As cyber threats grow more sophisticated in the AI era, Kaspersky is sharpening its focus on consumer cybersecurity, digital privacy, and long-term cyber resilience across India and South Asia. In this interaction with DT, Purshottam Bhatia, Head of Consumer Business – South Asia at Kaspersky discusses the company’s strong growth momentum, rising subscription adoption, AI-driven cybersecurity innovations, expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, and Kaspersky’s broader vision of becoming a trusted digital life protection partner for Indian consumers.
Q: Please tell us about your overall business performance in 2025. What have been the most significant factors driving the company's growth?
A: 2025 has been a strong year for our consumer business across India and South Asia. Our B2C segment in India recorded 30% year-on-year growth in 2024, and we sustained that momentum through 2025, driven by rising digital adoption and an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Globally, Kaspersky's revenue approached USD 836 million, while our consumer base surpassed 70 million unique users. We also recorded a 4% increase in our subscription-based consumer base, highlighting continued customer trust in the Kaspersky brand. A key growth driver has been the rising volume and sophistication of cyber threats targeting Indian consumers.
Q: With AI becoming central to innovation, what does your 2026 product roadmap look like, particularly in terms of AI-powered advancements?
A: Kaspersky has been using AI and machine learning in cybersecurity for over 20 years. Our 2026 product roadmap is built on a simple principle: AI must be used to fight AI. With almost 45% of global email traffic classified as spam in 2025, much of it AI-generated, cybercriminals are increasingly using deepfakes, voice cloning, and trusted platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp to target consumers.
To counter these threats, Kaspersky Premium is being continuously enhanced with AI-powered capabilities that detect and neutralize threats before they cause harm. As smart homes and IoT adoption grow, every connected device becomes a potential attack vector. Our 2026 investments are focused on securing this expanding digital ecosystem while keeping protection proactive, effective, and easy for consumers to use.
Q: What concrete steps are you taking to further strengthen partner engagement and long-term channel collaboration?
A: Our consumer channel strategy is focused on expanding access to cybersecurity solutions across India. Through our long-standing partnership with Supertron and the recent addition of Creative Newtech, we have significantly strengthened our reach across North, West, and East India, helping bring trusted cybersecurity solutions to more households. This expansion aligns well with national initiatives such as Digital India and Cyber Surakshit Bharat.
At Kaspersky, we view channel partners as long-term security enablers. We continue to invest in co-marketing initiatives, presales support, and flexible subscription models that help partners position cybersecurity as an ongoing value-driven service. Looking ahead, our focus remains on expanding deeper into tier 2 and tier 3 cities, where internet adoption is growing rapidly and cybersecurity awareness remains a significant opportunity.
Q: How is your organization supporting the Make in India initiative, and what role does localization play in your future growth plans?
A: Our approach to localization in India goes far beyond product adaptation, it is about understanding how Indian consumers interact with the digital world and addressing the unique cyber risks they face.
One of our most significant localization initiatives in 2026 was the launch of the Kaspersky Cyber Investigation Centre at KidZania in Mumbai and Delhi NCR. Designed for children aged six and above, the center provides hands-on learning through simulated phishing, identity theft, and cyberbullying scenarios.
We are also exploring cloud operations in India to support in-country data residency. This would further strengthen consumer confidence in data privacy and enable us to serve customers across the region from an India-based infrastructure. For us, India is not just an important market but a long-term strategic priority.
Q: What are your top strategic priorities for 2026 across revenue, expansion, and market positioning?
A: Our top priority for 2026 is to make Kaspersky the preferred cybersecurity choice for consumers in India. Our growth strategy is focused on increasing subscription adoption, encouraging users to move from single-device purchases to comprehensive multi-device protection plans. We are also expanding our presence in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, where digital adoption is accelerating and cybersecurity awareness remains limited. Strong partnerships with Supertron and Creative Newtech are helping us extend our reach in these markets.
In a country where attacks on Android smartphones increased 29% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, our focus is on positioning Kaspersky as a trusted digital life protection partner, delivering security, privacy, and family protection through an integrated consumer offering.
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