Business EconomyPosted at: Sep 24 2026 2:29PM


84pc of Indian SMEs plan to increase cybersecurity investments: TTBS-CMR study

Hyderabad, Sep 24 (UNI) As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, 84 per cent of Indian SMEs plan to increase their cybersecurity investments over the next 12-24 months, according to the SME Digital Insights 2026: Cybersecurity study by Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS) and CyberMedia Research (CMR).
The study, based on a survey of 800 IT heads and decision-makers across 150 micro, 350 small and 300 medium enterprises in eight Indian cities, found that cybersecurity is increasingly being viewed as a strategic business priority.
However, the report highlighted a gap between investment intent and cybersecurity preparedness.
About 40 per cent of SMEs experienced a cyber incident in the last two years, but only 28 per cent implemented structural cybersecurity improvements following an incident. Only 12 per cent continuously monitor their cybersecurity environments.
South Indian SMEs showed a focus on sustained investment and governance, with 64 per cent planning to increase their cybersecurity budgets over the coming year and 43 per cent already allocating 6-10 per cent of their IT budgets to cybersecurity.
Another 64 per cent plan to strengthen cybersecurity monitoring over the next year.
Vishal Rally, Chief Revenue Officer, Tata Teleservices, said the findings showed that cybersecurity was becoming central to business resilience, customer trust and sustainable growth.
He said SMEs needed to integrate cybersecurity into their broader digital transformation efforts rather than treat it as a standalone initiative.
The study identified lack of cybersecurity expertise as the biggest challenge for 45 per cent of SMEs in implementing effective security measures.
It also found that 48 per cent of SMEs considered ease of integration and quality customer support important when evaluating cybersecurity partners, while 46 per cent prioritised trust and long-term relationships.
The report said 46 per cent of SMEs allocate less than 5 per cent of their IT budgets to cybersecurity, indicating scope for increased investment in cyber resilience.
It also found that 60 per cent of SMEs responded to cyber incidents through tactical security-tool upgrades, while 35 per cent operated multiple cybersecurity tools with limited visibility into risks.
AI is also emerging as a cybersecurity enabler, with 35 per cent of SMEs recognising its potential for threat detection, automated monitoring and faster incident response.
At the same time, 34 per cent expect AI-powered cyber threats to have a material impact on their businesses over the next 12-24 months.
Prabhu Ram, Vice President, Industry Research Group, CyberMedia Research, said the findings pointed to an inflection point in the cybersecurity journey of Indian SMEs, with investment intent rising while cyber maturity remained uneven.
The study was conducted across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune, covering micro, small and medium enterprises. UNI KNR SAS
Please log in to get detailed story.
Tags: #84pc of Indian SMEs plan to increase cybersecurity investments: TTBS-CMR study
More News

Stock Market Outlook: US-Iran tensions, oil prices, bond yields to drive equities

27 Sep 2026 | 5:35 PM

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Indian stock markets are likely to remain sensitive to developments in the US-Iran conflict, movements in crude oil prices and changes in bond yields during the holiday-shortened trading week.

see more..

Private sector capex seen rising to Rs 3 2 lakh cr in FY27: RBI Bulletin

27 Sep 2026 | 3:11 PM

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Private sector investment is expected to remain strong in the current financial year despite continued uncertainty in the global economy, with capital expenditure projected to rise to around Rs 3.2 lakh crore in FY27 from Rs 2.6 lakh crore in the previous year, according to a report published in the Reserve Bank of India’s September Bulletin.

see more..

Banks open on Sunday ahead of 3-day strike; 5-day banking remains key demand

27 Sep 2026 | 12:37 PM

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Several bank branches are operating on Sunday, September 27, giving customers an additional opportunity to complete essential banking work before a three-day strike scheduled from September 28 to September 30.

see more..

Kolte-Patil records strongest-ever launch with over Rs 600 crore sales in 60 hours

27 Sep 2026 | 12:18 AM

Pune, Sep 26 (UNI) Kolte-Patil Developers Ltd has recorded its strongest-ever project launch, with over 600 apartments booked and sales exceeding Rs 600 crore within 60 hours of launching its ‘Vyana at The Reserve’ project at Vadgaon in Pune.

see more..

AI-powered wearable cardiac monitoring device Kardi Ai launched in India

26 Sep 2026 | 10:13 PM

Hyderabad, Sep 26 (UNI) Czech HealthTech company Kardi Ai on Saturday launched its AI-powered wearable ECG technology in India, offering a long-term cardiac monitoring system designed to help physicians identify intermittent heart rhythm abnormalities that may go undetected during conventional ECG tests.

see more..