneering efforts to combat the confusion surrounding security products.
The ever-changing security threat landscape
“Every minute, we witness new attacks,” Mukherjee began, emphasizing the relentless nature of cyber threats. From ransomware to crypto jacking and encrypted threats, the spectrum of attacks is vast and ever evolving. “Cybercriminals adapt swiftly,” he explained. “If one avenue is blocked, they pivot to another. It’s a game of constant innovation.”
He revealed a startling statistic: “Ninety-nine percent of attacks are known, leaving a mere one percent classified as unknown, totaling over 99 million types of attacks.” In such a volatile environment, enterprises face the daunting task of navigating through a sea of security solutions, each vying for the title of the best defense.
Mitigating enterprise infosec concerns
Acknowledging the confusion among enterprise users, Mukherjee highlighted SonicWall’s proactive stance in addressing these concerns. “Our CEO spearheaded an initiative to take an ‘outside-in’ approach,” he explained. “We listened to our customers and partners, understanding their pain points.” The overwhelming consensus? The complexity of choosing the right security solution.
“Enterprises are tired of piecemeal solutions,” Mukherjee stressed. “They seek holistic protection without the hassle of juggling multiple products.” In response, SonicWall developed a unified platform where all products seamlessly integrate, ensuring comprehensive security coverage. “The key is information sharing. What good are best-in-class firewalls and endpoint protection if they operate in silos?”, he said.
SonicWall’s platform offers a consolidated view of security across the enterprise, with the flexibility to integrate with other products as desired.
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Acquisition strategy and future focus
On SonicWall’s recent acquisition spree, Mukherjee provided insights into the company’s strategic vision. “As a 32-year-old company, we’ve been leaders in the firewall space,” he affirmed. “However, identifying gaps in our offerings propelled us to seek acquisitions to bolster our platform.”
He shared that SonicWall’s focus remains balanced between enterprise, government and SMB markets, with a commitment to serve all segments.
Empowering channel partners
At the core of SonicWall’s ethos lies its unwavering dedication to its channel partners. “We’re not just channel-first; we’re a 100% channel company,” Mukherjee asserted. “Our channel partners are our lifeline.” He emphasized SonicWall’s channel-centric approach, with initiatives like SonicWall University to upskill partner teams.
“The platform we’ve developed will be delivered through our channel partners,” he affirmed. “We support our channel community through skill set programs and fine-tuned channel programs to ensure their growth.”
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