Accomplishments

• At Microsoft, Rakesh led the groundbreaking launch of the Zero-Trust-Network-Access
or SASE product, overseeing the creation of a cutting-edge security and privacy engineering team. He crafted a state-of-the-art observability framework, prioritizing customer data privacy and GDPR compliance, tailored for 20 multi-tenant cloud and on-premises services. Managing a global fleet of 6000 service instances, this effort processed all Microsoft O365 and internet traffic, handling millions of requests per second.

• As security architect for the Zero-Trust-Network-Access product, Rakesh meticulously managed its security posture, uncovering numerous vulnerabilities and implementing robust engineering frameworks (threat models, component governance etc.) across 20 development teams. His strategic approach facilitated a seamless transition to worldwide public preview, marking a significant milestone in Microsoft's $52 billion projected SASE market entry, with a forecasted revenue of $7 billion, gaining widespread attention within the industry, as evidenced by CNBC's coverage(https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/12/palo-alto-networks-and-zscaler-tumble-as-microsoft-expands-in-security.html). Rakesh's contributions to this massive historical moment, garnered substantial media recognition(https://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-network/rakesh-datta-building-microsofts-disruptive-network-security-product).

• Rakesh's cybersecurity expertise extends beyond Microsoft, earning him recognition as an ethical hacking expert. His contributions to tech giants like Facebook have garnered widespread media attention (https://www.freepressjournal.in/tech/indian-engineers-shine-in-facebooks-whitehat-bug-bounty-awards-programme) and prestigious awards, solidifying his position among the industry's top cybersecurity researchers.

• Rakesh is dedicated to giving back, sharing his knowledge by mentoring students at San Jose State University (USA) and collaborating on groundbreaking cybersecurity research. He's a respected public speaker, presenting at conferences like DeveloperWeek and LinuxFest. Rakesh also serves as a judge for prestigious industry awards such as the Globee Awards, BrandonHall Awards, and Cloud Award, reviewing projects worldwide.