Airtel Business Collaborates with Zscaler for Launch of ‘Airtel Secure Digital Internet

Airtel Business, the enterprise segment of Bharti Airtel, one of India’s leading telecommunications providers, has joined forces with Zscaler, a prominent global leader in cloud security. This partnership marks the launch of ‘Airtel Secure Digital Internet,’ India’s inaugural fully-managed solution based on Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), aimed at safeguarding enterprises against a wide array of cyber threats.

Features of ‘Airtel Secure Digital Internet’

The ‘Airtel Secure Digital Internet’ solution significantly enhances enterprise cybersecurity by integrating Airtel’s Internet Leased Line (ILL) connectivity with Zscaler’s cutting-edge cloud security technology and Security Service Edge (SSE) capabilities. It also incorporates Zscaler Internet Access™ (ZIA™), providing advanced security features such as:

• Comprehensive Threat Protection: Shielding enterprises from various cyber threats.

• SSL Inspection: Ensuring secure transmission of data.

• Cloud Firewall: Protecting applications hosted in the cloud.

• Secure Access to Cloud Applications: Enabling safe connectivity to essential applications.

Built on the fundamental principle of ‘never trust, always verify’ concerning users, devices, and networks, this innovative solution empowers Indian enterprises to effectively navigate the complexities of the digital landscape.

Expert Insights on the Partnership

Sharat Sinha, CEO of Airtel Business, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to partner with Zscaler to launch ‘Airtel Secure Digital Internet’—a comprehensive solution for safeguarding enterprise networks. This cutting-edge offering ensures that every internet interaction undergoes rigorous verification, authentication, and authorization, delivering robust security against evolving cyber threats.” He emphasized that this partnership aims to provide businesses across India with a seamless and secure experience, allowing them to operate confidently in today’s complex digital environment.

Anant Nag, Area Vice President for India & SAARC at Zscaler, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the critical nature of cybersecurity for enterprises. He remarked, “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Airtel Business to create a solution that addresses the growing needs of our customer base. With cybersecurity becoming a top priority, organizations are increasingly adopting zero trust solutions to secure their operations. This collaboration responds to market demands, and we look forward to aiding our customers in their cloud security transformation journeys with Airtel.”

Growing Cyber Threats in India

As India leads the charge in technological innovation and adoption, enterprises—both small and large—are at the forefront of this evolution. However, this rapid growth has attracted cybercriminals, leading to a surge in attacks targeting local businesses. According to Zscaler ThreatLabz, Indian enterprises have faced over 79 million phishing attacks and more than 5 billion encrypted attacks in the past year alone, placing India among the top three most-targeted markets globally.

In light of these alarming statistics, it has become imperative for organizations in India to bolster their cybersecurity defenses. They must navigate challenges such as managing multi-vendor security stacks, addressing budget constraints, overcoming skill gaps, and mitigating time-to-market issues.

Benefits of Zero Trust Architecture

The zero trust architecture underpinning ‘Airtel Secure Digital Internet’ effectively reduces attack surfaces while simplifying security management by centralizing policy enforcement. This architecture ensures consistent protection for users across various locations due to its cloud-native security design. Furthermore, the scalable, cloud-based platform eliminates the need for expensive hardware, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the overall cost of ownership for businesses.

Enhanced Network Performance

To further optimize network performance and minimize latency, Airtel has strategically improved its Internet Points of Presence (PoPs) through the integration of Zscaler’s advanced security framework. As a recognized Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) partner of Zscaler, Airtel is well-equipped to deliver comprehensive managed services that encompass the entire security lifecycle. This includes everything from initial deployment to ongoing premium support.

Flexible Solutions for Enterprises

Enterprises can now benefit from Airtel’s extensive pan-India Internet Leased Line (ILL) connectivity, ensuring secure and consistent connectivity across all their office locations. Additionally, organizations have the option to procure Zscaler’s SSE as a standalone solution, which can be bundled with Airtel’s managed services and further customized to meet their unique requirements.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Airtel Business and Zscaler in launching ‘Airtel Secure Digital Internet’ represents a significant advancement in the cybersecurity landscape for Indian enterprises. By combining robust cloud security technologies with Airtel’s extensive network infrastructure, this solution empowers organizations to enhance their digital security posture while navigating an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape.