By Diwakar Dayal, Managing Director & Area Vice President – India & SAARC at SentinelOne
Cybercrime is no longer a distant threat confined to boardrooms and IT departments—it’s a tangible and growing menace with relatively few coordinated efforts to expose its actors.
With India rapidly advancing as a digital economy, the risks and vulnerabilities associated with cyber threats are surging at an unprecedented pace. The reality remains that as more Indians rely on online platforms for banking, communication, and everyday transactions, cybercriminals have found new opportunities to exploit. In response, the Indian government has launched a range of initiatives to bolster its defence mechanisms, with a clear emphasis on collaboration and coordination among stakeholders.
Turning promises into action, India’s Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, recently announced creating a national cybercrime suspect registry and deploying 5,000 specially trained “Cyber Commandos” over the next five years, a significant step forward in safeguarding the nation’s digital landscape. Globally, the world is watching to understand the answer to a straightforward question: How effective will these measures address the rapidly evolving nature of cyber threats?
A Digital Giant Under Threat
India’s digital landscape is expanding at a staggering rate. In 2024, the country accounted for an estimated 46% of the world’s digital transactions, a figure that speaks volumes about its increasing reliance on digital platforms. However, with such rapid growth comes an equally alarming rise in cybercrime. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, India reported over 52,000 cases of cybercrime in 2023—a number that is likely underreported, as many incidents never make it to official records due to people not thinking their incident is worth reporting, fear of retaliation, or a myriad of other reasons.
The rise in cybercrime isn’t limited to financial fraud or identity theft. Multiple high-profile cases have been reported, such as the breach of WazirX, a leading cryptocurrency platform, which resulted in losses of $230 million. Similarly, cybercriminals managed to syphon off ₹40 crore from IndusInd Bank customers through elaborate fraud schemes, although swift action by law enforcement retrieved ₹33 crore that was initially stolen.
The sheer scale of these breaches highlights cybercriminals’ evolving strategies. No longer are they acting as lone wolves targeting individuals. Instead, they’ve become organised, working in agile, adaptive, and well-funded networks to understand the best attack method for their target.
Relying on phishing, system vulnerabilities, or other digital weaknesses, these attackers target everything from individuals to financial institutions, government databases, and corporate infrastructure, leaving the private and public sectors vulnerable.
A Centralised Approach to Combating Cybercrime
To address this growing threat, the Indian government’s initiative to create a Central Suspect Registry is a much-needed move. This centralised database, developed under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), aims to consolidate data on cybercrime suspects from across the country. In a nation as vast and diverse as India, where regional boundaries and jurisdictional constraints can impede the sharing of critical information, this registry will serve as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies.
By streamlining access to data on cybercrime suspects, the registry enables real-time cooperation between law enforcement agencies across states, financial institutions, and other stakeholders. As cyber criminals increasingly operate across state lines, this national-level platform can close the gaps that have previously allowed offenders to evade detection by moving their operations to different regions. Increasing the jurisdiction sends multiple shockwaves throughout criminal enterprises, giving agents better resources to prevent attacks while deterring criminals that can no longer find safe havens by moving to a new area.
In tandem with the Suspect Registry, the government has also announced the launch of the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC). This initiative is designed to foster collaboration between financial institutions, payment aggregators, and telecom companies to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions before they occur. The CFMC will help pinpoint the modus operandi of cybercriminals, enhancing the ability to proactively defend against emerging threats.
The Role of Cyber Commandos
One of the most intriguing aspects of the government’s new strategy is the creation of a special wing of “Cyber Commandos.” This elite team of 5,000 will be trained and deployed over the next five years, representing a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity. These commandos will not only have expertise in digital forensics and cybercrime investigation but they will also be equipped to counter the sophisticated tactics of modern cybercriminals.
Cyber commandos will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between traditional law enforcement and the specialised skills required to combat cybercrime. As cyber threats become increasingly complex—ranging from ransomware attacks to state-sponsored hacking—having a dedicated team of experts is vital to neutralising threats before they escalate.
While the training and deployment of cyber commandos will take time, their presence is expected to significantly enhance India’s ability to respond swiftly to cyber incidents. If successful, their collaboration with state police forces, regional authorities, and financial institutions will set the global standard for how governments combat these crimes.
A Global Cybersecurity Perspective
India’s efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity defences come at a time when the global cybersecurity landscape is becoming more fragmented. Across the world, nations are grappling with similar challenges, but the solutions are varied and sometimes disjointed. The creation of India’s centralised suspect registry and its Cyber Commando force stands out as a cohesive and proactive approach.
The success of these initiatives, however, will depend on how effectively they are implemented. Cybersecurity is not a challenge that can be tackled by any one organisation or government alone. The Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah’s statement that “no single institution can keep cyberspace secured single-handedly” underscores the importance of collaboration in this battle.
Beyond government efforts, the private sector, including cybersecurity firms, financial institutions, and telecom companies, must come together to support these initiatives. Real-time intelligence sharing, joint investigations, and proactive threat mitigation will be critical to the success of the national cyber defence strategy.
The path forward will require constant adaptation, innovation, and collaboration. But with these initiatives, India is taking a decisive step toward a safer digital world.