India is experiencing a growing cybersecurity skills shortage as rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure dramatically increases demand for specialized security professionals. According to a new report by the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and the SANS Institute, 73% of enterprises and 68% of service providers say they are struggling to find qualified cybersecurity talent. The report highlights a widening gap between industry requirements and workforce readiness as businesses rapidly modernize their technology environments.
One of the biggest problems identified is the lack of practical, hands-on expertise among job applicants. Around 63% of enterprises and 59% of providers reported that candidates often lack real-world operational skills, while many organizations also struggle to hire professionals with cross-domain expertise in cloud systems, identity management, applications, and AI security. The study found that most companies now take one to six months to fill cybersecurity roles, underscoring how severe the hiring bottleneck has become.
Artificial intelligence itself is becoming a major driver of cybersecurity hiring demand. The report states that 83% of organizations now consider AI and generative AI security skills critical, while 78% report strong demand for AI security engineers. At the same time, Indian firms are expanding AI-powered operations, cloud-native systems, and API-driven architectures, significantly increasing their attack surfaces. CERT-In has also warned that AI-driven cyberattacks are becoming more automated and sophisticated, especially targeting MSMEs with weaker security infrastructure.
The broader concern is that India’s workforce development system may not be evolving fast enough to match technological transformation. Multiple reports now show severe shortages in AI, cybersecurity, and digital skills across industries, with employers increasingly prioritizing continuous upskilling over traditional hiring methods. Experts warn that unless India rapidly strengthens training, industry-academia collaboration, and advanced technical education, the country could face a serious mismatch between its ambitions in AI-driven growth and the availability of qualified talent needed to secure that ecosystem.
