Assam: Experts sound alarm on cyber crisis, seek AI-driven defense and investigation overhaul
Guwahati: Cybersecurity experts, citing a massive surge in attacks often originating from "non-friendly countries," on Tuesday issued an urgent call for India to adopt resilient, AI-driven defense mechanisms and investigation processes.
The demand came during a national conference organized by National Institute of Electronics, Information & Technology (NIELIT) at Gauhati University highlighting how outdated methods and systemic constraints are failing to keep pace with sophisticated cyber threats.
The gravity of the crisis was underscored by Keshri Kumar Asthana, Microsoft's Head of Public Sector, who presented alarming figures:
India lost Rs 2,845 crore to cyber fraud in 2024, marking a staggering 205.6 per cent surge from the previous year. Over 36 lakh financial fraud cases were reported in 2024.
The national nodal agency, CERT-In, received reports of around 20.5 lakh cybersecurity incidents in 2024, up from 15.9 lakh in 2023.
Asthana also noted that the average cost of a data breach in India is projected to reach an all-time high of Rs 22 crore in 2025, primarily driven by security and governance gaps.
"The attackers are not thinking linearly but in graphs, and the defense too has to think on graphs to stop their graphical thinking," he stressed, advocating for advanced, non-linear defense strategies.
Experts converged at the conference, organized by the National Institute of Electronics, Information & Technology (NIELIT) at Gauhati University, to discuss the obstacles hampering effective cyber investigations. Key concerns raised included:
Systemic issues like IT and system constraints, limited remote capabilities, and "too many disconnected threads" are stalling investigations. Shreekrishna Ashutosh of Cellebrite revealed that 60 per cent of investigators still rely on outdated methods, leading to case backlogs reported by 50 per cent of agencies.
Investigators currently spend an average of 69 hours per case reviewing digital evidence.
Asthana emphatically stated that digital evidence is now essential, not optional, noting that 90 per cent of criminal cases include digital evidence, which 98 per cent of prosecutors deem pivotal.
The solution, he and other experts argued, lies in the rapid adoption of proper AI tools and comprehensive skilling of users and investigators.
Amidst the technical discussions, a strong emphasis was placed on citizen awareness. Sandesh Jadhav, Global Data Privacy Officer of Wipro, issued a stark warning to the public regarding digital platform use: "You are being watched continuously," urging greater caution on social media and other platforms.
The two-day conference, held under the theme “Cyber Secure Bharat: Fortifying India’s Digital Future,” was inaugurated by prominent officials including L. Lanuwabang, Director, NIELIT Assam & Nagaland, and key figures from the Assam Police, Gauhati University, and the Assam government's IT department.
L. Lanuwabang, who served as the Conference Chair, highlighted the event’s purpose: to expand cybersecurity outreach across the North-East and push for advanced cyber training, better digital forensic infrastructure, and multi-agency collaboration.
He concluded by framing the collective effort: "Cyber Secure Bharat is not merely a theme; it is a national mission.
A secure India is the foundation of a strong digital future." The conference is set to continue with technical sessions addressing emerging threats and digital investigation methodologies.