Veeam Software on Wednesday launched a cyber resilience and artificial intelligence skilling programme for Northeast India, partnering with four Assam universities at a summit in Guwahati.
The US-based enterprise data protection firm announced the initiative at the Northeast Cyber Resilience and AI Transformation Summit. The programme forms part of Veeam’s national Bharat Cyber Suraksha mission, which targets training more than 1,00,000 professionals across India in data protection, ransomware recovery and cyber security.
Representatives from the Assam government, academic institutions and technology industry attended the event. The company also released a regional digital readiness report prepared with the Northeast India Public Policy Forum.
Cyber Resilience Centres at four universities
Veeam announced partnerships with Gauhati University, Assam Science and Technology University, Assam Engineering College, Assam Don Bosco University and Assam Down Town University. Each institution will host a Cyber Resilience Centre of Excellence under the programme.
The universities will introduce cyber security and AI courses aligned with industry requirements. The curriculum focuses on practical skills needed by employers in data protection and threat response. Students will receive hands-on training in cyber awareness and AI-enabled security tools.
The company launched its Main Hoon Saksham awareness campaign at ASTU and Assam Engineering College on the opening day. Veeam plans to expand this initiative to other universities and institutions across the region in the coming months.
Northeast positioned as digital growth frontier
Sandeep Bhambure, Vice President and Managing Director for India and SAARC at Veeam, addressed students at the summit. He described the Northeast as a critical frontier for secure digital growth in India.
“India’s digital expansion is rapidly extending beyond metros, and the North-East represents a critical frontier for secure and AI-led growth. As digital services scale across governance, education and enterprise ecosystems, cyber resilience must become foundational,” Bhambure said.
He added that the company combines resilience frameworks with skilling and awareness efforts. The goal is to help regional institutions prepare for cyber threats while adopting AI technologies.
Jeevan Basavaraj, Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Incubation and Startup in the Assam government, emphasised the importance of collaboration for the state’s digital ambitions.
“The summit provides an important platform for government, academia and industry to collaborate on securing the Northeast’s digital future and positioning Guwahati as a strategic technology hub,” Basavaraj said.
Digital readiness report highlights policy gaps
The Northeast Cyber Resilience and Digital Readiness Report 2025 contains recommendations on cyber security frameworks, protection of citizen data and skills development. Veeam prepared the document with the Northeast India Public Policy Forum after surveying institutions across the eight northeastern states.
The report aims to help organisations improve incident response capabilities. It provides guidance on aligning with requirements under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and CERT-In guidelines.
Public services, education systems and businesses across the Northeast have accelerated digital transformation in recent years. This rapid adoption has increased exposure to cyber threats, prompting state governments to prioritise security awareness programmes.
National targets under Bharat Cyber Suraksha
Veeam plans to establish more than 100 Cyber Resilience Centres of Excellence across India under the Bharat Cyber Suraksha mission. The company expects these initiatives to create over 25,000 jobs in the cyber security sector.
The Northeast programme addresses a widening gap between demand and supply of trained cyber security professionals. Industry reports indicate that digital adoption across sectors has outpaced the availability of skilled workers in threat analysis and incident response.
Technology companies have stepped up skilling initiatives in partnership with educational institutions nationwide. These programmes prepare graduates for roles in security operations centres and enterprise data protection teams.
Northeast emerges as technology investment destination
The region has attracted attention from technology firms due to lower operational costs and a growing pool of engineering graduates. Universities in Assam have expanded their technology programmes significantly over the past five years.
Partnerships with industry players provide students access to current tools and practices used in enterprise environments. Veeam’s centres will offer certification programmes recognised by employers in the data protection sector.
The Assam government has prioritised technology skilling as part of its economic development strategy. Guwahati hosts several technology parks and incubation centres that support startups in software and digital services.
State authorities have also invested in improving digital infrastructure across districts. These efforts aim to support both government service delivery and private sector growth in technology-enabled industries.
Ransomware threats drive enterprise demand
Veeam specialises in backup, recovery and data management solutions for enterprises. The company reported that ransomware attacks on Indian organisations increased substantially in 2024, driving demand for resilience solutions.
The firm operates data centres in India and serves customers across financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and government sectors. Its products help organisations recover data and resume operations after cyber incidents.
The Northeast initiative aligns with the Centre’s push to strengthen cyber security capabilities across states. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has allocated funds for cyber security training programmes targeting government employees and students.
CERT-In has issued guidelines requiring organisations to report cyber incidents within six hours. Compliance with these requirements has increased demand for trained professionals who can manage security operations and incident response.
