A recent study conducted by cloud security firm Zscaler has revealed that despite a high number of cybersecurity failures in Indian organisations over the past year, a large percentage of IT leaders remain confident in their cybersecurity resilience measures. This discrepancy between perception and reality highlights a critical gap in the preparedness for modern cyberattacks, particularly those utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The study showed that 67 per cent of Indian organisations experienced a cybersecurity failure in the last 12 months, yet an astonishing 97 per cent of Indian IT leaders still believe that their current cyber resilience measures are effective. This disconnect raises concerns about the actual level of preparedness for sophisticated cyber threats.
According to the report, while 57 per cent of Indian IT leaders recognize cyber resilience as a top priority for their leadership, this acknowledgment does not necessarily translate into sufficient funding or proactive strategies. This lack of tangible support is exacerbated by the fact that 70 per cent of Indian organisations do not involve Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in resilience planning, leading to a siloed approach that may hinder effective cybersecurity execution.
Jay Chaudhry, CEO, Chairman, and Founder of Zscaler, emphasized the need for proactive resilience in the face of inevitable cyber incidents. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between leadership and IT teams to develop a strong cyber resilience strategy based on Zero Trust principles, especially in preparation for and mitigation of sophisticated AI-driven attacks. This approach, termed ‘Resilient by Design,’ aims to address vulnerabilities before they become critical issues for business continuity.
The study surveyed 1,700 IT decision-makers across 12 markets, including India, in December 2024. To address cybersecurity risks, Zscaler recommended embedding visibility and control into organizations’ security strategies. By leveraging insights from an AI-powered cloud security platform, organizations can better understand failure scenarios and enhance their resilience posture to mitigate the impact of cyber incidents.
In conclusion, the study’s findings underscore the importance of closing the gap between perceived cybersecurity resilience and the actual level of preparedness in Indian organizations. As cyber threats continue to evolve, prioritizing proactive resilience measures and fostering collaboration between leadership and IT teams are crucial steps towards effectively addressing cybersecurity challenges in the digital age.