In a recent interaction with Ilouge Media, Anuj Kapur, Vice President and Head of India Region, Iron Mountain, shed light on the company’s strategic collaboration with the Indian government. With a 70-year history and a focus on transitioning from physical to digital storage, Iron Mountain aims to revolutionize document management in the public sector. Kapur discusses the innovative approaches taken to enhance the efficiency of handling both physical and digital assets, contributing to the broader landscape of India’s digital transformation journey.
How does our current IT policy align with National/International standards and best practices?
India currently stands at the forefront of numerous initiatives in the field of information technology. The alignment of our policies has set a standard that many other countries have followed. It’s a source of pride that we continuously renew our IT policies, introducing new initiatives that not only keep pace with the times but also enable India to stay ahead in advancements and effectively harness emerging technologies.
How can we ensure that our IT policies remain adaptable to technological advancements and changing cyber security threats?
The latest instance has been the formulation of the data protection bill, which took some time to materialize due to various reasons. Nevertheless, the regulations outlined in this bill will play a crucial role in defining the measures we take to safeguard our data. It is worth noting that, despite the delayed introduction of the bill, our payment systems have already demonstrated advanced security measures, especially within the financial services sector. Compared to many developed nations, we are already at the forefront, boasting superior systems, processes, and safeguards. This progress has positioned us as a thriving digital economy, particularly in the realm of digital payments.
How robust is IT infrastructure and what measures are taken to ensure its scalability and reliability?
The telecommunications sector underwent liberalization in the mid-’90s, marking significant progress since then. Currently, the IT infrastructure heavily relies on the telecommunications framework, emphasizing the importance of connectivity. In the past, establishing an internet-facing server required placement in Virginia, US, as it served as a focal point for internet traffic. Contrastingly, present-day advancements include domestic routing, robust undersea cables for global connectivity, and high-bandwidth capabilities. This evolution has greatly benefited both government and private sector IT initiatives. With the advent of 5G, wireless connectivity has reached such heights that most services can be accessed effortlessly using just a mobile phone.
How are you fostering collaboration with the government sector and academia to drive innovation in IT Solutions?
Iron Mountain, a company with a 70-year history, initially focused on physical paper storage, has played a pivotal role in assisting governments and enterprises worldwide across 60 countries. Our mission involves facilitating the transition from physical to digital storage, and we are extending this expertise to collaborate with the Indian government. Our goal is to work with various government departments to enhance the organization of physical documents once they are digitized. We aim to establish streamlined workflows, allowing users to seamlessly view both physical and digital assets on a unified platform, providing a comprehensive overview.
It’s important to recognize that not all legacy documents can be scanned, and there will always be some materials that remain in physical form. By incorporating QR codes on older files and integrating them into the same platform as scanned and native digital data, we can significantly improve the document management efficiency of the Indian government. This approach ensures a holistic view of the information landscape, fostering better organization and effectiveness in handling government documents.
