Indian Firms Struggle with Widespread Cyber Incidents, AI-Enhanced Attacks

Cybersecurity risks are widespread in Indian organisations, with 96% experiencing at least one material, business-disrupting cyber incident over the past year. This is according to a report by Cisco, which found that organisational friction, such as approval delays and fragmented data, is creating challenges for strengthening cyber defences.

The study involved a double-blind survey of 8,000 security professionals across 30 markets, including 1,000 respondents from India. Indian organisations recorded an average cybersecurity performance score of 66 out of 100, slightly above the global average of 64.

A significant concern is the use of artificial intelligence in cyber attacks, with more than one-third of incidents involving AI-enhanced attacks. However, the report also found that AI can be beneficial for security operations, with nine in ten Indian security professionals reporting at least a 25% improvement in detection and response efficiency through AI.