In a rapidly digitalising landscape, Indian businesses are being urged to align their cybersecurity budgets with their growth objectives to ensure sustainable expansion. Adrian Hia, Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region at Kaspersky, emphasised the critical importance of this alignment in light of increasing digitisation and the associated risks.

“The emergence of new-age technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI), is vital for companies to boost their businesses,” Hia stated. “In order to grow businesses, you need to digitise. If you don’t digitise, you are not going to have that business growth value.” However, Hia cautioned that as businesses digitise, they inevitably increase their attack surface, making them more vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks. With India witnessing a significant rise in such attacks, it has become imperative for companies to not only focus on digital transformation but also to fortify their cybersecurity frameworks.

Data from SonicWall’s recent report reveals a concerning 11% increase in malware attacks in India, with figures climbing from 12,13,528 in 2023 to 13,44,566 in 2024. Moreover, Kaspersky has noted that one-third of all cyber incidents reported in the country last year were attributed to ransomware, with brute force and targeted attacks becoming more prevalent.

“The cause for these escalating attacks lies in the vast amount of data exposed online,” Hia explained. “With the proliferation of smartphones—nearly 3 billion in India alone—the attack surface has expanded exponentially.” Despite the heightened risks, businesses are compelled to adopt new-age technologies to stay competitive. Hia described artificial intelligence as a “double-edged sword,” noting that while AI and similar technologies can drive profitability, they also present significant risks in terms of data exposure.

As the Indian government continues to make strides in cybersecurity, businesses are being urged to match their growth aspirations with increased cybersecurity investments. Hia suggested that if a company aims to grow by 20%, it should also increase its cybersecurity budget by the same margin to safeguard against potential threats.