Driving Hybrid Event Success: 360° Marketing And Tech Integration For CT Cyber Charcha

Introduction:

Hybrid events have become the future of business engagement. However, achieving a truly seamless integration of physical and virtual experiences remains a complex endeavor. Channel Technologies rose to this challenge with the inaugural edition of CT Cyber Charcha by implementing a comprehensive 360° marketing strategy and leveraging advanced hybrid event technologies. Read the case study to see how this strategic approach set a new benchmark for hybrid event success.

CT Cyber Charcha: Background

With over 25 years of experience working closely with IT clients, Channel Technologies recognized the need for a neutral, brand-agnostic platform to explore the most pressing IT topics shaping the future. This led to the creation of CT Cyber Charcha.

For its inaugural edition, the spotlight was placed on cybersecurity—a domain that has grown increasingly important because of the rising threats and tightening regulatory frameworks. This session took place in February 2025 at IIT Delhi, and was delivered in a hybrid format.

Challenges In Organizing A Hybrid Cybersecurity Event

• Standing Out In A Crowded Cybersecurity Event Landscape

Cybersecurity is a hot topic, and numerous conferences happen around this domain each year. The initial efforts were to be directed in differentiating CT Cyber Charcha Cybersecurity Conference amidst this noise and capturing the attention of decision-makers.

• Attracting A Very Specific Set Of Audience

Unlike broad-based events, CT Cyber Charcha aimed to attract decision-makers (CISOs, CIOs, IT Heads) from mid-sized Indian companies with revenues between INR 100 to 2500 Cr.

• Securing High-profile Speakers For An Extensive Agenda

In a world of brief webinars, attracting senior cybersecurity leaders for a long day of keynotes and panels was no small task—especially for an event not previously known in the cybersecurity domain.

• Seamlessly Integrating Physical And Virtual Experiences

Hybrid events often face the issue of balancing the in-person and virtual experiences, where one can feel more engaged than the other. To achieve hybrid event success, we had to take a multi-pronged approach to ensure both audiences felt equally connected and valued.

Solution: 360° Marketing, Partnerships, and Technology

• Focus On Mid-Market Needs

The primary reason why CT Cyber Charcha gained traction was because it was focused on mid-market, a group often underserved at larger global conferences. Each topic was handpicked to address what really matters to Indian mid-market companies, from AI/ML integration to the regulatory impact of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA). There were no sales pitches, just actionable insights.

• More Than Presentations: Exclusive Survey Insights

An exclusive cybersecurity survey was developed and released at the event. The survey report had data and insights directly from CISOs, CIOs, and IT decision-makers across mid-market companies, unveiling the state of cybersecurity in Indian organizations.

• Multi-Channel, Personalized Outreach

CT leveraged its in-house, did direct calling, WhatsApp campaigns, email marketing, and social media ads to invite the right participants. This comprehensive outreach strategy ensured to bring in exactly the kind of audience the event was designed for.

• Strategic Partnerships

Team CT drew on its long-standing industry relationships and formed strategic partnerships with IIT Delhi and ISACA. These affiliations added credibility and positioned the event as a serious platform for thought leadership.

• Thought Leadership

To secure industry leaders as speakers and panelists, the value proposition was clearly highlighted: the opportunity to engage with a ‘highly curated audience’ in ‘a prestigious academic setting’, along with ‘targeted visibility.’

• Technology Implementation For Hybrid Format

Zoom was used for the virtual delivery of the event, through which the virtual participants could see and hear whatever was happening at the venue. Moreover, there was a dedicated team to manage the online interactions.

For engagement, Slido was used to synchronize Q&A, live polling, and feedback in real time—allowing inputs from online and offline attendees.

In the venue, large screens and high-quality audio-visual equipment were utilized to display virtual participants and Slido interactions. This ensured that in-person attendees could also see remote contributions, creating a unified event atmosphere.

• Exhibitor Showcase: Bridging Physical & Virtual Experiences

The event hosted key offerings from leading cybersecurity vendors through exhibition stalls. Onsite attendees could explore these in person, while virtual participants accessed the exhibits via live streaming. They could also interact and ask questions in real time.

• Gamified Quiz Engagement

Separate quiz sessions were organized for in-person and online audiences. Onsite participants took part at a dedicated quiz booth, where answers were tracked in real time using Slido, allowing instant identification of winners for on-the-spot rewards.

Meanwhile, online attendees joined a parallel quiz on their own devices, also powered by Slido. Winners were displayed in real time.

Results and Achievements

• About 80 attendees from cross-industry organizations joined the in-person event at IIT Delhi, while another 150+ participated online from across India.
• Executives from leading organizations participated: Some of them were Tata Communications, KPMG, PWC, Adobe, Corning, Mother Dairy, Publicis Resources, HCL Tech, Aditya Birla, Jindal Stainless, Tech Mahindra, Glenmark Pharma, Adani Group, Kyndryl, and Wipro.
• The event was highly appreciated for its technology integration.
• The speaker lineup had 25 experts including:

1. Mandar Kulkarni, National Security Officer, Microsoft
2. Yusuf Hashmi, Group CISO, Jubilant Bhartia Group
3. Sandeep Khanna, CISO, UIDAI
4. Academic leaders from IIT Delhi
5. Senior leaders from EY, KPMG, Paytm, Grant Thornton, and more.

Speaker and Attendee Testimonials

Speakers:

“Thanks for organizing such a wonderful event. The level of speakers was really good. It was good gathering” – Mr. Ajay Sharma, Techno Legal Advisor, CorpoTech Legal

“It was a really good event, well organized. I appreciate you inviting me for the same.” – Mr. Mandar Kulkarni, National Security Officer, Microsoft

“Thanks to all for the fantastic execution, looking forward to have further collaboration.” – Mr. Harshpal Bhati, Sales Engineer, Cato Networks

Attendees:

 “I learned a lot about, about the technology and, it’s emerging weekends.”

“I found it, very useful, especially with the networking with everybody, who has, joined CT Cyber Charcha. I think it’s a fantastic platform. I would love to attend it again.”

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from CT Cyber Charcha’s Hybrid Event Success

CT Cyber Charcha’s success story demonstrates the power of 360° hybrid event marketing strategies combined with thoughtful content, strategic partnerships, and cutting-edge technology. By prioritizing audience experience and engagement across channels, Channel Technologies set a new gold standard for hybrid cybersecurity events.

Explore CT Cyber Charcha’s Keynotes and Survey Insights.