Goutama Bachtiar isn’t just another voice in the cybersecurity and IT governance space—he’s one of the few experts who bridges boardroom strategy with ground-level audit insights across Southeast Asia’s financial sector.
With extensive experience in IT governance, blockchain innovation through Grant Thornton’s global Blockchain Working Group, and digital risk advisory, his perspectives cut through the noise.
In this wide-ranging Q&A, Goutama unpacks the real challenges behind digital maturity, exposes security gaps hidden in plain sight, and makes a compelling case for why the next evolution of cybersecurity leadership will demand more than technical prowess.
If you’re leading innovation, managing risk, or simply trying to keep up with the pace of transformation in regulated industries, this conversation is essential reading.
Highlights
Governance & Digital Maturity in Finance
Q: How are evolving IT governance frameworks shaping digital maturity in Southeast Asia’s financial sector?
A: What’s really exciting—and challenging—is how digital transformation in Southeast Asia’s financial sector is redefining governance. The most successful initiatives I’ve seen didn’t thrive because of some shiny new tech. They succeeded because someone figured out how to make governance frameworks dance with innovation rather than trip over it.
I call this “governance jazz”—where cybersecurity experts, risk managers, product leads, and customer experience folks actually sit together and make decisions as one unit. It’s revolutionary because it breaks down silos and embeds governance into the digital product lifecycle—from inception to deployment and operations. That’s a massive shift from treating governance as a compliance checkbox after the fact.
More importantly, real-time risk assessment is now the norm. Quarterly compliance reviews? That’s yesterday’s playbook. Institutions today are operating like agile surfers—balancing innovation and regulation as waves keep crashing.
The institutions leading in digital maturity are the ones where governance isn’t just a department—it’s a philosophy embedded in business strategy. Cross-functional governance committees are becoming standard, with AI, cybersecurity, risk, compliance, and digital experience teams all having a seat at the table.
Overlooked Cyber Risks & Blockchain Realities
Q: From your audits of core banking and fund transfer systems, what critical risks do even mature institutions often overlook?
A: Here’s what really keeps me up at night: even the most “mature” institutions often have massive blind spots, and these aren’t buried deep—they’re hiding in plain sight under “business as usual.”
The biggest culprit? Third-party integration chaos. Picture a well-defended fortress (your core banking system). Now imagine dozens of small side doors—each linked to a fintech partner, payment gateway, or regulatory reporting tool. Every one of those doors may have different security standards, and they’re often overlooked in audits. That’s your expanded attack surface.
Legacy systems are another red flag. Just because something’s been running for 20 years doesn’t make it secure. This “security through obscurity” mindset ignores how modern threat actors operate. Many older systems lack the visibility, real-time logging, or controls to catch advanced threats—or insider risks.
Let’s not forget the human element. With contractors, third-party admins, and internal staff accessing critical infrastructure, privilege escalation through routine admin actions often slips through risk frameworks.
Q: With your work in GTIL’s Blockchain Group, how do you separate real enterprise value from hype in blockchain projects?
A: There’s a lot of noise in blockchain—and not enough due diligence. At Grant Thornton’s Blockchain Working Group, we use frameworks that cut past the hype and focus on real value.
The most impactful projects solve actual business problems: faster transactions, cost savings, better transparency, and regulatory alignment. If it looks good on a slide but doesn’t translate to operational gains, it’s probably more glitter than gold.
We look at scalability, security, integration, and most importantly—the business case. What problem is being solved? Is it sustainable? Does it comply with regulations from the get-go?
Projects that embed compliance from day one always outperform those that try to bolt it on later. And the “think big, start small, scale fast” mindset is crucial here.
Evolving Cyber Leadership & Consulting in Regulated Environments
Q: What’s the next evolution in cybersecurity leadership beyond the traditional CISO role?
A: We’re seeing a fundamental transformation. Traditional CISOs are evolving into strategic leaders who connect security with business outcomes.
New roles like Chief Risk and Resilience Officer go beyond security to include business continuity, operational resilience, and strategic risk. In today’s world, cybersecurity can’t be managed in a vacuum—it impacts the entire enterprise.
The future leader in this space will need to be fluent in business models, strategy, and change management, in addition to having deep security chops. We’re talking about boardroom-ready leaders who bring technical acumen and business foresight in equal measure.
Q: How do you balance agility, compliance, and risk in consulting for highly regulated industries?
A: Think of it like walking a tightrope in a windstorm. Consulting in regulated industries requires balancing speed, compliance, and risk—all at once.
We use risk-informed agility frameworks that build risk and compliance analysis into fast-paced development cycles. It allows clients to move quickly without compromising safety.
Adaptive compliance is key. Don’t just react to regulation—anticipate it. That’s how clients design flexible systems that won’t break when the rules change.
The most effective setups integrate automated compliance checks into agile workflows. They validate in real time—not six months later. And the best consulting partnerships involve collaboration across industry, regulators, and tech providers to stay ahead of what’s coming.
Final Thoughts: Why Goutama Bachtiar’s Vision Matters Now
Goutama Bachtiar offers more than technical insights—he provides a strategic lens on the rapidly evolving intersection of governance, cybersecurity, and digital innovation.
His observations reflect a deep understanding that successful digital transformation isn’t just about adopting new tech—it’s about embedding governance into the DNA of decision-making, recognizing hidden risk in plain sight, and reshaping leadership roles to meet today’s cross-functional challenges.
As Southeast Asia continues to lead global trends in financial innovation, the principles Goutama outlines—collaboration, forward-thinking compliance, real-time risk awareness—will be essential to future-ready institutions. The story of digital maturity is still unfolding, and voices like his are helping shape how it will be written.
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here, or listen to the podcast here.
