System Constraints Hamper Cyber Attack Probes, Experts Warn
Cybersecurity experts have revealed that system limitations, including inadequate remote capabilities, are severely impeding investigations into the rising wave of cybercrimes, many originating from unfriendly nations.
Key Takeaways
- India lost ₹22,845 crore to cyberfraud in 2024, a 205.6% surge.
- The average cost of a data breach hit a record ₹22 crore in 2025.
- Over 36 lakh financial fraud cases were reported to CERT-In in 2024.
- Experts call for AI-driven defence and better public awareness.
The warnings were issued at a national conference on cybersecurity, digital forensics, and intelligence at Gauhati University. The experts unanimously advocated for a resilient, Artificial Intelligence-driven defence mechanism to fast-track investigations currently slowed by system constraints and “too many disconnected threads.”
Alarming Financial and Operational Costs
Keshri Kumar Asthana, Microsoft’s head of public sector, presented staggering figures. “India lost ₹22,845 crore to cyberfraud in 2024, a 205.6% surge from the previous year,” he stated. Over 36 lakh financial fraud cases and about 20.5 lakh cybersecurity incidents were reported to CERT-In in 2024.
He highlighted that the average cost of a data breach in India in 2025 is ₹22 crore, the highest on record. “The cost is high as the incidents are being caught late. The attackers are not thinking linearly but in graphs, and the defence too has to think in graphs to stop their graphical thinking,” Asthana explained.
Investigation Backlogs and Privacy Warnings
Shreekrishna Ashutosh of Cellebrite revealed critical operational challenges. 50% of agencies in India report case backlogs, while 60% of investigators still rely on outdated methods. The average time spent reviewing digital evidence per case is a staggering 69 hours.
Sandesh Jadhav, Wipro’s global data privacy officer, issued a stark warning on personal vigilance. “You are being watched continuously,” he said, advising extreme caution on social media and digital platforms.
Experts emphasized that digital evidence is now essential, with 90% of criminal cases involving it and 98% of prosecutors calling it pivotal.
L. Lanuwabang, Director of NEILIT (Assam and Nagaland), stated the conference was part of the ‘Cyber Secure Bharat’ mission, aiming to build a secure foundation for India’s digital future through greater public .
