ITSEC Asia chief wins APAC CEO award for AI cyber push

ITSEC Asia President Director and CEO Patrick Dannacher has received a CEO of the Year award from The Fast Mode Awards 2025 in the Solution Provider - APAC category.

The award sits within a programme run by The Fast Mode, a telecom-technology media organisation. It covers solution providers, network operators, and other industry leaders across the connectivity sector.

ITSEC Asia is listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange under the ticker CYBR. The company says it has more than 400 employees across five countries.

Platform shift

The company said the award recognised Dannacher's leadership during a shift in ITSEC Asia's product and service approach. It described a move from a range of point solutions to a platform-plus-services model.

ITSEC Asia pointed to the IntelliBron Series as a flagship platform under Dannacher's leadership. The company described the product as providing AI-driven analytics and automated incident response.

The company expanded work in operational technology security. It said that work covered critical infrastructure environments.

In parallel, the company said Dannacher initiated research tracks in post-quantum cryptography. ITSEC Asia framed the work as preparation for risks linked to quantum-era computing and long-lived assets.

Services operations

The company also linked the award to operational changes in its managed security services. ITSEC Asia said Dannacher enhanced its managed detection and response and security operations centre model.

ITSEC Asia described "true 24/7 coverage" and stricter service levels. It also cited automation playbooks and "blameless post-incident reviews" as part of a learning cycle.

The company said these changes delivered outcomes for clients. It referenced faster detection and response times, reduced escalation volumes, and higher satisfaction across priority accounts.

ITSEC Asia fosters a co-creation approach with customers. It said clients influenced roadmap priorities, with an emphasis on operational impact rather than feature expansion.

The company said Dannacher's strategy also contributed to Indonesia's national cyber resilience. It linked that point to the development of local cybersecurity capabilities and improved protection for critical sectors.

Award criteria

The Fast Mode Awards described its CEO of the Year title as recognition for executive leaders who have delivered transformative growth, company-wide innovation, and strategic partnerships. The programme separates leadership recognition into categories, with the Solution Provider category focusing on vendors that deliver end-to-end solutions and services to telecom and technology enterprises.

The awards also define an APAC domain. The programme describes it as recognition for leaders whose vision has driven regional expansion across Asia and emerging markets.

One brief context point accompanied comments from The Fast Mode on this year's selection. The organisation said it focused on leaders who made AI a strategic priority.

"For this year's CEO of the Year title, we sought out leaders who not only demonstrated impact in driving wider technological innovation and adoption, but those who recognized the importance of putting AI at the forefront of this agenda, prioritising its strategic importance for the APAC region and its wider digital economy," said Tara Neal, Executive Editor of The Fast Mode.

Neal also commented on the combination of AI products and service delivery in cybersecurity.

"Patrick's work exemplifies how AI-driven platforms, paired with operator-grade services and strong ecosystem partnerships, can materially strengthen cyber resilience for telecom and digital infrastructure at scale," said Neal.

Dannacher, in comments issued by ITSEC Asia, described the award as recognition that reflected the wider organisation.

"I am deeply honored by this recognition. But cybersecurity has never been about one person. It is about people, trust, and the culture we build together. This award reflects the dedication of the entire ITSEC Asia team, who work every day to protect not only systems, but what matters most behind them: communities, businesses, and confidence in the digital world," said Patrick Dannacher, President Director and CEO, ITSEC Asia.

Company profile

ITSEC Asia is a cybersecurity company in Indonesia. It says it provides consulting services, security solutions integration, and managed security services.

The company also said it works with partners across sectors including financial services, telecommunications, energy, transportation, and manufacturing. It also listed fraud prevention, operational technology, and industrial internet of things security as areas of experience.

Dannacher has more than two decades of experience across finance, private equity, and cybersecurity. It said he studied at the University of Applied Sciences in Basel and held roles at STG Coopers & Lybrand AG and other financial institutions before moving into entrepreneurship and strategic investment.

ITSEC Asia said it will continue to develop its IntelliBron Series platform and associated managed security operations across Southeast Asia.