Indian Businesses Must Prioritize Cybersecurity for Long-Term Survival
Indian Businesses Must Prioritize Cybersecurity to Survive
India’s rapid digitization has transformed cybersecurity from a mere IT concern to a core business imperative. As companies increasingly rely on artificial intelligence, cloud services, and data-driven models, their attack surface expands, making them more vulnerable to cyber threats. Experts warn that firms must integrate security into their core strategy to mitigate risks and ensure business continuity.
Cybersecurity Concerns on the Rise
A recent industry survey revealed that 61% of business leaders consider cybersecurity the most significant factor influencing organizational performance. Moreover, over half of the respondents expressed concern about insider threats, highlighting the need for robust security measures to protect against both internal and external threats.
The Paradox of Artificial Intelligence
The growing adoption of artificial intelligence has created a paradox for businesses. While 59% of executives believe that slow AI adoption hampers efficiency, 54% acknowledge that governance and ethical controls for AI are inadequate. This gap has led to the emergence of “shadow AI” – the unsupervised use of generative AI tools by employees – which can result in data leaks and compliance risks.
India’s Cybersecurity Landscape
India’s digital economy has fueled the demand for threat detection, risk management, compliance tools, and managed security services. The country’s cybersecurity product ecosystem has grown significantly, with over 400 companies generating $4.46 billion in revenue in 2025. India has also improved its global cybersecurity ranking, achieving a Tier-I position in the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index with a score of 98.49.
Threats and Risks
Despite progress, the threat landscape remains intense. Industry reports indicate that over 265 million cyberattacks were recorded in India between October 2024 and September 2025, affecting sectors such as education, healthcare, and manufacturing. Indian organizations face over 2,000 cyberattacks per week, significantly higher than the global average. These attacks increasingly target supply chains, third-party vendors, and cross-border data flows, making a single breach potentially devastating.
Emerging Risks
Ransomware, AI-generated phishing, deepfake-enabled fraud, and credential theft have emerged as major risks. Security experts emphasize that traditional perimeter-based defense is no longer sufficient and recommend adopting Zero-Trust architectures, continuous authentication, and stronger identity and access management systems.
Collective Action Required
Reducing systemic cyber risk requires closer coordination between industry, regulators, and technology providers. Faster threat-intelligence sharing, clearer cyber norms, and stricter enforcement of data-protection standards are essential steps. Preparedness is no longer optional, and analysts stress that resilience will depend on collective action, board-level oversight, and sustained investment in security infrastructure.
Conclusion
For Indian enterprises, cybersecurity is now directly linked to business continuity, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder confidence, making it a critical factor in long-term competitiveness.
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