India’s fast-growing digital economy is creating an urgent demand for cybersecurity professionals, but companies across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to hire people with the technical expertise required to secure modern systems.
A new study released by the Data Security Council of India and SANS Institute found that businesses are facing a serious shortage of skilled cybersecurity workers as technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and API-driven infrastructure become more deeply integrated into daily operations.
According to the Indian Cyber Security Skilling Landscape Report 2025–26, nearly 73 per cent of enterprises and 68 per cent of service providers said there is a limited supply of qualified cybersecurity professionals in the country. The report suggests that organisations are struggling to build teams capable of handling increasingly advanced cyber risks at a time when companies are rapidly digitising services, storing more information online, and adopting AI-powered tools.
The hiring process itself is also becoming slower. Around 84 per cent of organisations surveyed said cybersecurity positions often remain vacant for one to six months before suitable candidates are found. This delay reflects a growing mismatch between industry expectations and the skills available in the job market.
Researchers noted that many applicants entering the cybersecurity workforce lack practical exposure to real-world security environments. Around 63 per cent of enterprises and 59 per cent of service providers said candidates often do not possess sufficient hands-on technical experience. Employers are no longer only looking for basic security knowledge. Companies increasingly require professionals who understand multiple areas at once, including cloud infrastructure, application security, digital identity systems, and access management technologies. Nearly 58 per cent of enterprises and 60 per cent of providers admitted they are struggling to find candidates with this type of cross-functional expertise.
The report connects this shortage to the changing structure of enterprise technology systems. Many organisations are moving away from traditional on-premise setups and shifting toward cloud-native environments, interconnected APIs, and AI-supported operations. As businesses automate more routine tasks, demand is gradually moving away from entry-level operational positions and toward specialised cybersecurity roles that require analytical thinking, threat detection capabilities, and advanced technical decision-making.
Artificial intelligence is now becoming one of the largest drivers of cybersecurity hiring demand. Around 83 per cent of organisations surveyed described AI and generative AI security skills as essential for future operations, while 78 per cent reported strong demand for AI security engineers. The findings also show that nearly 62 per cent of enterprises are already running active AI or generative AI projects, which experts say can create additional security risks if systems are not properly monitored and protected.
As companies deploy AI systems, the attack surface for cybercriminals also expands. Security teams are now expected to defend AI models, protect sensitive datasets, monitor automated systems for manipulation, and secure APIs connecting multiple digital services. Industry experts have repeatedly warned that many organisations are adopting AI tools faster than they are building security frameworks around them.
Some cybersecurity positions remain especially difficult to fill. The report found that almost half of service providers and nearly 40 per cent of enterprises are struggling to recruit security architects, professionals responsible for designing secure digital infrastructure and long-term defence strategies. Demand is also increasing for specia
[…]
Content was cut in order to protect the source.Please visit the source for the rest of the article.
Read the original article: