The pace of digital change isn’t slowing down—it’s shifting into overdrive. For today’s CIOs and IT strategists, staying ahead means more than just keeping up with tech trends; it means anticipating what’s next and building agile systems that can flex with it.
This week, the spotlight falls on cloud-first strategies taking center stage as businesses look to modernize infrastructure for flexibility and scale. AI is moving beyond the hype cycle, now powering real-time decisions and redefining what “intelligent operations” truly mean. And with threats becoming more complex, cybersecurity is evolving into a proactive, intelligence-driven discipline.
In this week’s CIO Influence roundup, we’ve curated the most critical updates driving IT and SaaS transformation—from enterprise cloud shifts to AI integration and next-gen security. Whether you’re refining your roadmap or scanning the horizon for your next strategic move, these are the signals worth watching.
Executive Moves and IT News That Matter
This Week in Cybersecurity
Detectify Redefines AppSec Testing with Intelligent Scan Recommendations
Detectify, the advanced application security testing platform for evolving attack surface coverage, today announced the launch of its new Asset Classification and Scan Recommendations capabilities. This innovation directly addresses a critical challenge for security teams: knowing what else, beyond their core applications, requires in-depth testing.
“It’s time to break the illusion of coverage. Attackers thrive on the discrepancy between what you believe you’re exposing and what you’re actually exposing,” said Rickard Carlson, CEO at Detectify
CrowdStrike Partners With Wipro to Transform Global Enterprise Security Operations With Falcon Next-Gen SIEM
CrowdStrike today announced a strategic partnership with Wipro Limited, a leading technology services and consulting company, to deliver next-generation security operations powered by CrowdStrike Falcon Next-Gen SIEM.
News highlights:
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Delivers AI-powered, real-time threat detection and automated incident response.
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Enables faster deployment, lower total cost of ownership (TCO), and improved cyber resilience.
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Falcon’s cloud-native, index-free design ensures scalability and high-speed performance.
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Wipro offers 24×7 security operations via global Cyber Defense Centers.
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Enhances analyst productivity and reduces manual workload through AI and automation.
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Supports enterprises in replacing outdated SIEMs and addressing the cybersecurity skills gap effectively.
Data Strategy Snapshot: What’s Evolving
BigID Sets New Standard for Privacy Enforcement with AI-Automated Data Retention and Deletion to Meet Global Regulatory Demands
BigID, the leader in data security, privacy, compliance, and AI data management, today unveiled groundbreaking AI-driven capabilities for automated data retention, minimization, and deletion – delivering the industry’s first platform to natively enforce privacy policies across all data, at scale.
Key Innovations in BigID’s New Privacy Enforcement Capabilities:
- Retention Scheduling with Business Context
- Native Deletion at Scale
- Regulatory-Based Retention Mapping
- Automated Retention & Minimization
Sertainty and SecureCo Successfully Complete Pilot Demo of End-to-End, Self-Governing Secure Data Sharing Solution
Sertainty Corporation and SecureCo are pleased to announce the successful completion of a new pilot-demonstration project featuring a seamless integration of a virtually invisible network with the industry’s foremost file-level zero-trust data-security patented solution.
Amir Sternhell, Chief Strategy Officer for Sertainty, conveyed, “This collaboration underscores our commitment to revolutionizing data security. Sertainty’s Self-Protecting-Data technology addresses the urgent need for zero-trust at the data level, while SecureCo’s invisible network ensures that data in transit is essentially cloaked from malicious actors. Together, we’re creating a new standard for end-to-end data protection that blends seamlessly into a data chain-of-custody and advanced machine learning processes.”
Trends Reshaping Cloud Infrastructure
Livewire Partners with VergeIO to Modernize MSP-Centric Cloud Infrastructure
Livewire selects VergeOS as a VMware alternative for MSP-focused cloud services. VergeOS offers an all-in-one virtualization, storage, and networking platform.
Key Points:
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The move follows rising VMware licensing costs and complexity post-Broadcom acquisition.
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Key benefits: 35–40% cost reduction, integrated multi-tenancy, GPU/disaster recovery support, and Terraform/Ansible automation.
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Grafana integration provides real-time monitoring.
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Native migration tools ensured seamless transition without service disruption.
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Livewire aims to future-proof its platform and help MSPs scale efficiently.
HYCU Unveils R-Shield to Deliver Total Cyber Resilience Coverage for SaaS, Cloud, and On-Premises IT Environments
HYCU, Inc., a leader in modern data protection for on-prem, cloud services, and SaaS, and one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, announced Resiliency Shield (R-Shield™), an industry-first cyber resilience fabric built to its award-winning, flagship HYCU Data Resiliency Cloud (R-Cloud™) data protection platform. With R-Shield, customers now have unparalleled anomaly and ransomware detection capabilities, along with instant recovery to address the risk unprotected data creates for organizations worldwide.
This Week’s Power Reads
How AI and Data-Driven Decision Making Are Reshaping IT Ops
IT operations are shifting from intuition to intelligence. This article explores how AI and data-driven decision-making (DDDM) are transforming traditional IT management into a predictive, proactive, and highly efficient function.
What It Covers:
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Rise of Data-Driven IT: The article explains how empirical evidence, not gut instinct, is now the foundation of modern IT decisions. AI-infused data strategies help move from reactive fixes to predictive and prescriptive approaches.
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Predictive Intelligence & Automation: Predictive analytics is highlighted as a game-changer—enabling IT to anticipate failures, prevent downtime, and optimize performance.
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AI as Decision Architect: With 90% of analytics content creators predicted to be AI-assisted (Gartner), AI is now shaping—not just supporting—strategic IT decisions.
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Operational Agility & Innovation: Data-informed teams respond faster to market shifts, boost innovation, and uncover new business opportunities by visualizing patterns invisible to the human eye.
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Cost Savings & Risk Reduction: Intelligent automation and real-time monitoring cut costs, enhance security, and minimize human error.
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Building Adaptive IT Infrastructures: The future of IT lies in systems that are resilient, scalable, and driven by real-time insights from edge to cloud.
AI-Augmented Risk Scoring in Shared Data Ecosystems
The article explores how AI and shared data ecosystems are revolutionizing risk scoring. Traditional siloed models can’t keep up with today’s fast-moving, interconnected risks. Instead, AI-powered systems now enable real-time, intelligent, and adaptive risk assessments across industries.
Key Takeaways:
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Shared Intelligence: Banks, insurers, and partners now exchange data securely to enhance risk precision.
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AI Advantage: Machine learning detects complex patterns, predicts emerging threats, and adapts scoring dynamically.
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Industry Use Cases: From credit and underwriting to cyber defense and ESG compliance.
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Challenges: Privacy, data bias, model explainability, and cross-org trust remain critical.
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Tech Enablers: Federated learning, SMPC, and data clean rooms enable secure collaboration.
The Decision Maker’s POV
CIO Influence Interview with Dhanesh Pai, VP of Engineering at PrimeSoft Solutions
In this exclusive Q&A, Dhanesh Pai shares deep insights into the evolving landscape of backend engineering, AI integration, and cloud-native innovation. He highlights the shift from traditional monoliths to serverless and event-driven architectures, emphasizing how automation and AIOps are ushering in intelligent, self-healing systems. Dhanesh also underscores the importance of service mesh and zero trust architectures in securing and scaling modern distributed environments.
On the fintech front, PrimeSoft is leveraging AI/ML for predictive analytics, fraud detection, and real-time decision-making. The company is also experimenting with generative AI to simplify financial insights and enhance user experience. Dhanesh provides a forward-looking view of DevOps, spotlighting trends like “Everything-as-Code,” AIOps, and FinOps to drive automation and cost-efficiency.
As engineering leadership transforms in the age of automation, he stresses the need for ethics, continuous learning, and human-machine collaboration. PrimeSoft’s future roadmap is equally ambitious — from post-quantum cryptography to edge-powered financial services, the company is investing in technologies that promise both security and scalability.
CIO Influence Interview with Laura Padilla, SVP of Global Channels & Alliances at Freshworks
Laura Padilla of Freshworks offers a compelling look into how the company is redefining partner engagement through a “people-first AI” philosophy. At the core of Freshworks’ partner strategy lies a commitment to using AI not to replace human effort, but to enhance it—empowering partners with AI-powered tools for better customer support, streamlined deal cycles, and smarter enablement.
Padilla highlights how Freddy AI and automation are revolutionizing both customer and employee experiences, enabling proactive service delivery and higher retention. She emphasizes that automation and self-service portals are equipping partners with on-demand access to resources, freeing them to focus on growth and customer success.
As SaaS vendors navigate global expansion, Freshworks addresses localization, compliance, and partner enablement through intelligent, AI-driven programs tailored for regional needs. Padilla also discusses emerging trends in SaaS partnerships—consumption-based models, AI-enabled co-selling, and service-led strategies—showcasing Freshworks’ readiness to evolve alongside its partners.
This Week’s Standout Leader
ESET is a global cybersecurity company renowned for its cutting-edge threat detection solutions and proactive digital protection. With a strong legacy in antivirus technology, ESET has evolved into a comprehensive security provider, offering advanced endpoint protection, threat intelligence, and multilayered defense systems for businesses of all sizes. Its solutions leverage machine learning, cloud-based analysis, and real-time threat detection to safeguard against ransomware, zero-day attacks, and other emerging cyber threats. ESET’s lightweight architecture ensures minimal system impact while delivering maximum security performance across networks, devices, and cloud environments.
Trusted by enterprises, governments, and consumers in over 200 countries, ESET is committed to building a safer digital world through innovation, transparency, and privacy-first technology. The company continues to lead with research-driven development and a deep focus on threat prevention, enabling organizations to operate securely in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.
CEO – Richard Marko
Latest News: ESET recently unveiled its updated Threat Intelligence Services, offering deeper contextual analysis and tailored threat insights to help security teams proactively defend against targeted attacks and advanced persistent threats (APTs).
Connect, Learn, Lead: Events to Watch
Chief Product Officer Summit San Francisco
Date: Sep. 3, 2025
Location: San Francisco, CA
Get in a room with this exclusive network of C-suite product leaders to network with your peers, discuss common challenges, and absorb industry insights to pave the way for future innovation.
API World 2025
Date: Sep. 3-5, 2025
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Join thousands of global technical leaders, engineers, software architects, and executives at the world’s largest and longest-running API & microservices event – in its 12th year!
CEDIA Expo
Date: Sep. 3-6, 2025
Location: Denver, CO
At CEDIA Expo, you don’t have to choose. Experience cutting-edge innovation, learn from top experts in the residential technology industry, and connect with like-minded smart home pros in one place.
