The rapidly expanding threat of cyberattacks against individuals, organisations and governments has created an urgent need for skilled cybersecurity professionals to protect critical data and digital infrastructure.
Speaking at the second edition of the Kerala Cyber Suraksha Summit (KCSS) in Kochi, organised by F9 Infotech in collaboration with the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), DGP Manoj Abraham said cyberattacks can now cripple nations and organisations, disable critical infrastructure and disrupt military operations without a single shot being fired.
“There is a 389 per cent rise in ransomware victims worldwide, year-over-year, and in India, reported financial losses owing to cyber fraud in 2025 alone were worth ₹19,813 crore. We are at a juncture where we need more defenders to take on the cyber attackers. Worldwide, there are 4.8 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs,” he said.
According to Abraham, Kerala has a distinct advantage in addressing the global cybersecurity talent shortage, given the state’s established pool of skilled professionals.
Inaugurating the summit, Hibi Eden, MP, welcomed F9 Infotech’s initiative to provide cybersecurity training, awareness programmes and certification free of cost to government educational institutions across Kerala.
F9 Infotech Founder Jayakumar Mohanachandran said cybersecurity must extend beyond boardrooms and technology conferences to become a practical safeguard for every business, institution and individual.
“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. The question is no longer, how do we stop the next cyberattack, but how do we build a digital future that people can trust,” he said.
Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, KSIDC Chairman C Balagopal, Digital University Kerala Vice Chancellor Dr Saji Gopinath, Data Security Council of India CEO Vinayak Godse, and F9 Infotech senior leaders Rajesh Radhakrishnan and Rajesh Vikraman attended the summit.
The summit was supported by the Data Security Council of India, TiE Kerala and the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
