Nearly all Indian organizations faced significant cyber disruptions over the last 12 months, with internal friction and fragmented team operations causing greater hurdles to security than technology itself, according to Cisco’s new cybersecurity study.
- 96% of Indian organizations hit by cyber incidents in past year
- Internal silos and fragmented teams slow security response
- AI enhances threat detection but adoption is cautious
What happened
Cisco’s 'Relentless Defense Report' surveyed 1,000 security professionals in India and found that 96% of Indian organizations experienced material cyber incidents within the last year. Over a third of these attacks involved AI-enhanced methods, underlining the evolving threat landscape. Despite increasing security investment, only 8% of Indian firms scored among the top performers globally for comprehensive protection and rapid threat remediation.
The report highlights that fragmented internal operations impede cyber defenses more than sheer technological limitations. Only 40% of respondents said their security, IT, and networking teams operate as a unified entity with shared tools and visibility. Significant communication gaps with leadership and difficulties translating technical metrics into business insights further exacerbate response inefficiencies.
Why it matters
The findings underscore that organizational and operational challenges pose a critical risk to cyber resilience in India. Disconnected teams and siloed data prevent a cohesive security posture, increasing response delays and missed threat detection opportunities. This internal friction can nullify the benefits of technological investments and advanced detection capabilities.
Furthermore, data constraints slow security workflows, with 44% of respondents spending more time gathering and correlating data than actively countering threats. These inefficiencies elevate the risk of significant business disruptions, making coordinated internal alignment essential. The cautious adoption of AI security agents, due to concerns over data security and governance, reveals a trust gap that businesses must address to fully leverage AI’s promise.
What to watch next
Indian firms and cybersecurity stakeholders will need to prioritize breaking down internal silos by fostering integrated team operations and improving executive communication on security performance. Efforts to align security metrics with business impact are essential to enable faster, more informed decisions in high-risk scenarios.
Simultaneously, organizations are expected to cautiously expand AI deployment in security as trust frameworks mature and governance improves. Progress in these areas could elevate more Indian companies into the top-tier defenders category, reducing incident frequency and operational burdens. Industry observers should monitor investments targeting unified security ecosystems and AI trust-building initiatives.