Goa is known for its beaches, palm-fringed coastline, and golden sunsets - but for a few days this November, it became the backdrop for something even more memorable: Absolute Security’s first-ever Resilient CISO Retreat in India.
Bringing together some of the country’s most forward-thinking CISOs and security leaders, the retreat blended deep technical insight with candid conversations, hands-on learning, and a touch of Goan warmth. The result? A standout event that left attendees energised, challenged, and ready to reimagine what cyber resilience really means for their organisations.
A Space Built for Real Conversations
In an industry where time is scarce and threats are relentless, creating a space where CISOs can genuinely connect is rare, but deeply valuable. Over the course of the retreat, delegates engaged in:
- Roundtable discussions
- Lively, honest conversations that cut straight to the challenges shaping India’s security landscape: talent shortages, regulatory pressure, ransomware preparedness, and the growing board-level spotlight on cyber resilience.
- Interactive keynotes & panels
- Sessions from industry leaders and Absolute executives explored resilience at scale, anti-fragility in modern architectures, and the evolving role of CISOs as strategic operators, not just technical guardians.
- A hands-on tabletop exercise
- One of the highlights: a live breach simulation walking the room through an end-to-end ransomware kill chain; from spear-phishing to lateral movement, degradation of controls, and system-wide impact. The postmortem was revealing... visibility gaps, dependency on fragile controls, and the need for automatic recovery capabilities stood out as recurring themes.
- Cyber Resilience in Action: Lunch Break Rehydrate Demo
- A standout moment came with the live Absolute Rehydrate demonstration — performed in the time it took guests to enjoy lunch.
Seeing a device rebuilt, restored, and brought back online in minutes sparked countless conversations around what true endpoint resilience can (and should) look like in 2025 and beyond.
- A standout moment came with the live Absolute Rehydrate demonstration — performed in the time it took guests to enjoy lunch.
When the Sun Went Down, the Connections Continued
While the days were packed with learning, the evenings delivered the magic of Goa. Guests enjoyed beachside dinners, local cuisine, music, and more than a little dancing; creating the kind of informal moments where some of the best professional relationships are formed.
One attendee summed it up perfectly: “The remote recovery at the user level is very insightful, I am looking forward to exploring this more. Overall, the retreat was very well executed. The planning, sessions, and on-ground support were strong, and the environment fostered genuine connection” ~CISO, Large Digital Transformation Org.
And as the sun set over the Arabian Sea on the final night, one phrase echoed across the group: “Hanv yeta — I will come again.”
A Milestone for Absolute in India
The retreat coupled with the opening of a Data Centre in the country, marked an important moment in Absolute’s commitment to India.
Across all discussions, one theme was clear: CISOs are looking for resilience, not just protection, and solutions that can withstand failure rather than simply detect it.
From DPDP readiness to endpoint visibility, from secure access for distributed workforces to automatic recovery of critical controls, the appetite for innovation is stronger than ever.
The energy, curiosity, and collaboration at the retreat gave us a powerful glimpse into what the future of cyber resilience in India can look like — more connected, more proactive, and more prepared.
To every CISO, industry leader, and partner who joined us: thank you for your time, your insights, and your openness.
We look forward to continuing the conversations — and to welcoming you back at the next Absolute Resilient CISO Retreat.
Until then, Goa, thank you.
