By Sundar Balasubramanian, Managing Director, India & South Asia, Check Point Software Technologies
India is undergoing an unprecedented digital transformation. With rapid adoption of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital payment systems, the country’s digital economy is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2027-28. While this growth presents immense opportunities, it also exposes India to greater cyber risks, making robust cyber security measures more critical than ever.
According to Statistica, India has the second-most internet users in the world, despite large segments of the population who still lack access – meaning it’s not even close to reaching its full potential. This climate of rapidly expanding access means exciting new opportunities for organizations and individuals alike. Unfortunately, this is also applicable to threat actors, and they’re taking advantage.
According to Check Point Software’s latest Threat Intelligence Report,, during the last 6 months, an organization in India experienced, on average, 3,247 cyberattacks per week, nearly double the global average of 1,981, with education (7,548 attacks), government (4,809), and construction & engineering (3,872) being the most targeted sectors. In this context, cyber security is essential not only for the growth of connected industries, but for the functioning of essential, everyday life.
India has an opportunity to transform cyber security from a weakness attackers exploit into an engine that accelerates growth. The first step is to reframe the way we think about security. Instead of a reactive posture, companies need to take a prevention-first approach. We should focus on two key areas to achieve this: consolidation of their security solutions and strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Consolidation
Rapid growth can lead to sprawling networks. As organizations expand, multiple tools often get added over time without proper integration. This creates a tangled web of independent solutions with limited or no interoperability. Blind spots are common in this scenario and the lack of visibility keeps security teams locked in react-mode, leaving no time to build a proactive security posture. It’s a cycle of firefighting that leaves organizations all the more vulnerable to an attack.
Consolidation reduces these blind spots. Working from a unified pane of glass means teams can be confident in their threat coverage and their ability to address security events efficiently. Indian companies have outgrown the piecemeal approach – and those who don’t have a consolidated security strategy leave themselves vulnerable. Those that do embrace consolidation will emerge as leaders who turn cyber security into an advantage for themselves, rather than the attackers.
Artificial Intelligence
Consolidation is only part of the story. AI is essential to prevention-first security as well. The scale of the modern threat environment necessitates the use of AI as a force multiplier.
Cyber security for AI – powered attacks will be necessary as according to a 2025 survey, 72% of Indian organisations reported being targeted by AI-powered cyberattacks in the past year. Only 14% felt truly prepared to deal with these threats, and over 36% admitted that threats are outpacing their ability to detect them.
AI-driven security can identify and categorize threats and apply corresponding policy changes throughout a network, all automatically. It can accelerate the entire threat lifecycle and reduce approval chains from hours to seconds.
Because it has the capacity to adapt over time, AI serves as the basis for constant improvement and adjustment in an environment that constantly evolves. Properly implemented, it can amplify the power of cyber security exponentially.
AI is especially important when it comes to phishing. More than zero days or any other kind of technical vulnerability, users remain the most significant attack vector for any network. Human security teams cannot review each and every email that comes through to check for malicious intent. AI, on the other hand, can analyze each user’s complete email history and quickly identify new threats before they ever reach the inbox. This kind of protection needs to be the baseline for organizations across sectors. The average cost of a data breach in 2024 was nearly $5 million – a 10% increase over 2023 whilst India’s average cost of a data breach has surged to ₹22 crore according to a 2025 report by IBM, rising 13% from the previous year.. By restricting hackers’ most profitable attack vector, organizations unlock tremendous value for themselves. Cumulatively, the impact is even greater.
Leaders across sectors should undertake security as a priority as new users join their networks every day. AI-driven security protects users and companies themselves in the moment, of course, but equally important, it protects their growth and potential. This kind of protection is especially important to build in India because of the volume of attacks it experiences. AI is the foundation for strong cyber security now and into the future.
Cyber security as a catalyst for growth
India is already a leader in economic growth and internet connectivity and it hasn’t even tapped its full potential. It can be a leader in cyber security too. In fact, cyber security can be a driver for faster, more reliable growth. Establishing “secure by design” as a fundamental part of digital transformation has an impact beyond industry – it can improve people’s daily lives.
With prevention-first, AI-driven security, hospitals, among the most-targeted institutions in the country, would be better able to serve patients without delays. Energy providers would be better able to provide more consistent service. Financial institutions could deliver more regular and reliable access for individuals and businesses.
By adopting prevention-first strategies, leveraging AI, and championing policy and talent development, India can convert its greatest cyber threats into its greatest strategic strengths—and unlock its next era of growth.