India Records Highest Data Breach Costs in 2025 at ₹22 Crore: IBM Report
New Delhi, August 7, 2025 — India has recorded its highest average cost of a data breach in 2025, at INR 220 million (₹22 crore), according to the latest Cost of a Data Breach study released by IBM Security. This marks a 13% increase compared to last year, reflecting the escalating financial toll of cyber incidents in the country.
The IBM report highlights several critical trends behind this spike:
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AI Governance Gaps: Only 37% of surveyed organizations have implemented AI access controls, and nearly 60% lack AI governance policies. The phenomenon of “shadow AI” — unauthorized AI use — added an average of INR 17.9 million to breach costs.
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Sector Impact: The research sector reported the highest average breach costs at INR 289 million, followed closely by transportation at INR 288 million.
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Improved Response Time: The median breach lifecycle fell to 263 days, 15 days shorter than in 2024, indicating incremental improvements in detection and response.
The findings underscore the urgent need for organizations in India to adopt comprehensive AI governance frameworks, bolster cybersecurity defenses, and invest in incident response preparedness to mitigate the financial and reputational impact of data breaches.
The 2025 report is based on in-depth analysis of breaches across industries and regions, providing actionable insights for CISOs, compliance officers, and IT leaders.
Official Source: IBM India Newsroom – Full Report
