About Prakash Mana
Prakash’s dedication to advancing cybersecurity and enabling seamless remote work experiences has earned him widespread recognition and acclaim.
Under his leadership, Cloudbrink launched a suite of ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) Solutions, which would ensure focus on improving security without compromising on user experience.
Mana’s enterprise stands out in its unique emphasis on continuously improving user experience by incorporating users’ suggestions. He considers being able to enhance people’s lives and work experiences his proudest achievement. Cloudbrink, embodying Mana’s passion for ensuring efficiency and productivity in remote work, aims to bring in-office experience to anyone working from anywhere.
Mana hopes to work towards a work culture where cybersecurity seamlessly integrates with productivity and user experience, promoting secure and efficient work environments.
Trends to Watch
Hybrid Working and User-Centric IT Investment
In 2024, IT investment will be reshaped by hybrid working. As millennials and Gen Z assume influential roles, the traditional focus on office-centric IT infrastructure will give way to a user-centric paradigm.
Redefining Security and Networking
Investments in security and networking will shift from centralized data centers to the edge, driving reductions in end-user latencies. “Work from Anywhere” will be the new norm, disrupting traditional IT silos, demanding higher productivity, and eroding functional barriers.
The Rise of AI
AI will play a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of edge computing to address network bottlenecks, especially in the mid-mile and last-mile.
Notably, network providers will develop self-reliant, self-programming networks, leveraging real-time protocols and AI to optimize connections across network segments.
IT Enterprise Challenges and 6G Advancements
IT Enterprises will struggle with multi-cloud complexities, prompting a shift towards user-edge connectivity.
Simultaneously, 6G development will gain momentum, promising faster speeds and support for new applications like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) on a massive scale.
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FAQs
- Who is Prakash Mana?
Prakash Mana is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of industry experience. As the CEO and co-founder of Cloudbrink, Prakash has a strong track record of success, having served as CPO and CTO at Pulse Secure and held responsibilities for Citrix’s NetScaler security gateway business. Prakash is recognized for his leadership in cybersecurity and networking particularly as it applies to remote and hybrid work technology, where he focuses on applying his business and technical expertise to innovate solutions that provide an in-office experience to remote workers.
- What has been Prakash’s career highlight?
Prakash Mana’s career highlight centers around his role as the CEO and co-founder of Cloudbrink, where he has successfully led the company in delivering in-office performance to individuals anywhere, prioritizing both security and user experience. He considers being able to enhance people’s lives and work experiences his proudest achievement.
- What are his areas of expertise?
Enterprise Networking and Security.
- What is Prakash Mana's educational background?
Prakash Mana holds degrees in electrical engineering, including a BE, MS, and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon.
- What sets Prakash Mana apart in the cybersecurity landscape?
What distinguishes Prakash Mana in the cybersecurity landscape is his unique approach to striking a delicate balance between robust security measures and quality of experience for his customers. While the most secure option may be to completely lock down systems, this is often impractical as users, such as physicians, need access to vital patient data for informed healthcare decisions.
The core challenge lies in harmonizing security with productivity, networking, and overall user experience. Through Cloudbrink, Prakash Mana excels at perfecting this equilibrium. Unlike a rigid all-or-nothing security model, Cloudbrink’s approach focuses on ensuring users don’t have to compromise between top-tier security systems and systems that enable swift access to applications and information.
- What is Cloudbrink's primary focus under Prakash Mana's leadership?
Cloudbrink’s primary focus is to enhance people’s lives and work experiences by delivering an in-office experience to anyone, anywhere. The key objective is to replicate the in-office experience, allowing individuals to seamlessly live and work from diverse locations. Cloudbrink achieves this goal by offering an enhanced user experience through its mobile app. The Cloudbrink app makes every interaction significantly smoother, maintaining the same efficiency level with various applications.
Moreover, Cloudbrink prioritizes security. The connection is more secure than a physical office, ensuring that users do not compromise on safety while enjoying the flexibility of working from diverse locations.
- What achievements has Cloudbrink made under Prakash Mana's leadership?
Prakash Mana attributes the organization’s success to assembling the right individuals, fostering trust, and continuously learning together. Notable achievements include the launch of Cloudbrink within three months of bringing in a very well-respected marketing leader. This milestone, along with successful fundraising efforts, marked a crucial phase in the company’s growth.
The team’s expansion included the addition of an experienced chief architect renowned for contributions to the networking and security community. This collaboration resulted in the introduction of new functionalities, products, and innovations for customers. A key aspect of the team’s success is attributed to effective management, with the recruitment of a seasoned manager who played a vital role in organizational efficiency.
Furthermore, the strategic roadmap development involved bringing on board an admired industry expert, adding depth to the company’s vision and direction. This strategy, when shared with analysts and partners, consistently earned praise for its forward-thinking outlook.
Sales efforts furthered the company’s achievements, with a known seasoned sales leader contributing significantly. Through effective sales strategies, the team secured five design partners and successfully converted them into the company’s first customers, paving the way for sustained growth.
These accomplishments underscore the effectiveness of a collaborative and skilled team working towards shared goals.
- How does Prakash Mana ensure customer-centric solutions?
Prakash Mana does this by adhering to a customer-first approach that goes beyond mere rhetoric. Cloudbrink’s commitment is reflected not only in its words but also in its daily practices. The company prioritizes customers at every step, valuing their input and feedback. Listening is another key aspect, extending beyond just customers to include partners, distributors, analysts, advisors, and other stakeholders.
Actively seeking and incorporating feedback through the lens of treating customers as design partners is also a crucial element. This transformative approach involves viewing customers not merely as end-users but as integral collaborators in the design process. By making customers active participants in shaping solutions, Cloudbrink fosters a collaborative environment where shared problem-solving and addressing common challenges become the focal point.
- What is Prakash Mana's vision for the future of cybersecurity?
Prakash Mana’s vision centers on the effective management of both security and user experience and productivity. He recognizes that security alone is insufficient, given the breakdown of even the most robust security systems. Cloudbrink’s focus is on achieving secure productivity, acknowledging that solely addressing security without considering productivity or user experience leads to potential issues. Prakash recognizes that neglecting one aspect of the problem can result in one of two problems: the systems will become inefficient, hindering individuals from effectively performing their jobs or people will feel the need to change their passwords every three weeks, which is not a good security practice.