India — As cybersecurity becomes central to enterprise resilience and digital transformation, Ramkumari Harisankar Iyer continues to play a strategic role in advancing governance, risk management, and enterprise security frameworks across global markets. With over 23 years of experience spanning technology, cybersecurity, and process consulting, she is currently holding the position of CISO and CPO of Cybersecurity, Privacy, and DevSecOps.
Her work consistently aligns information security frameworks with broader organizational objectives across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Professional Trajectory and Industry Experience
Ramkumari began her career in 1995 with EFTIA OSS Solutions in Mumbai as a Technical Lead, building foundational expertise in technology and project management. In 2002, she joined Infosys as a Project Manager, where she strengthened her leadership capabilities and gained experience in large-scale software development and delivery.
Between 2005 and 2010, she held senior managerial positions at iGATE and Wipro Technologies, overseeing project delivery and quality compliance initiatives. During this period, she developed expertise in frameworks such as CMMI and ITIL, reinforcing her specialization in process improvement and quality management.
In 2010, she joined TCS as Senior Consultant–Program Lead, marking a transition into cybersecurity and information security management. Her responsibilities included implementing security frameworks and conducting risk assessments as organizations increasingly prioritized cybersecurity within digital transformation strategies.
In 2012, she moved to IBM as Senior Delivery Program Executive, where she led teams in developing and executing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies. This role further strengthened her specialization in regulatory compliance across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
By 2015, she held the position of Vice President of IT at MFX Fairfax, QuessCorp, driving digital transformation initiatives and strengthening cybersecurity posture. In 2016, she received the CIO Award for India’s Best CIO in recognition of her leadership. Since 2017, she has served as CIO/CISO at Reliscale Consulting Pvt Ltd, leading cybersecurity strategy and governance for the client organization.
Governance, Risk, and Compliance Expertise
As a certified Global Risk Compliance professional, Ramkumari specializes in regulatory control across multiple global regions. She has been actively involved in Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) initiatives spanning cybersecurity, privacy, and IT governance.
Her work includes implementing international standards such as ISO 27001, GDPR, and PCI-DSS; overseeing third-party technology risk management; conducting internal IT and application audits; establishing information security governance frameworks, including steering committees; and designing targeted security awareness training programs.
Her expertise extends to vulnerability assessments, threat modeling, incident response planning, and the development of integrated risk management frameworks aligned with enterprise processes.
Leadership, Certifications, and Industry Recognition
Throughout her career, Ramkumari has navigated complex project environments, managed multiple initiatives under tight timelines, and maintained high-quality standards. She has earned multiple professional certifications, including PMP, CISSP, CISA, and certifications in GDPR, DevOps, and ITIL.
She has received more than 10 CIO and CISO awards and nominations across cybersecurity, DevOps, and privacy frameworks, including:
- CIO Award Winner: Recognized as one of the Next 100 CIOs in 2015 by IT Next
- India’s Best CIOs 2016: Awarded by DELL EMC
- Infosec Award Winner (2019)
- Women Achiever’s Award (2019 and 2020)
- Technical Excellence Award (2021 and 2022)
- Digital Transformation Officer Power Award
- DevOps and InfoSec Global Influencer recognition
- Cyber Champion Award
- Business Transformation Award
- CF100 Cyber Influencer Titan Award 2024
She has also completed an Advanced Program in Strategy Management at IIMC.
Leadership Approach and Forward Vision
Ramkumari emphasizes structured leadership grounded in best practices and team development. She prioritizes direct engagement, professional training, and operational alignment to build resilient cybersecurity ecosystems. Security by design and IT-OT security will remain key areas of focus within her strategic outlook.
Looking ahead, she envisions progressing towards a CEO role, reflecting a broader business-oriented perspective on organizational strategy and stakeholder accountability.
Personal Balance and Industry Guidance
She credits the support of her family for enabling her to manage demanding schedules and professional responsibilities effectively. Maintaining balance allows her to sustain long-term performance while meeting personal commitments.
She encourages young women entering the technology sector to remain proactive learners, embrace change, and pursue emerging opportunities. She underscores the importance of adaptability, awareness of evolving business environments, and calculated risk-taking in building sustainable careers.