Areas of Expertise
Kanishk advises various ministries of the Central Government such as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), NITI Aayog (Formerly Planning Commission) and the National Security Council Secretariat (Prime Minister’s Office) on Digital Expansion, Cyber Laws, Strategy, Policy, Governance, Data Protection and Security Emerging Technology (5G, IoT/OT).
With over 15 years of experience, Kanishk is a leading voice from the cybersecurity domain. During his association with the field of cybersecurity, he has advised/helped organisations to protect themselves against advanced threats, online harms and misinformation. His expertise, in the field of cybersecurity, has helped organizations across sectors safeguard their digital assets.
Kanishk is an expert in matters of cyber defence and security, providing guidance on cybersecurity and advanced threat intelligence to governments and companies. He has advised global defence and security companies and works closely with governments on cybersecurity strategy. His expertise helps clients protect their critical assets and critical infrastructure from emerging cyber threats.
Years of working with and advising governments, tech related issues and on emerging technologies has endowed Kanishk with extensive experience in public policy. Kanishk always makes it a point to put forward his views, especially when comments, on the same, are invited. He has also helped organisations put forward their views, on policy matters.
Kanishk is an expert in matters concerning international trade and cyber diplomatic relations and has advised companies, across industries, in the said field. He provides guidance on development and compliance to security policies such as European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), responds to cyber incidents and is involved in training of stakeholders for best practices in cyber security.
Using his rich experience of working in the field of technology, Kanishk helps his clients understand the nuances of the ever-changing digital technology space. He advises companies and governments on how to implement security standards and ensure compliance of the same. At a macro level these efforts help in building a safer Internet for all.
Engagements
With Governments
With the Industry
With Global Development Agencies
With Not-for-Profits
Media
Social Media Ban for Teens in India | Protection or Government Overreach?
While highlighting the difficulties in enforcing bans on social media to protect minors, Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, states that it is largely a result of fragmented rules, weak platform compliance, and lack of coordination among various departments. He stresses on the need for a unified national approach to turn policy intent into effective real-world implementation.
Karnataka & Andhra Move To Ban Social Media For Kids
Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, highlights the risks social media pose for children and questions the effectiveness of state-level bans. He stresses on the need for a national framework with clear, enforceable rules, rather than policies that make headlines but are hard to implement.
Meta Lawsuit: Implications for WhatsApp in India
Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, outlines the implications of the Meta lawsuit for Indians who share banking alerts, legal documents, and business information on WhatsApp. He explains how end-to-end encryption makes WhatsApp a secure platform and offers strong safeguards against potential privacy breaches.
From IT Firms to GCCs: How AI Is Changing Hiring
Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, explains how AI and market pressures are shifting hiring away from traditional IT service firms towards Global Capability Centres (GCCs). He also stresses the importance of reskilling today’s youth as artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly adopted by traditional institutions.
Digital Arrests and the Growing Cyber Fraud Threat
Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, draws attention to the increasing threat of cyber fraud as digital arrests rise nationwide. In this case, he explains how SIM boxing and sophisticated social engineering were used to manipulate a couple and wipe out their life savings, illustrating the tactics commonly employed by cybercriminals today.
X vs Indian IT Laws: Compliance Under Scrutiny
Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, warned that X’s continued non-compliance with India’s IT and intermediary guidelines puts it at risk of losing safe-harbour protection. He said the lack of a trust and safety team makes the platform unsafe, especially for women and children, and exposes it to legal action by the government.
Published Work
Cyber Slavery Networks: How Indian Jobseekers Are Being Trapped
Kanishk Gaur, cybersecurity expert, highlighted that thousands of Indians are being lured by fake overseas job offers into so-called “cyber-slavery hubs” in Southeast Asia, where they are forced into online scam operations.
Strengthening India–UK Tech Ties
Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, was part of the UK Prime Minister’s major trade delegation to India, contributing to discussions on technology, innovation, and deeper India–UK collaboration in the digital ecosystem.
AI-Enabled Financial Scams On The Rise
NDTV reports on an Athenian Tech analysis “False Endorsements, Real Losses” of a deep fake video of the Union Finance Minister of India and the rapid rise of such AI-enabled financial scams in India.
Cybersecurity Week: AI, Privacy, Zero Trust
Moderating Cybersecurity Week, Kanishk Gaur led discussions on AI governance, zero trust, and privacy. Leaders stressed balancing speed with security in an era of rising synthetic threats.
The Strategic Role of AI in Cyber Defence
Kanishk Gaur, CEO, Athenian Tech, highlights the Strategic Role of AI in Cyber Defence in InfoRisk Today. He discusses how artificial intelligence is becoming essential in enhancing cybersecurity measures.
AI In Executive Protection: A Game Changer For Digital Identity
Kanishk Gaur, CEO, Athenian Tech, shares his insights on how AI-driven protection can safeguard executives from deepfakes, social engineering, and targeted phishing attacks.
Let’s Connect
- kanishk@indiafuturefoundation.com