Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, with a presence in Cyprus, hosted a well-attended event on Thursday, January 23, 2025, focusing on IT readiness and modernisation. 

Themed “Navigating IT Readiness and Modernisation,” the event attracted key stakeholders and members of the Cypriot business community to Pralina Experience in Nicosia.

The discussions revolved around critical topics such as hybrid IT, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and IT modernisation strategies. 

A standout moment was the unveiling of findings from the 2024 Kyndryl Readiness Report. 

The report revealed a significant global paradox. While 90 per cent of business leaders consider their IT infrastructure to be advanced, only 39 per cent believe they are adequately prepared to face future risks. 

This data highlights the urgent need for businesses to prioritise modernisation and reassess their IT strategies to stay competitive in an evolving technological landscape.

Marios Kapiris, Managing Director of Kyndryl Cyprus, opened the event by underlining the necessity for businesses to align their digital transformation efforts with human readiness. 

“Modern leadership is about agility—to operate, accelerate, and iterate in response to constant technological change,” Kapiris stated. 

“The ability to adapt and evolve is what distinguishes successful organisations,” he added. 

Kapiris also said that “at the same time, we need to reframe the conversation about tech debt—not as a burden but an opportunity to modernise and strengthen IT infrastructure.” 

Marios Kapiris, Managing Director of Kyndryl Cyprus
Marios Kapiris, Managing Director of Kyndryl Cyprus

Moreover, Kapiris encouraged businesses to view readiness as a competitive advantage, adding that understanding core infrastructure is essential to navigating the complexities of hybrid IT and digital transformation.

In addition, the company mentioned that the event also featured several expert-led presentations. 

Dipa Velagapudy, Vice President, Cloud Practice at Kyndryl, delivered a keynote titled “The Vision for Technology Modernisation – Preparing for a Hybrid IT Future.” 

Drawing from global customer projects, she emphasised that successful modernisation requires a clear strategy and a focus on people, processes, and technology. 

“The path to modernisation is complex, but with practical knowledge and the right approach, businesses can drive transformative change,” she said.

Another highlight was a session on cybersecurity, presented by Allen Downs, Kyndryl Global Resiliency Domain Leader, and Sok Mouy Cheng, Kyndryl Security & Resiliency Consult Leader for Strategic Markets. 

They focused on the importance of cyber resilience, particularly in hybrid IT environments, and called on organisations to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures to safeguard business operations.

George Georgakakos, Data & AI Senior Customer Technology Advisor Lead at Kyndryl Consult for Central Eastern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean, shared his expertise in a presentation titled “The Vision for Technology Modernisation – Lifting the Barriers to AI Adoption.” 

He explained that while challenges to AI adoption remain, businesses with well-defined strategies and comprehensive methodologies can overcome these barriers and achieve significant returns on investment.