Introduction
The frequency of cyber attacks is increasing rapidly, and with it the need for skilled professionals who can protect digital infrastructure. On September 6, 2026, Kerala Police Director General Manoj Abraham, speaking at the second Kerala Cyber Suraksha Summit (KCSS), highlighted that the global cybersecurity skills gap is becoming a critical threat to both states and businesses. In this article – based on a BusinessLine publication – we analyze how the increasing number of attacks is related to the skills shortage and what measures can help fill this gap.
The rise of cyberattacks and its consequences
Abrahams pointed out that the number of ransomware victims worldwide has increased by 389 % per year, and in India, financial losses due to cybercrime reached 19,813 billion rupees in 2025. These figures show that cyber threats are not only increasing, but also becoming increasingly sophisticated. As a result, organizations face real risks - critical infrastructure, military operations and business processes can be disrupted without any physical impact. Such circumstances highlight that the impact of cyber attacks is directly related to the number of specialists available and their expertise.
Global job gap
„There are 4.8 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide,“ the DGP said. These statistics reveal that demand exceeds supply, leading to a higher volume of attacks as hackers often find weak points in organizations’ defenses. Without a sufficient number of experts, companies often rely on insufficiently reliable solutions or fail to invest in ongoing training, which further increases vulnerability.
Regional advantage – the case of Kerala
Abrahams stressed that Kerala has a „unique advantage“ in addressing this issue due to its already established talent base and pool of technology professionals. In this context, it is important to mention that F9 Infotech, in collaboration with the Kerala Startup Mission, is organizing free training, awareness campaigns and certification programs for educational institutions in the state. Such initiatives not only increase the level of competencies but also encourage young professionals to choose a career in cybersecurity.
Practical actions and future prospects
Jayakumar Mohanachandran, founder of F9 Infotech, said that cybersecurity should not remain confined to boardrooms or tech conferences – it needs to protect every business, institution and individual. Over Rs 56,000 crore worth of cyber fraud complaints were reported in India in the last three years, but at the same time, over Rs 11,000 crore worth of complaints across 32 sectors have been saved thanks to response systems. This experience shows that investing in competency development can yield direct economic results.
In order to reduce the skills gap, it is necessary to:
- Promote training and certification – free programs, like F9 Infotech's initiatives, allow you to quickly attract new talent.
- Strengthen public-private partnership models – collaboration between government, academic institutions and private companies ensures consistent knowledge transfer.
- Invest in practical experience – real-life projects and simulations help professionals acquire the necessary skills before facing real threats.
Conclusion
The rise in cyber attacks and the lack of skills are interrelated phenomena that pose a threat to both national security and business stability. The Kerala DGP emphasized that the solution is not only a larger number of specialists, but also a consistent training and certification process based on cooperation between the public and private sectors. In Lithuania, as in other countries, it is important to follow these examples and actively invest in cybersecurity skills so that we can effectively respond to constantly changing threats.
