Bengaluru, Dec 4: In a bold step toward creating a Cyber-Resilient Viksit Bharat, Women In Cloud (WiC)a global economic development organization unlocking $1B in access for women by 2030 today announced the launch of the WICxSaksham initiative. This three-year public-private national program aims to build an ecosystem that drives India toward a $7 trillion Viksit Bharat.
With an ambitious vision to shape India’s digital future, Women In Cloud has partnered with Veeam® Software, the world’s #1 data resilience leader by market share, and Grace Hopper Celebration India (GHCI). The collaboration will empower women as next-generation leaders in AI, Cloud, and Cybersecurity, accelerating India’s journey toward becoming digitally advanced and cyber-resilient by 2030.
#WICxSaksham2025 is part of the Bharat Cyber Suraksha Mission, which aims to:
- Certify 1 million professionals
- Activate 100 universities
- Inspire 100 million Indian citizens toward digital readiness and inclusion
The initiative was unveiled at a press conference attended by Chaitra Vedullapalli, Co-Founder & President, Women In Cloud; Sandeep Bhambure, VP & MD, India & SAARC, Veeam; Dr. K.N. Subramanya, Principal, RV College of Engineering; Michelle Pruitt, Former Microsoft Executive & OPULIS Honoree; and Karen Cone, WiC Board Director & OPULIS Honoree.
WICxSaksham aligns with Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat Mission, envisioning India as a developed, self-reliant digital powerhouse by 2047. Achieving this vision requires an AI-ready, cyber-resilient workforce and strong collaboration across policy, industry, and academia. The initiative equips youth, professionals, and institutions with the skills, innovation capacity, and leadership readiness essential to secure India’s digital future.
As the program’s technology backbone, Veeam will provide expertise in cyber resilience, data protection, and recovery readiness, preparing learners and institutions for real-world threats.
Chaitra Vedullapalli, Co-Founder, Women In Cloud, said:
“We are aiming for a $7 trillion Viksit Bharat vision by 2030. To achieve this, we need a secure, skilled, and innovation-ready workforce. While India’s digital economy grows rapidly, there is a significant talent readiness gap. WICxSaksham will bridge this gap through partnerships across industry, academia, and policy. Becoming a Cyber-Resilient Viksit Bharat is the need of the hour, and this initiative is our endeavor to achieve it. We’re not waiting for the future, we’re building it skilling, certifying, and celebrating the next million innovators.”
Sandeep Bhambure, VP & MD, India & SAARC, Veeam, added;
“India is entering its most digitally intensive decade, but rising cyber threats and a widening skill gap pose a real risk to national growth. Trusted by over 550,000 organizations globally, Veeam believes cyber resilience must become a national capability. Through WICxSaksham, we aim to enable 25,000 job pathways, establish 100 Cyber Resilience Centers of Excellence, and deliver 100,000 certifications in data protection, cloud backup, DevSecOps, and AI-enabled cyber resilience. Together with Women In Cloud, we will strengthen India’s digital backbone and power a truly Cyber-Surakshit and Cyber-Saksham Bharat.”
The national activation of WICxSaksham, running from December 4–6, 2025 in Bengaluru, will feature a series of impactful events:
- WICxSaksham Executive Leadership Roundtable – A closed-door dialogue with policymakers, industry leaders, and academia to co-create India’s cyber-resilient future.
- WIC and Microsoft Endorsed Coffee Table Book Launch & OPULIS – Celebrating women innovators and global leadership.
- Main Hoon Saksham Campaign Launch – A nationwide storytelling campaign targeting 100 million citizen impressions, spotlighting India’s digital champions.
- DevSecOps Launch & AI Innovator Certification Program – Building skills for the AI-powered economy.
- Student Activations at RV College of Engineering – Engaging youth in AI and cyber education.
- empowHERaccess Awards – Recognizing trailblazers driving access, innovation, and leadership in the AI economy globally.
University Activation Program: WiC and Veeam will establish AI + Cybersecurity Centers of Excellence (COEs) at 100 leading institutions. These COEs will integrate DevSecOps and AISecOps curricula, provide certification pathways, mentorship, innovation labs, and industry-academia collaborations preparing graduates for a cyber-resilient and AI-powered economy.
Innovation Dividend: A four-tier partnership model where organizations can contribute INR 1L–INR 1Cr, gaining national visibility, advisory access, and real-time impact dashboards, while helping skill thousands of citizens and shape India’s digital future.
WICxSaksham is a call to action for a Cyber-Saksham Bharat, uniting policy, industry, and academia to co-create a secure, digitally sovereign, and innovation-ready nation by 2030.
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