India's Data Breach Costs Skyrocket as AI-Generated Threats Rise

The average cost of a data breach in India has reached a record high of Rs 25.5 crore in 2026, according to an IBM report.

This marks a significant increase of 15.9% from the previous year's average of Rs 22 crore and highlights the growing sophistication of cyber threats.

The report also noted that nearly 39,500 records were compromised per incident in 2026, compared to 38,200 records in 2025.

Gaurav Agarwal, Vice President of Technology at IBM India & South Asia, emphasized the need for organizations to adopt AI and strong governance to fend off cyberattacks. He noted that only 32% of Indian organizations have extensively deployed AI and security automation, while 36% reported limited adoption.