Cybersecurity Threats Originating from India-Based Servers on the Rise
Introduction
According to a report by Kaspersky, a leading global cybersecurity and digital privacy firm, there has been a significant increase in threat sources originating from servers hosted in India. The data processed by Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) shows a 54% rise in incidents caused by servers hosted in India in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The Rise of Threats from India-Based Servers
In 2024, 7,157,431 incidents were caused by servers hosted in India, compared to 4,637,504 incidents in 2023. This puts India in 17th place in 2024, three places up from 20th place last year. KSN is a complex-distributed infrastructure dedicated to processing cybersecurity-related data streams from millions of voluntary participants worldwide. The data is collected from Kaspersky customers who have installed the company’s cybersecurity software on their computers and voluntarily shared information with the firm.
The Importance of Server Security
Data servers host a wealth of information and provide organizations with resources, data, services, or programs over a network. However, servers can be compromised if proper safety measures are not in place. Once compromised, cybercriminals can use the server to execute attacks against the organization or use it as a launchpad for external attacks.
The Indian Scenario
A majority of businesses in India have adopted new technologies and business models that rely heavily on cloud computing or have engagement with tech vendors or third-party service providers that have high reliance on data servers. While this interconnectivity and reliance on centralized servers present a collective weakness, India has been taking extensive measures to protect its critical infrastructure and fortify it for its evolving digital age.
Recent Incidents
In 2024, two major telecom companies in India faced malicious intrusion and data breaches, where critical data was stolen. This puts the subscribers of these companies in danger of phishing attacks while endangering the companies’ business. During this period, it was also seen that cybercrooks used data servers hosted in India to attack critical infrastructure, especially the BFSI and healthcare sectors, along with large data centers within the country.
Expert Opinion
According to Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, "The rise of threats we’ve detected that originated from servers in the country is a by-product of India’s rapidly booming data center industry. The value of this market is expected to reach US$11.6 billion by 2032, so along with regulatory policy, public and private organizations need to continue to be collaborative and prudent in managing their resources to build up cyber resiliency to fortify their businesses against complex and intensive cyberattacks."
Decrease in Malware Incidents
Kaspersky’s latest KSN report also showed that malware incidents through offline methods have decreased in the period January-December 2024 in India. Last year, Kaspersky products foiled 57,497,879 local threats on computers KSN participants in India. In 2023, 74,385,324 local threats were detected and blocked by the global cybersecurity company.
Recommendations to Avoid Targeted Attacks
To avoid falling victim to targeted attacks, Kaspersky recommends the following:
- Use all-encompassing solutions from the Kaspersky Next product line that provide real-time protection, threat visibility, advanced investigation, and response capabilities for companies of any size and industry.
- Provide InfoSec professionals with in-depth visibility into cyber threats targeting the organization.
- Upskill the cybersecurity team to tackle the latest targeted threats with Kaspersky online training developed by GReAT experts.
- Implement a corporate-grade security solution that detects advanced threats at the network level at an early stage.
- Use centralized and automated solutions to enable comprehensive protection of all assets.
- Introduce security awareness training and teach practical skills to the team.
- Update OS and software as soon as possible and do so regularly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rise of cybersecurity threats originating from India-based servers is a significant concern. It is essential for organizations to take proactive measures to protect their critical infrastructure and build cyber resiliency to fortify their businesses against complex and intensive cyberattacks.
Published On Mar 20, 2025 at 09:16 AM IST
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