Having said this, it is also essential to understand the growing number of cybercrimes and the ever-increasing cybercriminal-ecosystem. In such a landscape, cyber security needs to become an integral part of every business. However, cyber security in India is still in its nascent stages. Let’s look at the top 5 challenges to the adoption of cyber security among professionals and businesses. Today, we will talk about five major challenges to the adoption of cyber security in India.

Cyber security is treated as an ‘IT’ problem and not a ‘Business’ problem

The first challenge to the adoption of any technology or service is the mind-set of the stakeholders. In India, typically, any problem associated with the technology is branded as an ‘IT” problem. Business owners assume that the IT department will take care of the problem and it will be business-as-usual soon. However, if the IT department is not equipped with the right resources (equipment or human resources), then there can be times when it can fail to fend off a cyber-attack. When that happens, businesses spring into action attempting damage control and realizing their folly.

In 2019, the average cost of a data breach was Rs.119 million, up 8% from 2017. 

~ IBM Security

Lack of Capable Cyber Security Professionals

In recent years, many organizations are realizing the importance of cyber security and have been trying to ramp up their processes and human resources to keep them protected against online threats. However, the number of available professionals far outweighs the demand.

According to some market reports, India might need around 1 million cyber security professionals by 2020 (let’s say 2021 considering the COVID-19 pandemic). This is where institutes like TalentSprint have joined hands with the industry & academia  to offer structured programs in cyber security, focused on creating competent professionals to meet this demand.

Friendly Regulations

Regulators in India are taking active note of the increasing cyber-attacks and formulating guidelines and frameworks for implementing comprehensive cyber security mechanisms in organizations. But there is still a lot of scope for granular and sector-specific regulations. Further, with data being exchanged across borders, Indian regulators also need to keep in sync with the global norms. Moreover, compliance parameters and processes are yet to see a concrete shape.

Increasing Dependency on Third-Party Vendors

Even companies who dedicate time and resources for cyber security can lose sensitive data if the third-party vendors used by them get hacked. There is an increasing dependency on third-party vendors for cost and process-efficiency. Unless there is a culture of cyber security in the market, the adoption rates will be low.

Awareness and Readiness

Two main aspects that need to be addressed to increase the adoption of cyber security in India are awareness and adoption. Organizations need to know the potential losses they can face if their systems get hacked or infected with a virus or malware. They also need to stay abreast of the latest cyber security processes adopted by organizations around the world. Once they are aware and ready to accept cyber security as an integral part of their core processes, adoption would be easier, comprehensive, and more effective.

Summing Up

The common thread among all these challenges is the people factor. Are they aware, trained, and capable of recognizing and dealing with cyber-threats? In essence, it boils down to empowering people.

TalentSprint with its Advanced Certification Program in Cyber Security and Cyber Defense is helping professionals become cyber security experts with cutting-edge knowledge and guidance from IIT Kanpur. 

As people realize the importance of this growing technology, we will soon have an ecosystem that has cyber security as an essential corporate pillar.

The post Top 5 Challenges to the Adoption of Cyber Security appeared first on TalentSprint.

The COVID-19 outbreak has not only caused massive global disruption, but it has also altered the entire global workforce and the cyber security landscape. The world now has moved to Cloud and remote models unprecedentedly since the onslaught of COVID19.

The way people work has changed. Data and processes are no longer confined to any visible perimeter. The direction ahead also hints at the continued penetration of remote-work and telework in many industries. But the shift to cloud and other platforms comes with its own set of security challenges. Hackers don’t discriminate between a large and small business. No one is immune to a cyber attack. Today’s glut of digital data means advanced cyber security measures are more crucial than ever.

Cyber Security: the most in-demand skill, post COVID-19

Industry reports are pointing out that cyber security roles would be the first to be hired post-lockdown as soon as enterprises resume work at full pace. The third annual survey of 750 cybersecurity and IT professionals worldwide (KPMG-Oracle’s Cloud Threat, 2020) reveals that right now there is a crisis of confidence due to a patchwork approach to data security, mis-configured services and confusion around new cloud security models. IT professionals are three times more concerned about the security of company financials and IP than their home security. As many as 80% observed that recent data breaches suffered by other businesses have nudged everyone towards better protection of data.

That explains the phenomenal success of the Program in Cyber Security and Cyber Defense. Delivered in partnership with one of the country’s premium institutes – IIT Kanpur. The Program’s first cohort of 40 professionals commenced in November 2019. The curriculum is designed to enable professionals to build solutions to the challenges the IT security industry is confronting.

The 1st Cohort saw professionals from many blue-chip companies from sectors like Technology, Consulting, Finance, and Insurance  enrolling for the Program. Names like KPMG, Honeywell, Cisco, Cognizant, Ola etc. were part of this new format. Highest enrolment included professionals with 10+ years of experience.

What propelled these cohort classes to elevated levels of success?

1. This is not any run-of-the-mill  program but is created with meticulous attention to the actual challenges and trends that cyber security professionals have to be ready for. To add to that, the cohort sessions accelerate the candidates on the career path with latest skills and gap-fillers that a busy, on-the-job life may not always make it easy for them to catch up on.
2. The format is executive-friendly, hands-on and rich with opportunities for interaction and collaboration.

The expertise in cyber security cannot be honed the old way. Instead, such capabilities would have to be built up with a new-age Program and with deeper exposure to real-world issues.

Going forward, these professionals will be the new front-line leaders after lockdowns ease. More than ever, this is the right time for professionals to exploit the new demand that is only going to gather more force as organizations move into the ‘new world’. And that’s where they would need the right professionals and expertise by their side.

The post Cyber Security Program: Top 3 reasons for the success of the 1st Cohort appeared first on TalentSprint.

• Is it the only way to progress in my career? 
• Does it help to enhance knowledge or build new capabilities in the relevant field of my interest?
• In today’s dynamic fast-paced tech-dominated world, can a general management  approach work for all professionals? 

Highly experienced professionals come from different educational and professional backgrounds and naturally have different learning needs. Many of them opt for new learning programs to stay up-to-date, enhance skills and be relevant in today’s fast-changing world. Getting a degree just for the sake of it is not their goal. 

Experienced professionals who are hard-pressed for time and eager to enhance their knowledge and capabilities, have started opting for short-term yet intense executive programs offered on various state-of-the-art interactive digital learning platforms. Such platforms have partnered with prestigious academic institutions and global corporations to bring highly trusted programs that are a blend of high-end academics and industry-leading practices.

What is making these highly experienced professionals prefer such executive programs over traditional executive MBA? We discovered the top five reasons. 

1. Focused approach

Unlike a traditional executive MBA, in executive programs you need not learn all the mandatory modules which add little value. In executive programs, you can learn only the specific programs that you think are relevant to your current work or role. For example, if you are from a banking, financial services, insurance, management, or consulting and technology background, then you need not learn a subject on traditional inventory management. Instead, you can focus on learning things like blockchain in finance & fintech that are more relevant to you at this point.

2. Time is money

The duration of an executive MBA could be for one-year or two-years. In today’s dynamic, hectic, and challenging work schedules, highly experienced professionals are hard-pressed for time. Many companies are even contemplating having more extended workdays with six days of working. In such a rigid schedule, can you even think of spending long term on a typical executive MBA program that may lose its relevance by the time you complete it or you may even lose interest in? Whereas, if marketing is your area of interest then you can finish a highly focused short-term executive program on AI-powered marketing in just 6 Months.

3. Money and value

An executive MBA at a good academic institution costs a lot. In India, it may cost roughly anywhere between INR 4 to 50 lakh or more, depending upon the institution you choose. Doing an executive MBA is not just about getting a degree. The quality and reputation of the institute also matters, and that comes at a hefty price tag. If not company-sponsored, many experienced professionals even go for a bank loan falling into undue financial and mental stress. Is it worth it? It’s time to explore uniquely designed short-term executive programs offered by globally recognized institutes of India but are less expensive.

4. Choosing the best

When you are doing a course, you have to do it from top academic institutions. But unfortunately, top academic institutions have limited seats for such programs. Should it stop you from learning and upskilling? No, you can still learn from the top, and prestigious academic institutions in India like the IIM, IIT, IISc, IIIT etc. through their executive programs offered through various interactive digital learning platforms.

5. Learning opportunities

Executive MBA programs do not provide as many options when it comes to choosing topics of interest. They have a restricted number of subjects that focus on General Management and some specializations and hence may not offer much flexibility. In comparison, the executive programs offered by digital learning platforms can continuously keep updating and add newer programs at a much faster rate to match the changing dynamics of the business world. That is the reason you find a lot of focus on technology in these executive programs. They understand how technology will transform the business world within no time and design courses that may help you stay at the forefront of tech transformation. They also provide a great platform for guided discussions, skills development, and networking.

Being a full-time working professional may not leave you with much time to learn new things and enhance your knowledge and skills. You may struggle a bit to find a program suited to your interests academically, professionally, socially, geographically, and schedule-wise. In such a scenario, specific, short-term, industry-relevant executive programs through instructor-led interactive LIVE online mode offered by various high-tech digital platforms may be a better option for you over a traditional executive MBA program. 

In this dynamic business world, learning never stops. Arm yourself with new capabilities and stay relevant.

The post Top 5 Reasons Why Experienced Professionals Prefer Executive Programs over Executive MBA appeared first on TalentSprint.

Cyber Security has changed the world we live in now. From the 1990s’ challenges of server-side attacks and Windows OS threats; to client-side attacks and hacking in 2000, we have seen both the attackers and the defenders evolving. In the 2010s, this landscape leaned towards supply chain attacks. However, as we navigate 2021, we are already witnessing a new genre of threats across the web and email security (grew 12.5 percent in 2021), 5G network, authentication, and authorization. 

Cyber Security: A Growing Menace
Looking at some recent stats on Cyber Security, CheckPoint reported that global cyber attacks increased by 29 percent as hackers continued to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote work. It also predicted that for the remaining half of 2021, one should be ready by all means as more is yet to come. Ransomware will rise despite law enforcement stepping up. Hackers would use penetration tools – they would give the hackers the ability to customize attacks ‘on the fly.’ We might see more collateral damage, too. In another analysis, Ransomware attacks made up 22 percent of all reported Cyber Security incidents in the first half of 2021, as per some estimates from CybSafe. The fact that many companies undertook hybrid workplaces and digital transformation – only added the dangers from Cyber Security gaps. And it costs—a lot.

The need for more defense
The forceful switch from Work from Office to Work from Home because of COVID-19 has sped up the need for Cyber Security professionals worldwide. But, unfortunately, hackers and scammers outnumber these Cyber Security pros and as a result, cyber-attacks have surged during the pandemic. 

In a recent Industry Immersion Event, Britto Sidhan, General Manager (Global Security Lab), Schneider Electric, shared an interesting observation on how this global talent shortage can become a goldmine for aspirants planning to launch their tech career or professionals looking for a career switch.

Britto Sidhan, General Manager (Global Security Lab), Schneider Electric, shares an interesting observation on how the global talent shortage in Cyber Security.

To bridge the ever-expanding security gap today, nearly 4 million Cyber Security professionals are needed worldwide. We need both Blue teams and Red teams to help the defense posture. The Red team takes care of penetration testing; identifies, and exploits potential weaknesses in an enterprise’s cyber defenses; and undertakes risk assessments. In addition, it can handle attempts to compromise networks using the same software and tactics as used by real-world adversaries. As to the Blue team – this one takes care of implanting controls, guiding the IT security team on improvement areas for stopping sophisticated attacks. In addition, they handle security monitoring, conduct host and network-based analysis to identify the source and destination of an attack.

Today there are a lot of gamified platforms, cyber-drills, and bug-bounty programs where professionals can elevate and demonstrate their skills in Cyber Security. They are also promising avenues for recruitment. 

Saddle up
If you aspire to be part of this exciting frontier and help enterprises have a strong security posture, there are many ways and programs to hone your expertise. Apart from technical proficiency, a good Cyber Security professional would also need strong communication skills, problem-solving skills, technical aptitude, hacking knowledge, and command over languages like Python and Java. Some proven cutting-edge Cyber Security programs and lots of passion can speed up your way to an attractive career path. It is an area that will always be intellectually stimulating because of constant innovation and competition.

The landscape will change again in the next decade, as always. But the need for good  Cyber Security professionals will keep growing. 

The post The Digital World Needs Cyber Security Professionals appeared first on TalentSprint.

What is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?

Central Bank Digital Currency or CBDC is a digital form of the fiat money issued by the government. While cryptocurrencies were not issued by the state and lacked any legal assets backing them, CBDC will be issued by central banks as a complement to cash. While various technologies are available, Blockchain, or Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) will be the most likely choice for issuing CBDCs. However, unlike cryptocurrencies, CBDCs will ensure that the central bank controls the blockchain network and the supply of money.

Source

CBDCs can offer a range of benefits to the central bank and the economy.

• It will provide the central bank a bird’s-eye view of the economic activity under its control. This will make GDP calculations more accurate and relevant.
• People will benefit since transactions will be settled in real-time at a marginal cost.
• Also, the Government will track the illegal movement of money with relative ease.

The future of Central Bank Digital Currency(CBDC) and Blockchain 

Usually, many people put CBDC and Blockchain in the same bucket. But unlike crypto-currencies that are driven by Blockchain, CBDCs have the central bank at the core of all transactions.

In recent years, there has been a rise in the financial crimes causing financial loss and reputational damage to people who fell victim to it. CBDC allows the central bank to monitor financial activities and exercise greater control and traceability than cash and even crypto-currencies. As CBDCs get launched, and their acceptance grows, central banks could mitigate these crimes and tax evasion attempts.

Most financial experts believe that CBDCs would become a payment option that co-exists with the others while lowering the printing costs. It could also solve some real-life challenges regarding the distribution of money in a simple and efficient manner. Also, Blockchain will be synonymous with anything relating to banking and digital currencies. Blockchain technology stands to benefit CBDC’s hugely.

1. CBDC could benefit from the latest innovations that are built across the Blockchain, like non-custodial wallets. It means where the customer will get a file with private keys. Having a private key means the full ownership of the funds is with the customer.
2. There is transparency around transactions, and all the data is stored and made available whenever needed.
3. It is compliant. The rules are hard-coded by the protocol.
4. Trustworthy and reliable. Protecting the privacy of the end-users.

Globally the payment modes have changed drastically in the last few years. With these changes, central banks of all developed economies recognize this and realize how important it is to adopt this new technology. A CBDC backed by Blockchain technology will provide citizens an alternative for storing their money.

CBDC and Blockchain technologies are poised to disrupt the financial sector around the globe. With the future looking bright for CBDCs and Blockchain, the number of job opportunities in this field is expected to grow at a good pace. While it might be difficult to predict an approximate number considering the economic slowdowns in most countries, the new world looks tech-driven, with Blockchain and CBDCs as an integral part of the financial landscape. For professionals in banking, financial services, insurance, management, consulting and technology, it becomes essential to build new capabilities in this field so they stay relevant in these changing times.

The post CBDC and Blockchain in the New Normal World appeared first on TalentSprint.

With Blockchain at the forefront, one can foresee innumerable possibilities. All it needs is capabilities to deploy disruptive Blockchain. IIIT Hyderabad and TalentSprint’s Blockchain Program provides a platform for professionals to boldly explore Blockchain ideas and translate them into reality with the help of experts.

Its unique curriculum paves the way for participants to pick up a challenge in any sector and solve it using Blockchain technology. You not only gain expertise and certification from India’s leading Blockchain Center of Excellence at IIIT Hyderabad but also get mentorship from the academic and the entrepreneur community to give your ideas the boost it requires. So far, the program has laid a firm foundation for nearly 405 successful startups.

Of them, the first one to hit the public eye was Asli Medicine. A ground-breaking idea by alumni of the Blockchain Program. In a nutshell, Blockchain-enabled AsliMedicine solves drug traceability concerns in Pharma supply chain management to address the problem of counterfeit medicine. The startup aims to protect the brand identity of pharma manufacturing companies and curb the burgeoning issue of fake medicines in the market.

Meet the team behind AsliMedicine and learn how the program paved the way for the genesis of this unique game-changing idea.

About the program: IIIT Hyderabad | TalentSprint’s Advanced Certificate Program in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies brings you a hands-on learning experience through Faculty-led Interactive LIVE Sessions, Hackathons, Capstone Projects, Master Mentors, and an exceptional peer group. 

The program further comes with the added support of the Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) at IIIT Hyderabad. CIE focuses on deep-tech startups, seeding startups directly out of research, and actively connecting research with startups.

When the organizations around the world are looking forward to basking in the glory of this cutting-edge technology, this is your opportunity to begin a new inning of your career powered by Blockchain. 

The post How Blockchain-enabled ‘AsliMedicine’ became the perfect solution to eliminate fake medicine? appeared first on TalentSprint.

• Is it the only way to progress in my career? 
• Does it help to enhance knowledge or build new capabilities in the relevant field of my interest?
• In today’s dynamic fast-paced tech-dominated world, can a general management  approach work for all professionals? 

Highly experienced professionals come from different educational and professional backgrounds and naturally have different learning needs. Many of them opt for new learning programs to stay up-to-date, enhance skills and be relevant in today’s fast-changing world. Getting a degree just for the sake of it is not their goal. 

Experienced professionals who are hard-pressed for time and eager to enhance their knowledge and capabilities, have started opting for short-term yet intense executive programs offered on various state-of-the-art interactive digital learning platforms. Such platforms have partnered with prestigious academic institutions and global corporations to bring highly trusted programs that are a blend of high-end academics and industry-leading practices.

What is making these highly experienced professionals prefer such executive programs over traditional executive MBA? We discovered the top five reasons. 

1. Focused approach

Unlike a traditional executive MBA, in executive programs you need not learn all the mandatory modules which add little value. In executive programs, you can learn only the specific programs that you think are relevant to your current work or role. For example, if you are from a banking, financial services, insurance, management, or consulting and technology background, then you need not learn a subject on traditional inventory management. Instead, you can focus on learning things like blockchain in finance & fintech that are more relevant to you at this point.

2. Time is money

The duration of an executive MBA could be for one-year or two-years. In today’s dynamic, hectic, and challenging work schedules, highly experienced professionals are hard-pressed for time. Many companies are even contemplating having more extended workdays with six days of working. In such a rigid schedule, can you even think of spending long term on a typical executive MBA program that may lose its relevance by the time you complete it or you may even lose interest in? Whereas, if marketing is your area of interest then you can finish a highly focused short-term executive program on AI-powered marketing in just 6 Months.

3. Money and value

An executive MBA at a good academic institution costs a lot. In India, it may cost roughly anywhere between INR 4 to 50 lakh or more, depending upon the institution you choose. Doing an executive MBA is not just about getting a degree. The quality and reputation of the institute also matters, and that comes at a hefty price tag. If not company-sponsored, many experienced professionals even go for a bank loan falling into undue financial and mental stress. Is it worth it? It’s time to explore uniquely designed short-term executive programs offered by globally recognized institutes of India but are less expensive.

4. Choosing the best

When you are doing a course, you have to do it from top academic institutions. But unfortunately, top academic institutions have limited seats for such programs. Should it stop you from learning and upskilling? No, you can still learn from the top, and prestigious academic institutions in India like the IIM, IIT, IISc, IIIT etc. through their executive programs offered through various interactive digital learning platforms.

5. Learning opportunities

Executive MBA programs do not provide as many options when it comes to choosing topics of interest. They have a restricted number of subjects that focus on General Management and some specializations and hence may not offer much flexibility. In comparison, the executive programs offered by digital learning platforms can continuously keep updating and add newer programs at a much faster rate to match the changing dynamics of the business world. That is the reason you find a lot of focus on technology in these executive programs. They understand how technology will transform the business world within no time and design courses that may help you stay at the forefront of tech transformation. They also provide a great platform for guided discussions, skills development, and networking.

Being a full-time working professional may not leave you with much time to learn new things and enhance your knowledge and skills. You may struggle a bit to find a program suited to your interests academically, professionally, socially, geographically, and schedule-wise. In such a scenario, specific, short-term, industry-relevant executive programs through instructor-led interactive LIVE online mode offered by various high-tech digital platforms may be a better option for you over a traditional executive MBA program. 

In this dynamic business world, learning never stops. Arm yourself with new capabilities and stay relevant.

The post Top 5 Reasons Why Experienced Professionals Prefer Executive Programs over Executive MBA appeared first on TalentSprint.

The extensive applications of blockchain today are  no longer limited to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum or Ripple. We can see organizations building their blockchains for industrial and business purposes other than pure finance.  They say banking and finance is only the beginning. Blockchain technology has the potential to transform over 58 industries. 

“[Blockchain] is the biggest opportunity set we can think of over the next decade or so.” – 

Bob Greifeld, CEO, NASDAQ

The numbers have it…

According to CB Insights’ Market Sizing Tool, the annual spending on blockchain solutions will reach nearly $16B by 2023. The worldwide blockchain market is predicted to grow exponentially from US$3 billion in 2020 to US$39.7 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 67.3%, according to the blockchain trends for 2021 and beyond. 

“Anything that can be conceived of as a supply chain, blockchain can vastly improve its efficiency- it doesn’t matter if its people, numbers, data, money.” – Ginni Rometty, CEO IBM

Blockchain has been a game-changer in several other industries, like education, healthcare, supply chain, logistics, real estate, etc. As per the most recent information, the global Blockchain market is predicted to have a CAGR of 67.3%, reaching a value of US$39.7 billion between 2020 and 2025.

Blockchains operate through a decentralized platform requiring no central supervision, making them fraud resistant. 

Hence, today we see their adoption in businesses across industries ranging from infrastructure to public policy.  Let’s take a look at some of the top use cases that are likely to stay beyond 2021. 

Top 5 Blockchain Use Cases

To support rapid blockchain adoption, new regulations are being put into place by Governments worldwide. Ever since the financial sector employed blockchain, many organizations have been attracted to exploring its endless possibilities.  

Out of the several blockchain use cases, here are the top five. 

1. International payments: International payments and money transfers are made easier with blockchain since it provides a tamper-proof method to track sensitive activities. Banco Santander, for example, launched the very first blockchain-based money transfer service in April 2018. The service used blockchain to lessen the number of intermediary banks, allowing individuals and organizations to transfer money internationally more securely and efficiently.

2. Healthcare: The healthcare industry can often be vulnerable to cyber crime, which is where blockchain comes in. Blockchain allows data to be distributed safely between hospitals and clinics, increasing the effectiveness of treatments and making the diagnoses more accurate. A use case in this scenario was when an AI-based startup known as Hu-manity.co collaborated with IBM to develop an app to manage the data of personal patients effectively. The app enables the users to control both the access and the commercial use of their respective health records.

3. Voting: Blockchain helps in making voting both secure and accessible. A startup that used blockchain in this context is FollowMyVote, which is a transparent online voting platform. The eligible people receive a token that lets them vote just once, with every vote being stored as a node in the blockchain.

4. Media: In media, blockchain technology helps with reducing expenditure, eradicating fraud, and protecting IP rights, such as music records. Eluvio, which was launched in 2019, employs blockchain in a way that helps content producers with the management and distribution of premium video to consumers and business partners without the involvement of content delivery networks. MGM Studios have also approached the platform to stream globally for mobile, web, and TV Everywhere audiences of certain properties.

5. Food safety: The food industry uses blockchain to avoid issues such as infections and poisoning that can be caused because of spoiled food and beverages. Walmart and IBM partnered in 2018 with other food organizations to develop a blockchain-driven food traceability network that used open-source technology. The idea was to enable the retailers to track a product right from the starting point to the last step within just 2.2 seconds, a task that would otherwise take up to seven days.

Such rapid blockchain adoption across industries is creating massive opportunities for professionals and entrepreneurs. But there is a severe shortage of professionals with relevant expertise.

Building blockchain expertise
IIIT Hyderabad and TalentSprint’s Advanced Certification Program in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies is a uniquely designed interactive Live online program for professionals and entrepreneurs to build blockchain expertise and tap into massive opportunities that this space has to offer. This 6 months program brings you a hands-on learning experience through Faculty-led Interactive LIVE Sessions, Hackathons, Capstone Projects, Master Mentors and an exceptional peer group. What’s more? – you get certification from the prestigious IIIT Hyderabad, Ripple’s UBRI Blockchain Research CoE. 

The post Top 5 Most Practical Blockchain Use Cases for 2021 appeared first on TalentSprint.

What is epidemiology? It is the study and analysis of the distribution, patterns, and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations. And what if you add data with some AI power to this mix? 

It can detect patterns, red flags, spot unsafe areas, and help policy-makers and healthcare teams respond quickly. This happens with a significant elevation of the efficacy of predictive epidemiology models. In addition, machine learning (ML) can help epidemiologists evaluate as many variables as desired without increasing statistical error. This matters because it is a problem that often arises with multiple testing bias, which is a condition that occurs when each additional test run on the data increases the possibility for error against a hypothetical target result.

Or imagine using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to capture clinical notes for preservation in EHR databases. Artificial intelligence (AI) can then identify conditions, diagnoses, and exposures that are otherwise difficult to grasp or identify using traditional data source mining. This opens new windows for data discovery and validation and knowledge representation.

Data against diseases

An enormous area for artificial intelligence (AI) in epidemiology is drug discovery, safety, and risk analysis. It is slated to be a $699 million global market by 2026. AI can also find applications in disease and syndromic surveillance, infection prediction and forecasting, monitoring population and incidence of disease, and use of AI in Immunization Information Systems (IIS). AI has tremendous value in mapping vaccinations to disease incidence, assessing the impact of public sentiment analysis, and public safety services such as mass notification.

Epidemiology and Data Science – it turns out they are an excellent formula. Put together, they can act as painkillers for a lot of problems. We need to find answers to several thought-provoking questions.

• Is Covid-19 ‘lab leak theory’ plausible?
• How do we build effective data models for a complex phenomenon like the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What has been the learning from the first and second waves?
• How good are the models that we worked on?
• What has been the accuracy and the fallacies? 
• The data-angle of the pandemic with the wet-market theory of Covid-19.

Experts argue that humans are a very attractive host to viruses. It is natural for a virus to make the transition because it helps their ability to survive. They are just trying to adapt to us and not, maybe, kill us. The lab theory is not entirely plausible, but specialists remind us that we will never know the real answers given China’s unwillingness to share information. Every bit of evidence we have is circumstantial. It is difficult to rule out either of the pathways – whether the bat market or the lab.

‘Pandemic Pandemonium’ – A DeepTalk with Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan, a Leading Epidemiologist and Economist

There is so much data being produced every day. You can build so many models, but what about a once-in-a-century event like the pandemic? How do we go about building models here? 

Viruses show predictable behavior, to some extent. They work purely in an algorithmic sort of way, with not much variability. But human behavior dictates the transmission. That isn’t easy to predict. The scientific community faced this challenge in HIV scenarios, too. 

Viral dynamics are not independent of how we behave. Understanding models through large data is excellent both from a prediction and response angle. Data Science is the only way in which we can understand diseases. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) empowers epidemiology

These arguments and directions are significant given the direction that AI is taking in the epidemiology space. 

• Globally, the total AI in the epidemiology market will reach $9.7 billion by 2026, and machine learning (ML) in the epidemiology market will touch $1.2 billion by 2026, as per ResearchandMarkets’s estimates. 
• Related to vaccines R and D, we would probably see that AI in drug discovery and risk analysis will reach $699 million by 2026. 
• Also, AI will support various disease-related public health and safety services, such as mass notification. We would also see EHR databases and other disease-related data aggregation. 

Interestingly, Epidemiologic predictive models will find many improvements via advanced data analytics and various AI tools and techniques. This will be a giant leap, as AI can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of transforming healthcare data correlation to meaningful disease insights and information.

The first and second waves have shown a lot of impact, success, and fallacies of models. In India, the peculiar part is accepting when we see mind-blogging numbers. If we look back historically, no one would believe that we would see 400 million infections. Yet, some experts were spot-on about how ferocious the virus can be. The prediction was made when there were 400 cases in India. But a numerical person would know that exponential curves work that way. Even if psychologically it is hard to accept.

The crisis is not over yet

It looks like we have data. We have the tools too. But we might need the mindset of acceptance and interpretation to use it well so that we do not repeat the mistakes we have made already.

We need to fight these anti-science and anti-intellectual cultures emerging in the country, especially in social media. The deeper issue is that the challenges that the world faces today are not trivial. They need a significant level of study. Most people do not know about CRISPR, for instance. Most people would not know how to use it, and it is so powerful in changing our lives.

Asking a doctor to fix public health is like asking a plumber to improve the city infrastructure. Being a doctor does not mean that person is a data scientist. It is primarily anecdotes, he added.

We have to sort this out. Covid is going to be a minor problem compared to what lies ahead, like climate change. We have to get smarter and fight it together with knowledge.

Primary healthcare should be powered with early warning systems and timely screening systems. It should be about the management of well-being and not the management of disease, they both concluded with a sharp reminder to the country.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help a lot in detecting diseases and helping to prevent them – but the actual ingredient in this pill is data. So it is important to build relevant capabilities to leverage Data Science and AI.

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Data Science was at the 3rd rank in 2020 Glassdoor’s annual ranking. It is not a surprise. After all, every enterprise and every industry vertical is waking up to the power of data and insights. They need to tap the fresh waves of digital transformation, customer intimacy, and personalization-edge.

As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been substantial growth in the Data Science field, and the number of jobs is expected to increase by about 28 percent through 2026. In the reckoning of LinkedIn, too, there has been a 650% jump in Data Science jobs since 2012. Closer home, analysts predict that the country will have a massive number of job openings in the coming years. 

And why not? Companies are scrambling to make the most of the power that Data Science and its adjacent areas bring in. Gartner predicts that by 2025, the AI and Data-Science-equipped VC or PE investor will become commonplace. As per ResearchandMarkets, the Global Data Science Platform Market size could reach $165.5 billion by 2026. The report explains that the models used for estimating or segmentation fail because of rapid changes in online traffic or shopping trends. As the borders have been locked down and the supply chains have been disrupted, organizations focus on new priorities like laying short, medium, and long-term data-driven plans to make educated choices. It is also spotted that new cycles are being completed. Data substitution, changes in traffic, focus on healthcare-related supply chains are some current trends in the market.

The drive towards AI and Machine Learning is adding a new fillip to the Data Science domain. A McKinsey Global Survey on artificial intelligence (AI) suggests that organizations use AI as a tool for generating value. The companies that are using AI are seeing that value accrue to the enterprise level. Almost 21 percent pointed out that over 5 percent of their organizations’ enterprise-wide EBIT in 2019 was because of their use of AI, with 48 percent reported less than 5 percent. Since top performers can develop AI solutions in-house – this creates a domino effect for the demand curve for data science professionals. As opposed to purchasing solutions, companies typically employ more AI-related talent, such as data engineers, data architects, and translators, than their counterparts. They have built a standardized end-to-end platform for AI-related data science, data engineering, and application development.

Dealing with a thin supply chain

But are there enough professionals and capable professionals to match this growth appetite? In India, thousands of jobs in Data Science were vacant in 2020. A major portion of these vacancies was categorized for positions with less than five years of experience.

That’s surprising given the attractiveness of this field, both financially and intellectually. In Michael Page’s 2021 India Talent Trends report, Data Science professionals with 3-10 years of experience are slated to get annual salaries in the 25-65 lakh range. However, those with more experience can command pay packages upwards of 1 crore. Professionals with over 15 years of experience can command up to 1.8 crores. Also, the average annual pay hike for Data Science professionals ranges at 20-30 percent compared with 15-20 percent for professionals from other backgrounds.

Bring the fork, can you?

It is the best time to equip oneself in the Data Science domain and leverage this growth trajectory. 

Learn Data Science right – do this at a place where you are taught by someone who has seen the inside-out of this evolving field. And where you can gain from the minds of top researchers like those leading the research initiatives at the Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and AI (RBCDSAI) at IIT Madras. You learn it right when you are taught by someone who will encourage and challenge you, helping you to reach your full potential.

A recently held webinar introduced Dr. Balaraman Ravindran and Dr. Arun Rajkumar, Faculty Members of IIT Madras’ Data Science Programme.

Like the IIT Madras’ Data Science Programme, where you will learn from top researchers leading AI and Applied Data Science research at RBCDSAI, India’s leading research hub. One needs to have a clear grasp of the foundational level and then have a progressive coverage of other modules like supervised and unsupervised machine learning, deep learning, sequential learning, algorithms, and later to real-world use-cases, industry-level challenges.

In a recently held webinar Dr. Balaraman Ravindran and Dr. Arun Rajkumar, IIT Madras faculty members, gave an insightful glimpse into how the IIT Madras And TalentSprint’s Data Science Programme is a tailor-made solution for emerging professionals, how participants will be benefited from the cutting-edge research of the Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and AI (RBCDSAI) and more, also, how candidates can be equipped to handle technical rounds and other placement challenges.

The temperature is correct, and if you can tap this unique opportunity, you can build a robust career in the exciting and ever-fresh field of data. So pick it while it is still piping hot.

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