Samarendra Kumar
About Samarendra Kumar
Samarendra Kumar serves as the Senior Director of Information Security & Privacy at du in Dubai, where he has worked since 2019. He has extensive experience in cybersecurity, having led various initiatives and managed significant projects across multiple countries.
Work at du
Samarendra Kumar has been serving as the Senior Director of Information Security & Privacy at du since 2019. In this role, he has led initiatives focused on enhancing information security measures and privacy protocols within the organization. His responsibilities include overseeing the Supplier Chain Risk Management setup and enabling end-to-end automation for various companies. His expertise contributes to the overall security posture of du, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Education and Expertise
Samarendra Kumar holds a Post Graduate Diploma in IT & Management, equivalent to an MBA in Information Technology, which he obtained in 1997 from AIMA. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his extensive career in information security. He possesses multiple certifications, including CISSP, CEH, CPISI, ISO 27001, and ISO 20000. Additionally, he has received training in TOGAF and SABSA, further enhancing his expertise in information security frameworks and compliance.
Background
Samarendra Kumar has a diverse professional background with significant experience in information security across various regions. He worked at InterGlobe Enterprises as the Head of Group Information Security from 2013 to 2017 in India. Prior to that, he served as a Program Manager at Coforge in Thailand from 2005 to 2009. His career also includes a role as Global Director of Enterprise Security Services at Boston Consulting Group from 2017 to 2019 in India, and earlier positions at IBM India Limited as a Project Leader from 1997 to 2001.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Samarendra Kumar has managed cybersecurity engagements worth over 150 million dollars across more than 90 countries, leading a team of over 170 professionals. He has successfully participated in application security compliance reviews and established a group security operations center with 24x7 monitoring capabilities. His leadership in Red Team exercises has established a comprehensive lifecycle for these initiatives, enhancing the security frameworks of multiple organizations.
Current Roles and Responsibilities
In addition to his role at du, Samarendra Kumar currently operates as a virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) for multiple organizations across the Middle East and Africa. His responsibilities include implementing compliance requirements globally, such as GDPR, UAE Federal Data Protection Law, and the Saudi SAMA Security Framework. He has also played a key role in setting up various information security platforms, including Data Leakage Prevention and Security Incident & Event Management.