The Threat Landscape Has Changed
India's cybersecurity landscape has shifted dramatically. CERT-In's latest data paints a stark picture for small and medium businesses across the country.
Ransomware gangs have begun specifically targeting Indian SMBs because they know most lack even basic security infrastructure. If your business handles customer data, processes payments, or operates any web-facing application — you are already a target.
How Attackers Target SMBs
Most people assume cyberattacks are sophisticated, state-sponsored operations. The reality is far more mundane — and more dangerous. Automated bots scan the entire internet looking for low-hanging fruit.
Common attack vectors we see in Indian SMBs
| Attack Vector | % of SMBs Vulnerable | Avg. Time to Exploit |
|---|---|---|
| Exposed admin panels | 68% | < 2 hours |
| Outdated CMS plugins | 54% | < 30 minutes |
| Missing HTTPS / weak TLS | 41% | Immediate |
| Default credentials | 37% | < 5 minutes |
| Unpatched server software | 33% | < 1 hour |
The DPDP Act Is Now Real
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 has moved from policy to enforcement. The Data Protection Board is now operational and compliance deadlines are firmly in place for 2026.
The Act applies to every business that processes digital personal data — which means practically every company with a website, app, or customer database.
What DPDP requires from your business
- Explicit consent before collecting personal data
- Purpose limitation — use data only for stated purpose
- Reasonable security safeguards — this is where VAPT comes in
- Data deletion once purpose is fulfilled
- Breach notification to the Board within 6 hours via CERT-In
Know your vulnerabilities before attackers do
Run a free VAPT scan — takes 5 minutes, no signup required.
Book Your Free ScanWhat Is a VAPT Scan?
A Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Test (VAPT) gives you a clear, technical picture of where your defences stand.
What VAPT covers
- Port scanning — Which services are exposed to the internet?
- Software audit — Are you running outdated, vulnerable versions?
- Configuration review — Are security headers, CORS, and CSP properly set?
- Authentication testing — Can attackers bypass your login?
- Injection testing — SQL injection, XSS, command injection checks
- SSL/TLS analysis — Is your encryption configured correctly?
- DPDP mapping — Does your data handling meet regulatory requirements?
Quick Self-Check
Before running a full scan, here are three commands any developer can run right now:
Check your exposed headers
# Check what information your server leaks
curl -sI https://yourdomain.com | grep -i "server\|x-powered-by\|x-aspnet"Server: Apache/2.4.41 or X-Powered-By: Express, you're leaking your tech stack to attackers. Remove these in your server config.Check your SSL configuration
# Quick SSL grade check
nmap --script ssl-enum-ciphers -p 443 yourdomain.comCheck for exposed admin panels
# Common admin paths that should return 403/404, not 200
for path in /admin /wp-admin /phpmyadmin /dashboard /api/docs; do
code=$(curl -so /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" "https://yourdomain.com$path")
echo "$path -> $code"
doneWhy Bachao.AI's Free Scan Is Different
| Feature | Free Scan | Basic Report | Full Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated vulnerability scan | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Risk score & severity breakdown | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Top critical findings | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Detailed remediation steps | — | ✅ | ✅ |
| Authenticated deep scan | — | — | ✅ |
| Code-level fix suggestions | — | — | ✅ |
| DPDP compliance mapping | — | — | ✅ |
| Dedicated security analyst | — | — | ✅ |
Take Action Now
For SMBs operating on tight budgets, a free VAPT scan is the most practical first step toward both security and DPDP compliance.
The vulnerabilities you're unaware of are the ones attackers will exploit. Run your free scan today, understand your risk, and then decide how to act on it.
Written by Shouvik Mukherjee, Founder of Bachao.AI. Follow me on LinkedIn for daily cybersecurity insights for Indian businesses.
