Kaspersky is significantly increasing its investment and presence in India, recognizing the country's crucial role as a strategic growth market driven by rapid digitalization and escalating cybersecurity demands. The cybersecurity firm aims to strengthen its local teams and foster collaborations across various sectors to enhance cyber resilience.

Jaydeep Singh, General Manager for the India region at Kaspersky, stated that the company has tripled its workforce in India over the past two years, with new hires across sales, pre-sales, and support functions. Kaspersky's commitment extends to research and development, with global research teams based in India actively monitoring over 900 advanced persistent threat (APT) groups daily. This expansion includes investments in digital footprint intelligence (DFI) analysts to improve services such as brand monitoring and takedown operations.

Kaspersky views India as a pivotal innovation hub and plans to continue expanding its resources and research capabilities within the country. The company is dedicated to developing local talent and actively engaging with government agencies and private sector entities to boost cybersecurity awareness and infrastructure. Collaborations with state governments and nodal agencies like CERT-In are underway to develop cyber defense programs and training initiatives.

Singh also commended the Indian regulatory environment, noting the pragmatic nature of acts like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) and the robust guidelines from agencies such as the RBI and SEBI. Kaspersky anticipates further developments in AI regulation and has expressed its willingness to collaborate with policymakers and provide relevant input.

With the growing number of internet users in India, there's a rapidly increasing need for robust cyber technologies, particularly to safeguard internet-facing assets, mobile handsets, and operational technology (OT) systems. Kaspersky detects over 450,000 unique malware samples daily, leveraging AI and machine learning in its research and mitigation strategies. Singh emphasized the importance of creating a "cyber immune world" where systems are highly resistant to breaches, especially in both IT and OT environments.

Kaspersky has nearly tripled its commitment to India in the last two years, aiming for India to be an innovation hub and a center for collaboration with various agencies. The company sees significant potential over the next decade to contribute to India's growth story and enhance cyber resilience within the Indian market. The Russian firm reported double-digit growth in India in 2024, underscoring its increasing importance in the region.