The $22 Billion IT Horizon: Building Nepal’s Digital Future on Security and Policy
Nepal has set an ambitious target: to grow its IT industry exports from an estimated $1 billion today to $22 billion by 2033, creating 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs. This vision, dubbed the "IT Decade," is a bold declaration of intent for a nation often overlooked in the global tech landscape. But how does a country achieve such exponential growth? According to Deepen Chapagain, Country Head of Guardsix and a key figure in Nepal's tech leadership, the answer lies not just in talent and innovation, but in the often-underestimated foundations of robust cybersecurity and a supportive legal and policy framework.
Chapagain’s insights stem from decades of experience at the forefront of critical infrastructure security and his evolving role in shaping Nepal's tech future. His journey reveals that scaling a technology company, much like scaling a national industry, demands constant adaptation, strategic alignment, and an unwavering commitment to trust and protection in an increasingly digital world.
The Unseen Guardians of Europe's Critical Infrastructure
Deepen Chapagain is the Country Director of Guardsix, a European cybersecurity company that provides security solutions for organisations protecting critical infrastructure and essential services across Europe. Its customers and use cases span sectors including energy, healthcare, public services and other essential infrastructure. The company’s rebranding from Logpoint to Guardsix marked an evolution in its positioning and brand identity, reflecting its broader focus on cybersecurity operations, detection and response, sovereignty and compliance.
The name Guardsix, derived from the military phrase "I have your six" (meaning "I have your back"), reflects the company's mission to support those who guard society. This shift underscores a critical lesson in the tech industry: a brand must continuously evolve to accurately represent its value proposition. With an engineering and operational presence in Nepal, Guardsix demonstrates how sophisticated cybersecurity capabilities can be delivered across geographical boundaries, including to organisations protecting critical infrastructure in Europe.
The Evolution of Security: From Compliance to Core Business
Chapagain emphasizes that security is inextricably linked to value and risk. He draws an analogy to a village where people once left their doors unlocked because there was little valuable to steal and low risk of theft. As digital assets have multiplied, so too have the risks. Early on, security measures were often regulator-driven, implemented out of necessity rather than proactive strategy. Companies collected logs because they had to, not because they fully understood their value.
However, a single incident a data breach, a system outage, or an integrity violation can quickly shift perceptions. When an organization can easily trace the "why" and
