Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited submitted a press release to BSE and NSE dated September 16, 2026, announcing the findings of the 'SME Digital Insights 2026: Cybersecurity study' conducted by Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS) and CyberMedia Research (CMR).

The study surveyed 800 IT Heads/Decision Makers across eight Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune) covering 150 Micro, 350 Small, and 300 Medium enterprises.

Key Findings:

Investment Intent:

  • 84% of Indian SMEs plan to increase cybersecurity investments over the next 12-24 months
  • Medium-sized enterprises lead this trend with 89% planning investment increases
  • 46% of SMEs allocate less than 5% of their IT budgets toward cybersecurity currently

Cybersecurity Incidents and Response:

  • 40% of SMEs experienced a cyber incident in the last 24 months
  • Only 28% implemented structural cybersecurity improvements following incidents
  • 60% responded with tactical security tool upgrades rather than comprehensive posture strengthening
  • Only 12% of SMEs continuously monitor their cybersecurity environments

Operational Challenges:

  • 45% of SMEs cite lack of cybersecurity expertise as the biggest barrier to effective implementation
  • 35% operate multiple cybersecurity tools with limited visibility into risks
  • Organizations struggle with fragmented visibility, limited monitoring capabilities, and skilled professional shortages

Partnership Preferences:

  • 48% of SMEs value ease of integration and quality customer support when evaluating cybersecurity partners
  • 46% prioritize trust and long-term relationships
  • 45% value strong security and compliance capabilities

AI Impact:

  • 35% of SMEs recognize AI's potential to strengthen cyber resilience through intelligent threat detection, automated monitoring, and faster incident response
  • 34% expect AI-powered cyber threats to materially impact their business over the next 12-24 months

Executive Commentary:

Vishal Rally, Chief Revenue Officer of Tata Teleservices, stated that Indian SMEs are entering a new phase of digital maturity with cybersecurity becoming a key priority for business resilience, customer trust, and sustainable growth. He emphasized TTBS's focus on making enterprise-grade cybersecurity more accessible, scalable, and easier to adopt for SMEs.

Prabhu Ram, Vice President - Industry Research Group at CyberMedia Research, noted that while investment intent is rising sharply, cyber maturity remains uneven with only 12% of SMEs continuously monitoring their environments. He highlighted the gap between intent and preparedness as the defining challenge for Indian SMEs.

The press release includes a link to access the full whitepaper: https://www.tatatelebusiness.com/whitepapers/from-reactive-to-real-time-the-strategic-imperative-for-sme-cybersecurity/

Financial Impact:

Financial impact not quantified in the disclosure. The study represents market research findings rather than direct financial results of Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited.