Manik Bhandari

🔐 Discover How ISO 27001 Auditing Strengthens Data Security and Business Reputation At SkyDIGI Singapore Pte. Ltd., our expert team has conducted extensive research on ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) — referencing global standards, audit techniques, and leading publications to identify the most important audit questions that every organization should understand. 📘 The summary of our findings is included in the shared file — designed to help you gain valuable insights into: How ISO 27001 auditing enhances information security governance How your organization can protect critical data and prevent cyber risks How a strong ISMS framework can elevate your company’s reputation and ensure long-term sustainability In today’s business environment, data protection and data analysis are not optional — they define success. Implementing ISO 27001 helps organizations stay secure, compliant, and trusted in an increasingly competitive digital market. 💡 Learn how SkyDIGI Singapore can help you strengthen your information security standards and achieve ISO 27001 certification with confidence. 📞 Contact us today to start your ISO 27001 audit journey and build a safer, smarter, and more resilient business.

5

2 Comments

The Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI published by Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) on 22 January 2026, articulates a clear and structured approach to governing Agentic systems that can act with increasing autonomy. It is built around four pillars. First, risks must be bounded at design time, before agents are deployed into live environments. Second, human accountability must remain explicit, even as agents operate independently. Third, technical controls should be embedded across the entire AI lifecycle, from development to continuous monitoring. Finally, organisations must enable responsible end user use through transparency and capability building. Together, these pillars position the framework as a practical, evolving guide for deploying agentic AI at scale. #ResponsibleAgenticAI https://lnkd.in/g32HZsmE

7

It’s easy to see AI as the domain of data scientists, IT teams, and tech start-ups. But increasingly, it’s something much more fundamental …a board-level issue that cuts across strategy, risk, ethics, and performance. AI is already shaping the competitive landscape across South East Asia (SEA). We’re seeing businesses automating processes, tailoring products, detecting fraud, even predicting customer behaviour. Yet too often, it’s my observation that boards are still watching from the sidelines. That’s understandable. Many directors come from finance, legal or operational backgrounds, not tech. But when decisions are being made about data strategy, algorithmic bias, workforce displacement, or cyber resilience, the absence of board-level literacy on AI becomes a governance risk in itself. I don’t expect directors to become coders, but boards do need to ask the right questions. - Do we know what data is driving our AI decisions? - Have we considered the ethical risks? - How are we balancing automation with human oversight? - Who’s accountable if something goes wrong? Without a basic working knowledge of AI’s capabilities (and limitations) it’s hard for a board to challenge, support or steer management effectively. In many SEA markets, governance structures are still maturing. Regulatory frameworks around AI are emerging but inconsistent. In this environment, boards have an even greater role to play…not just in oversight, but in shaping how AI is used responsibly and sustainably. There’s also a real opportunity here. With global supply chains shifting, digital adoption speeding up, and capital flowing into the region, SEA could leapfrog older models, but only if leadership is willing to lean in. Boards that stay passive risk becoming irrelevant. So what needs to change? 1. Board education: AI literacy should be a core part of board development. Not a one-off seminar, but ongoing, relevant, business-focused learning. 2. Diverse appointments: Bring in new voices. Whether it’s a tech leader, digital ethicist, or younger director with data with a tech background, many boards need to broaden their mix of skills and perspectives. 3. Cultural shift: Perhaps most importantly, boards need to move from a mindset of oversight alone to one of proactive stewardship. AI isn’t just a risk to mitigate, it’s a strategic lever to understand and shape. The boards that thrive won’t be the ones with all the answers, they’ll be the ones asking the best questions, listening with intent, and approaching AI with curiosity rather than fear. And in this part of the world, that could make all the difference. #AI #BoardGovernance #FutureOfWork #DigitalTransformation

53

5 Comments

Excited to speak at this week's Singapore Fintech Festival about the upcoming launch of EY's Risk and Compliance Innovation Lab; Risk Consulting's thought leadership and technology innovation incubator that will partner with our clients to transform their risk management capabilities from siloed, manual, and reactive capabilities to data-centric, proactive, real-time risk aware operating models. #EY #risktransformation #holisticriskmanagement #risk #compliance #strategicpartner

82

https://lnkd.in/g_a7Wphh Capturing the front end of Scale AI Transformations is vital for enterprises to realize P and L level impact Accenture Ram Ramalingam leading the charge with ecosystem

6

Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP Act 2023) Enjoy the festive season with GST 2.0 and also take control of your Data Privacy. With the latest announcement coming from the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, about the DPDP rules to be released within the next 3 days. Once the official announcement is made (Let’s assume on coming Monday or maybe within a week’s time, the compliance clock officially starts ticking. What does that mean for the 16 lakh+ companies registered under MCA – IT’s time to pull up your socks and get ready to go for compliance. With only a few compliance providers, there may be an unavoidable surge in demand for the compliance in the new year as it is for tourism in Goa, Mussoorie and Himachal. The demand-to-supply capacity gap is inevitable. It normally takes 3–6 months for the compliance program to complete (Gap Assessment + Advisory + Consulting). Whatever grace period the Government would allow, it would take years for the industry to get fully compliant.  And not to forget the new startups adding up in BFSI, AI, Data, Cloud, tourism, healthcare, education and other sectors would lead to more and more demands and create a gap in demand Vs supply. As on date, only a few companies have considered the importance of Data Privacy and have already gone for or started the process to get compliant. Considering the above, it is now time to take a step forward towards getting compliant. We at @SanD Consulting India www.sandconsulting.co.in offer a full spectrum of compliance services and solutions to address every need as per the DPDP Act 2023. Whatever your queries regarding DPDP, we are here to answer and clarify your queries and help you in making the decision – “Let’s get compliant today”. Connect with us at sales@sandconsulting.co.in; sanjay.d@sandconsulting.co.in or call at +91 963 754 0697

43

38 Comments

Very interesting to see Singapore launch a world-first governance framework for agentic AI and great that a framework like this has been introduced while organisations are still designing their agent architectures, not after problems emerge. For financial services leaders, this reinforces a simple truth: AI strategy and AI governance can’t be sequential. They have to move together. Interested to see how this influences approaches across the wider region. https://lnkd.in/ggkfNhZR https://lnkd.in/gMFaSha8

16

IBM invited me to attend IBM Think Singapore and Analyst Insight 2025. It was refreshing to see a grounded discussion on Agentic AI backed by multiple end-customer discussions. Sharing some takeaways: a) Agentic AI for the business not enterprise functions: IBM believes Agentic AI's 10x impact will be on core business of clients. It starts at enterprise functions, e.g., IBM as client zero for Agentic HR transformation, but this is not where the major value will be. We will be watching whether IBM is able to rewire its growth trajectory using its philosophy on its own business b) Enterprise AI needs governance, period: The world is not ready for fully Agentic. IBM with its watson.orchestrate platform is attempting to address governance challenges of Agentic AI. Moving from model governance to Agentic governance will be a long haul. Given earlier challenges of Watson product portfolio, it will be interesting to see how it gets embedded into clients' operating environment c) Clients want outcomes, but do not sign for it: The perennial challenges in technology consulting of driving outcomes continue. Even now most of the focus is on timely delivery and meeting the commitments than true outcomes. Moreover, when outcomes get contractually aligned with gainsharing, the model becomes extremely complex to deliver and govern. However, Everest Group research suggests in some time 1 in 4 or even more engagements will have strong elements of outcome embedded There was limited discussion on IBM Granite models, possibly because of model fatigue in the industry. Over the years IBM has created many markets, however, has not always gained commercially from these. It is good to see turnaround in its performance, especially the software business. With HashiCorp, Apptio, an IBM Company, IBM watsonx and Red Hat combined with consulting expertise, which is witnessing a good run, it has the needed ammunition to become the leading place for the best talent and strategic partners. As always, the event was well organized with ample opportunity to engage with IBM leaders and customers. Thanks Vibha Ajay for the hospitality. Rob Parul Juhi Amit Anup Christine Patrick ; Chirajeet Abhishek Achint Prateek Katrina Molly Dharmesh

49

6 Comments

Iam pleased to share that we successfully concluded the SSACCI - Singapore South Asia Chamber Of Commerce And Industry–Skybots Singapore Practical AI Preview Session. With AI reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, and with global companies like HP reportedly laying off close to 6,000 employees due to AI-driven restructuring, the message is clearer than ever - AI will not replace humans, but humans who do not learn AI will be replaced. This webinar was designed to help business owners, professionals, and employees truly understand how to use AI in a practical and impactful way. The response was overwhelming, with participants across sectors sharing enthusiastic and positive feedback about the hands-on demonstrations and real-world techniques covered during the session. Daryl Aw, Director of Skybots, delivered a highly engaging and practical walkthrough of AI tools that can immediately enhance workplace productivity. We explored how employees in finance, operations, SME management, HR, logistics, and customer engagement can use AI to speed up tasks, automate repetitive work, improve decision-making, and deliver more value to their organisations. As we discussed, AI competency is fast becoming a core driver of competitiveness, efficiency, and bottom-line growth. For companies looking to improve productivity with limited manpower, AI skills are no longer optional — they are essential. I am also pleased to share that following this preview, a full one-day Practical AI Programme will be conducted in January 2026, where participants will deep-dive into the complete set of tools, templates, and automation techniques introduced yesterday. More details will be shared soon. My sincere thanks to:  🔹 Dr Balakrishnan Ramanathan, Founder of ACE International and Vice Chairman of SSACCI  🔹 GIST – Guild of International Speakers & Trainers  🔹 Trust Global  for their strong partnership and continued support for SSACCI’s learning initiatives. A big thank you as well to all participants who attended, engaged actively, and reaffirmed the importance of upskilling for the future. As we move forward, SSACCI remains committed to empowering business owners and professionals with practical, future-ready skills that elevate performance, productivity, and innovation. Let us continue learning, adapting, and leading confidently in the AI-driven future.

20

1 Comment

Spot on Juhi McClelland! There are three reasons why we are well placed to help our clients on this Work Redesign and Enterprise Transformation: 1. We, IBM , have redesigned our own processes and embedded them with AI to drive savings of over $4bn across Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement, HR, IT 2. Our IBM Consulting AI platform, IBM Consutling Advantage, enables our 150,000 strong team to embed contextualised AI in their delivery of services to our clients 3. We have taken both these learnings and created a blueprint and a services platform for our clients to gain their own Enterprise Advantage. This Future is real NOW! Prasad Kurup Amit Sharma Usha Srikanth Javier Olaizola Casín Mohamad Ali Ashutosh Muni Blaine Dolph A B Vijay Kumar

68

🚨 DARPA is calling for revolutionary ideas – not incremental advances. DARPA’s Information Innovation Office (I2O) has released its FY2026 Office-Wide BAA, seeking high-impact concepts in AI, cybersecurity, secure software systems, and information-domain capabilities. The BAA encourages bold, high-risk proposals that could transform how the nation develops, secures, and applies information technologies. 📅 Abstracts due: Nov. 1, 2026 📅 Full proposals due: Nov. 30, 2026 Learn more about the opportunity and how EverGlade can support your strategy and submission: https://hubs.ly/Q03WKJfG0 #DARPA #AI #Cybersecurity #FederalFunding #GovCon

6

🚨 DARPA is calling for revolutionary ideas – not incremental advances. DARPA’s Information Innovation Office (I2O) has released its FY2026 Office-Wide BAA, seeking high-impact concepts in AI, cybersecurity, secure software systems, and information-domain capabilities. The BAA encourages bold, high-risk proposals that could transform how the nation develops, secures, and applies information technologies. 📅 Abstracts due: Nov. 1, 2026 📅 Full proposals due: Nov. 30, 2026 Learn more about the opportunity and how EverGlade can support your strategy and submission: https://hubs.ly/Q03WKQ9v0 #DARPA #AI #Cybersecurity #FederalFunding #GovCon

4

Folks, if you are thinking about/in the midst/in the middle of embracing AI in your organisation, join Koo Ping Shung and the #projectasiadata in this half-day workshop on AI adoption in your company. I am sure you'll enjoy and learn how to maximise your efforts in AI adoption...

3

1 Comment

The AI "gold rush" is real. And there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for organisations to reap from. Technical gap / technical debt is real as well, but Singapore is not short on technical talents. My personal opinion resonates with this article (and yes, I'm working in Deloitte), that what is holding organisations back is commitment to develop a proper AI Governance framework that suits the organisation, balancing risk appetite and innovation drive. Thereafter there is need to operationalise this framework, because any organisation can just copy from the many AI Governance frameworks out there. Once the guardrails are in place and visible, AI development can take off with organisation leadership being assured that the pot of gold is truly gold, and not expired chocolate gold coins (Happy CNY!)

9

1 Comment

Exciting to finally see the public release of #Aura, Acclime's enterprise-wide, unified AI and automation platform. Aura is not only designed to drive innovation and enhance operational efficiency, but to also transform client service delivery across our organisation. Over the past year, our team focused extensively on establishing and integrating AI capabilities across its operations. Building on our practical industry expertise, #Aura platform is built to address the evolving demands of modern professional services. Many thanks to Joshua Konechny, Eduard P., Izzy Silva and our extended IT team for spearheading this significant project. Aura’s external-facing assistant is now live on our websites, answering your questions in real-time and streamlining connections with the right specialists across 18 markets. Check it out on our vietnam.acclime.com page. The Press Release can be viewed here: #Aura #Acclime #Innovation #AI

30

As generative AI moves from experimentation to enterprise-scale impact, one message is resonating strongly with the region’s C-suites: true AI transformation cannot happen on legacy foundations. Across Southeast Asia, I continue to see organizations with the ambition to adopt AI but are held back by architectures built for a different era. They continue to rely on decades-old architectures and scattered data sources that weren't designed to support the real-time, multimodal data demands of gen AI today. It’s no surprise that modernization is rising in the C-suite agenda, with even greater focus expected in the coming year. In my latest article for DigiconAsia I unpack how forward-looking enterprises across ASEAN are navigating this transition, and what their experiences signal for business leaders shaping their AI strategies in the years ahead. https://lnkd.in/gbtxPYGY #MongoDB #GenAI #Modernization

21

AI with a heart? This is how Singapore writes its history for #SG60. In the first edition of our “AI Reinvention with Accenture” series, Singapore Country Managing Director, Mark Tham sits down with Gene Tan and Richard Lee from the National Library Board (NLB) to explore the Heart&Soul Experience, what goes into crafting an immersive, generative-AI driven journey that creates a personalised experience for every visitor. Watch this story of collaboration between NLB, Accenture, Pico, Preplay and Google. #AIReinventionACN Excited about the possibilities? Reinvent what’s next with our AI and Data team: https://accntu.re/4scPuXE

7

Glad to have had the opportunity to share my perspectives on how enterprises can derive meaningful value from Generative AI (GenAI). Many organizations have invested heavily in GenAI, yet the expected benefits often fail to materialize. I believe a key reason is because GenAI is frequently deployed tactically, rather than strategically, leading to limited productivity gains and heightened financial, regulatory, and governance risks. To unlock real value, GenAI must be aligned to clear business objectives and designed as part of a broader enterprise strategy. AI is not just about popular chatbots or large language models. The AI ecosystem is vast, with multiple model types and countless application possibilities. When applied strategically based on an organization’s goals, challenges, and operating environment, AI can help solve unique business problems, achieve strategic outcomes, and create sustainable competitive advantage. Many thanks to Betsy Tan for the effort in putting together this paper! A big thank you to my amazing AiRTS Pte. Ltd. family — Jazreel Luar, Hee Youn Shim, Darrell Ng, Max Tan, Min, Jackie Dinh, Tung Nguyen, Quyen Nguyen, and Dieu Quynh Nguyen. Your passion and teamwork have shaped GenAI Twin® into what it is today. Grateful for each of you! #airts #GenAITwin #ai #genai #digitaltransformation https://lnkd.in/gAUsQf6x

37

4 Comments