India’s end-user security spend is projected to reach $3.4 billion in 2026, up about 12% from 2025, driven by AI-threat concerns, expanding digital operations, and tighter regulations.

CISOs are adopting dynamic, pre-emptive defense models with a focus on identity-based security and ITDR to counter credential compromise and deepfake-enabled fraud.

At the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit in Mumbai, priorities include stronger endpoint protection, SIEM, AI-ready cloud security configurations, and a balanced mix of standalone and integrated platforms.

Security services, especially managed security services, are the fastest-growing subsegment, with about 15% growth driven by demand for MDR and other managed solutions.

Gartner urges a risk-driven, prioritized investment approach that leverages automation to strengthen controls while supporting secure, scalable innovation in an AI-powered enterprise.

For AI agents, investments should be focused and risk-driven to close gaps, using automation to reinforce controls and protect assets in AI-enabled environments.

regulators are increasing accountability for boards and executives, heightening the importance of proactive and flexible cyber risk management.

Gartner recommends shifting from a control-centric model to enabling secure, scalable business innovation, with formal collaboration among legal, business, and procurement to share cyber risk accountability.

The guidance also calls for moving beyond IT-centric compliance to cross-functional collaboration and a risk-driven investment approach, supported by automation to strengthen controls.

Industry leaders should lead the shift from controls to enabling secure growth, with deeper coordination across legal, business, and procurement teams.

Drivers of software spending include expanding digital operations, rising cyberattacks, and greater use of EPP and SIEM, with cloud security expanding to address AI-specific configurations and runtime needs.