The rapid escalation of cyber threats against individuals, businesses and governments is creating an urgent need for skilled cyber security professionals, even as attacks become increasingly sophisticated and financially damaging.
Speaking at the second edition of the Kerala Cyber Suraksha Summit (KCSS) in Kochi, DGP Manoj Abraham said cyber attacks could now cripple nations and organisations, disrupt critical infrastructure and even affect military operations without a single shot being fired.
“There is a 389 per cent rise in ransomware victims worldwide year-on-year, while reported financial losses from cyber fraud in India stood at ₹19,813 crore in 2025 alone,” he said.
Abraham said the world needs more cyber security professionals to counter the growing threat. There are currently 4.8 million unfilled cyber security positions globally, he said, adding that Keralam is well placed to bridge part of this talent gap because of its strong pool of skilled professionals.
F9 Infotech founder Jayakumar Mohanachandran said cyber security can no longer be treated as an issue confined to corporate boardrooms or technology conferences.
“In the last three years, more than ₹56,000 crore has been reported in cyberfraud complaints across India. At the same time, India’s cyber-fraud response systems have helped save more than ₹11,000 crore across 32 lakh complaints,” he said.
The focus, he added, should shift from merely preventing the next cyberattack to building a digital ecosystem that people can trust.
Inaugurating the summit, Hibi Eden, MP, welcomed F9 Infotech’s initiative to provide cyber security training, awareness programmes and certification free of cost to government educational institutions across the state.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening cyber security awareness and developing a larger pool of trained professionals to tackle the growing threat landscape.
The summit was organised by F9 Infotech in collaboration with the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), with support from the Data Security Council of India, TiE Kerala and the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Air commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, KSIDC chairman C Balagopal, Digital University Kerala vice-chancellor Saji Gopinath, Data Security Council of India CEO Vinayak Godse, and F9 Infotech senior leaders Rajesh Radhakrishnan and Rajesh Vikraman attended the summit.