Sophos:
“With the recent introduction of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act rules, India has made significant strides in establishing a strong foundation for data protection and privacy. Ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26, we look forward to measures that will further strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity framework.
As the nation increases its investments in digital transformation and integration of artificial intelligence, it increases the need for proactive cybersecurity measures. Data breaches have taken over the news in the past year as critical sectors have been targeted. Adding to the threat of exploited vulnerabilities such as malicious links or confidential data being leaked, enterprises and employees alike have had to reconsider whether what meets the eye is the truth due to highly advanced deepfakes.
Investments in cutting-edge threat detection, incentivising secure digital practices, and fostering innovation in cyber resilience could greatly complement the country’s digital transformation journey. Additionally, as enterprises take on digital transformation or AI adoption, the focus on cybersecurity may fall by the wayside as there is a gap between supply and demand of skilled cybersecurity resources. Mitigating this issue requires investments in cybersecurity courses in educational institutes as well as continuous skilling opportunities for those already working. This will ensure that enterprises remains abreast with knowledge about all possible risks as well as the solutions.
With advancements in proactive cybersecurity, India can reinforce trust in its digital economy while ensuring sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving cyber landscape.”
Sunil Sharma, Vice President – Sales, Sophos India & SAARC
Magellanic Cloud:
“In an era of rapid Gen AI, and cloud computing, we expect the government’s upcoming budget to prioritize policies that foster innovation and address the evolving needs of the tech sector. This includes continued support for R&D in cutting-edge technologies, initiatives to bridge the digital divide and enhance digital literacy, and a focus on developing a robust infrastructure to safeguard our digital assets. We believe these measures will be crucial for India to maintain its competitive edge in the global technology landscape.”
Joseph Sudheer Thumma, Global Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Magellanic Cloud
Happiest Minds:
“As we approach the Union Budget 2025, we hope for policy measures that accelerate India’s journey towards becoming a global digital innovation hub. All action taken to strengthen our domestic economy, more money into Capex, reduction of taxes on the individual tax payer thus putting money into his hands and eventually driving consumption, simplification of tax procedures, both direct and indirect, and reduction in the compliance burden would really put us back on the path of continued growth.
Additionally, incentives and steps to strengthen our digital infrastructure, reskilling programs will not only prepare the workforce for the future but also ensure equitable growth. A budget that fosters an environment of mindful growth and global competitiveness will significantly contribute to India’s leadership in the digital economy.”
Venkatraman Narayanan, Managing Director & CFO, Happiest Minds
NetApp:
“As India moves closer to becoming a global technology hub, the upcoming Union Budget presents a unique opportunity to accelerate our digital transformation journey. To fully harness the potential of AI and emerging technologies, the government should prioritize investments in building intelligent data infrastructure. Robust and scalable data solutions will serve as the backbone for AI readiness. It will enable businesses to leverage data efficiently and securely while driving innovation. Incentives for cloud adoption, data localization frameworks, and public-private partnerships in technology can further bolster India’s digital economy. A future-ready data ecosystem is essential for fostering economic growth, job creation, and global competitiveness in the age of AI.”
Puneet Gupta, VP and MD, NetApp India/SAARC
Vertiv:
“The adoption of technologies like artificial intelligence (Al), cloud computing, and 5G, as well as exponential data consumption, are driving India’s booming digital economy. The industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.07% to reach $10.09 billion by 2027.
India has established itself as a desirable worldwide hub for data center development thanks to its extensive linked power system, investments in renewable energy, and smart digital efforts. India’s skills perfectly complement the global emphasis on dependable and sustainable data solutions. We anticipate measures supporting the rise of data centers as the Union Budget draws near, such as incentives for integrating green energy, simplified regulations for expanding infrastructure as well as initiatives to improve connectivity in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, generating employment opportunities. Additionally, targeted policies could streamline processes for data centre vendors, enabling them to invest in advanced technologies and infrastructure. By this, India will be able to handle the growing needs for data both domestically and internationally and positioned to spearhead the global data revolution by meeting the vital demands of this industry, solidifying its standing as a digital powerhouse and potential location for investments in top-notch data infrastructure”.
Shrirang Deshpande, Strategic Program Head, Vertiv India
Kaspersky
“The Government of India has made great strides, over the years, in fortifying its cybersecurity posture and in protecting the citizens of the country from various forms of cyber threats. Initiatives like the establishment of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal have laid the foundation for a unified and strategic approach to addressing digital threats comprehensively.
We look forward to seeing more concrete steps to boost India’s cyber resilience in response to the country’s ever-shifting threat landscape. For instance, our latest report shows that Indian users remain targets of web-borne threats. Social engineering and malware continue to be the most popular form, with over 17% of Indian users facing this during the last three months of 2024. Overall, Kaspersky detected and stopped over 10 million internet-borne threats from October to December last year.
Challenges like the cybersecurity skills gap, increased attacks on critical infrastructure, and damaging ransomware incidents, indicate it is imperative to prioritize cybersecurity spending. With digital transformation playing a crucial role in the countries’ economic growth and resilience, we are confident that we will see projects and initiatives that will further strengthen our defences against malicious actors online. At Kaspersky, we remain committed to collaborating with both public and private organizations to foster knowledge-sharing and strengthen cyber capabilities, ensuring greater resilience against emerging cyber threats and safeguarding vital digital infrastructures.
Jaydeep Singh, General Manager India Region,Kaspersky
Fortune Marketing
Mr. Manoj Gupta, Managing Director of Fortune Marketing
Mr. Manoj Gupta, Managing Director of Fortune Marketing, is optimistic about the upcoming budget and its potential to boost the manufacturing sector, particularly in security, fiber, telecom, and networking products. He anticipates policies that support infrastructure development, enhance ease of doing business, and provide incentives for local manufacturers to scale operations. Mr. Gupta believes that a strong push for “Make in India” initiatives and increased focus on self-reliance in technology-driven industries will create significant opportunities for manufacturers, enabling them to contribute to India’s economic growth and global competitiveness.