Seqrite India Cyber Threat Report flags growing credential theft economy

India’s IT sector powers global digital systems, but it is also drawing attention for the wrong reasons. The Seqrite India Cyber Threat Report points to a growing pattern where attackers are no longer trying to break systems directly. Instead, they are finding easier ways in—through stolen credentials. This shift is changing how cyber threats unfold, especially across large and interconnected enterprise environments.

Credential theft in the Indian IT sector is becoming the entry point

The report highlights a sharp rise in credential theft in the Indian IT sector, driven by the high value of access these organisations hold. Login data is now being harvested through phishing campaigns, malware infections and compromised applications, creating multiple entry points into enterprise systems. What makes this more concerning is how these credentials are reused across environments, allowing attackers to quietly expand their reach once access is gained.

This is no longer a one-step attack. It is part of a larger chain where stolen credentials help attackers move deeper into systems, escalate privileges and eventually carry out data theft or ransomware attacks. With Indian IT firms heavily dependent on cloud platforms, remote access and third-party integrations, even a single compromised login can open doors to multiple systems.

Dark web credential markets are fuelling repeat attacks

One of the more critical insights from the Seqrite India Cyber Threat Report is how stolen credentials are being circulated. These are not used once and discarded. Instead, they are traded on dark web credential markets, making them available to multiple threat actors who can reuse them in different attack scenarios.

The report notes that Trojans account for nearly 43 percent of detections, often acting as the main tool for capturing login information. Once stolen, these credentials become part of a larger underground ecosystem where access is bought, sold and reused, increasing the scale and frequency of attacks without much additional effort.

Zero Trust identity governance in India is becoming essential

As the threat landscape evolves, the focus is clearly shifting towards identity. The report suggests that organisations need to rethink how they approach security, moving towards Zero Trust identity governance in India where every access request is verified and monitored. This includes enforcing multi-factor authentication, continuously tracking credential exposure and keeping a close watch on external threat environments.

The regulatory angle is also becoming important. Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, organisations are accountable for protecting sensitive data. A compromised credential can lead to breaches involving customer and employee information, which can result in compliance failures and penalties. This makes identity protection not just a security issue, but a business and regulatory priority.

A growing need for continuous visibility and protection

The findings from the Seqrite India Cyber Threat Report show that cyber threats are becoming more automated and persistent. With over 265.52 million detections across more than 8 million endpoints, the scale of activity suggests that attacks are constant rather than occasional. This creates a need for continuous monitoring, not just within organisational systems but also across external environments where credentials may be exposed.

Solutions that extend visibility beyond internal networks are becoming important in identifying risks early. At the same time, endpoint protection and behavioural monitoring are playing a key role in detecting misuse before it escalates into a larger breach.

Conclusion

The bigger takeaway is simple but serious. Cyber attacks are no longer about breaking defences. They are about gaining access. The Seqrite India Cyber Threat Report makes it clear that identity has become the most targeted layer in modern security.

For enterprises, this means rethinking priorities. Protecting systems is no longer enough. Protecting identities is where the real battle lies, and how organisations respond to this shift will define their resilience in the years ahead.

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