Kerala's Cybersecurity Crisis: Ransomware Victims Surge 389% Amid Skills Gap

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Senior IPS officer Manoj Abraham highlighted the urgent need for expanding Kerala’s cybersecurity workforce during a discussion on digital threat mitigation.

Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Urged

Senior IPS officer Manoj Abraham highlighted the urgent need for expanding Kerala’s cybersecurity workforce during a discussion on digital threat mitigation. The statement comes as global ransomware incidents surged by 389% year-on-year, with India reporting ₹19,813 crore in cyber fraud losses in 2025 alone.

Global Ransomware Surge

Abraham, a 1994-batch DGP-rank officer and director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, emphasized that cyberattacks pose significant risks to critical infrastructure and institutions without requiring conventional force.

Cybersecurity Skills Gap

The cybersecurity skills shortage remains a pressing challenge, with 4.8 million unfilled roles globally. Abraham stressed that addressing this gap requires cultivating a larger defense force capable of countering evolving threats.

Kerala’s Strategic Advantage

Kerala’s existing technology talent pool was identified as a strategic advantage in tackling the crisis. Cyber fraud complaints in India exceeded ₹56,000 crore over three years, according to Abraham.

Cyber Response Mechanisms

During the same period, cyber response mechanisms prevented ₹11,000 crore in potential losses across 3.2 million reported cases.

Shifting Focus to Secure Ecosystem

The discussion underscored the necessity of shifting focus from reactive measures to building a secure digital ecosystem.

Kerala Cyber Suraksha Initiative

The Kerala Cyber Suraksha initiative featured sessions on AI-driven enterprise security, national cyber resilience strategies, and emerging threats. Live cyberattack simulations were conducted to evaluate preparedness.

Key Participants

Key participants included Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, KSIDC chairman C Balagopal, Digital University Kerala Vice-Chancellor Saji Gopinath, Data Security Council of India CEO Vinayak Godse, and F9 Infotech representatives.

F9 Infotech’s founder, Jayakumar Mohanachandran, praised the organization’s efforts to provide free cybersecurity training and certification programs for government educational institutions.

Expanding Cybersecurity Initiatives

He advocated for expanding cybersecurity initiatives beyond corporate environments to foster broader digital trust. The event also addressed the importance of integrating advanced technologies into law enforcement and public safety frameworks.

Digital Forensics and Solutions

Discussions focused on digital forensics, fraud risk management, and technology-driven solutions for crime prevention.

Second Edition Proposals

The second edition of the Kerala Cyber Suraksha program included a proposal for cyber crisis drills, tabletop exercises, and CCMP readiness assessments to enhance preparedness. The initiative aims to create a structured approach for responding to large-scale cyber incidents.