AppWorld, an F5 Application Security and Delivery Event, took place on April 19, 2024, at JW Marriott in Mumbai. The day-long conference had a well-designed agenda, curated to educate and inspire attendees to catalyse positive changes within their organisations, and to be a force for a better digital world. Participants were granted a firsthand glimpse into F5’s visionary roadmap and strategic direction for the upcoming year, as the company steadfastly pursued its mission of advancing a superior digital landscape.
Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to delve into F5’s comprehensive suite of application delivery and security solutions, exploring their potential to streamline multi-cloud networking and elevate mission-critical applications to new heights of performance and reliability. Facilitated networking sessions enabled attendees to connect with industry peers, technology partners, and F5 experts, fostering the exchange of best practices and the cultivation of professional relationships. Hands-on labs and interactive demonstrations provided attendees with the chance to augment their knowledge and skills, empowering them to harness the full potential of F5’s innovative solutions.
The event commenced with a warm welcome by Dhananjay Ganjoo, Managing Director -F5, setting the stage for a series of engaging panel discussions and standalone sessions featuring esteemed speakers such as Mahidhar Arava, Senior Vice President of HDFC Bank; Kuldeep Singh, Chief Information Security Officer of NTPC Limited; Anand Pande, Chief Information Security Officer of Goods & Service Tax Network (GSTN); and Jyotiswarup Raiturkar, Chief Architect and Chief Technology Officer of Angel One Limited, Sharath Srinivasa Murthy, AVP, IDC, Mike Rau VP-Enterprise Technical Strategy, Shawn Wormke, GM, NGINX, Dharmesh Rajput, Manager Solutions Sales, Tech Data India and more.
Arul Elumalai, GM for Security & Distributed Cloud (SDC) at F5 delivered an interesting keynote address, highlighting F5’s indispensable role in enabling enterprises to fortify their hybrid and multi-cloud architectures and enhance application security in the face of AI-powered cyber threats and evolving infrastructure landscapes.
The conference proceeded with insightful panel discussions. The first delved into leveraging technology to positively influence the customer journey, particularly in advancing India’s digital empowerment. The second discussion featuring Paul Werner, VP, Global Solution Engineering and Arul Elumalai shifted the spotlight to the theme of “Securing the Connected Future,” where the session focused on managing complexity, accommodating AI workloads, and the evolving landscape of application and API security. These thought-provoking sessions facilitated engagement among industry leaders, offering attendees valuable insights into pressing issues and emerging trends.
The conference also featured a special guest appearance by Ashutosh Rana, a well-known Indian actor, producer, author, and television personality, who boasts of a diverse portfolio spanning Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi cinema, along with numerous Indian television shows. Beyond the realm of entertainment, Rana is a prolific author and dedicated philanthropist, with notable literary contributions such as ‘Maun Muskaan Ki Maar’ and ‘Ramrajya’.
Engaging in thought-provoking discussions on emerging technologies like AI and GenAI, Rana explored the potential for artificial intelligence to augment or even surpass human capabilities, offering real-life examples to illustrate his points. His talk concluded on a poignant note, as he recited his famous poem “Tab bachpan yaad aata hain,” leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
AppWorld India concluded with resounding success. Beyond its informative keynotes and breakout sessions, AppWorld India embodied the spirit of collaboration and camaraderie, providing a platform for like-minded individuals to come together, learn, grow, and forge lasting connections. Alongside these enriching sessions, numerous solution showcases are organised, offering attendees a glimpse into a diverse array of cutting-edge solutions. From CubixTech’s innovative tech solutions to OPSWAT’s robust cybersecurity offerings, and from Starlight’s advanced software solutions to Value Point’s comprehensive IT services, each showcase brings its own unique expertise to the table. Exclusive Networks specialises in distributing advanced networking solutions, while RedHat leads the charge in open-source software. Tech Data provides an extensive range of IT products and services, further enhancing the technological landscape. Additionally, companies like WYSETEK, Inflow, Redington, Udtechs, and Zenexim showcase their line of products, contributing to the overall richness of the event and offering valuable insights for businesses and consumers alike.
The AppWorld conference concluded with a highly anticipated CXO Connect session, where over 30 executives engaged in focused discussions on key industry topics. Led by prominent speakers, including Mike Rau and Shawn Wormke, the event provided valuable insights into application security and delivery in the AI era. The evening concluded with a networking cocktail dinner, fostering further collaboration and exchange of ideas.