Cyber Resilience in India: Practical Steps for Tech Leaders | SB Tech Associates

Updated: 06 Jul 2026 · For: CISOs, CTOs and GCs at regulated tech companies

What changed

India's commitment to strengthening its cyber resilience marks a pivotal moment for technology companies operating within its jurisdiction. The regulatory environment is increasingly demanding, placing significant onus on organisations to adopt robust security postures. For founders, Data Protection Officers (DPOs), General Counsels (GCs), and in-house teams, understanding and implementing effective cyber resilience strategies is no longer merely a best practice, but a critical imperative to mitigate operational risks, protect sensitive data, and ensure business continuity. This piece explores the implications of India's enhanced focus on cyber resilience for tech companies, particularly those under regulatory oversight. We will outline practical actions that CISOs, CTOs, and GCs can undertake to fortify their cyber defences, navigate compliance complexities, and contribute to a more secure digital ecosystem.

What the law is (plain English)

While specific statutes directly mandating 'cyber resilience' in a singular, comprehensive framework are still evolving, the broader regulatory landscape in India increasingly emphasizes robust cybersecurity measures. Bodies like the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) issue advisories and mandate incident reporting, establishing a baseline expectation for proactive security. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), for instance, implicitly reinforces this by requiring Data Fiduciaries to implement 'reasonable security safeguards' to prevent personal data breaches. This creates a de facto legal obligation for organisations to not only prevent incidents but also to possess the capacity to recover and maintain operations in the face of cyber threats. Non-compliance with these evolving expectations, while not always tied to specific penalty figures for 'lack of resilience' per se, can lead to significant regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage, and potential liabilities under various sector-specific regulations.

What it means in practice

India's push for enhanced cyber resilience necessitates a proactive and integrated approach from tech companies. For CISOs, CTOs, and GCs, this translates into a continuous commitment to fortifying defences, streamlining incident response, and embedding security considerations across all business operations. By embracing these practical actions, organisations can not only meet regulatory expectations but also build a resilient foundation for sustained growth in India's dynamic digital economy.

What founders should do this week

• **Proactive Threat Intelligence:** Establish mechanisms for continuous monitoring of emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities relevant to your sector and technology stack. Integrate this intelligence into your security operations.
• **Robust Incident Response Plan:** Develop and regularly test a comprehensive cyber incident response plan, clearly defining roles, responsibilities, communication protocols (internal and external, including regulatory reporting), and recovery procedures. Ensure alignment with CERT-In guidelines.
• **Vendor Risk Management:** Implement stringent due diligence and ongoing monitoring for third-party vendors and supply chain partners. Ensure their security posture aligns with your organisation's resilience requirements and contractual obligations.
• **Employee Cyber Awareness:** Conduct mandatory and regular cybersecurity training for all employees, focusing on phishing, social engineering, data handling protocols, and incident reporting procedures. Human error remains a significant vulnerability.
• **Continuous Security Audits & Assessments:** Regularly conduct internal and external security audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate weaknesses before they can be exploited. Prioritise critical assets.
• **Data Backup and Recovery Strategy:** Implement an immutable, geographically dispersed data backup and recovery strategy to ensure business continuity and data availability even in the event of a catastrophic cyber attack.

What can wait

• Policy rewrites that do not affect live product behaviour
• Board-level strategy shifts until applicability is confirmed

When to call counsel

• The update touches licensing, personal data at scale, or payment flows
• A customer or investor asks for a formal legal opinion on impact
• You have an inspection, transaction, or funding close inside 30 days

Founder FAQ

What is 'cyber resilience' in the Indian context?

Cyber resilience refers to an organisation's ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse cyber events. In India, it's increasingly driven by regulatory expectations from bodies like CERT-In and the implicit requirements of data protection laws.

Why is cyber resilience particularly important for regulated tech companies?

Regulated tech companies often handle sensitive personal or financial data and are subject to specific sectorial guidelines (e.g., RBI for fintechs). A lack of cyber resilience can lead to severe penalties, operational disruptions, and significant reputational damage.

What role does a General Counsel play in enhancing cyber resilience?

A GC plays a crucial role in ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, advising on incident response protocols, managing third-party risks through robust contracts, and mitigating legal liabilities arising from cyber incidents.

Source: Official source →

Topics: India cyber resilience, cyber law India, tech company cybersecurity, CISO cyber strategy, CTO security measures, GC cyber compliance, regulated tech cybersecurity, cyber incident response

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