In a significant move to bolster India’s digital security landscape, Zscaler and Bharti Airtel have announced the launch of the AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre – India, a joint initiative aimed at enhancing cyber resilience, combating AI-driven threats, and building a future-ready cybersecurity workforce through public–private collaboration.
The new research centre comes at a time when India is witnessing rapid digital transformation across sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, telecom, and critical infrastructure. As enterprises and government systems become increasingly data-driven, the cyber threat landscape is evolving in both scale and sophistication. The integration of artificial intelligence into cyberattacks has further intensified the urgency for advanced, intelligence-led defence systems.
The AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre will focus on identifying, analysing, and mitigating next-generation cyber risks powered by AI and automation. By combining global cloud security expertise with one of India’s largest digital network ecosystems, the initiative aims to create a strong threat intelligence framework tailored to the country’s unique digital environment.
A key objective of the centre is to protect critical sectors that form the backbone of the Indian economy. With essential services becoming prime targets for ransomware, deepfake-based fraud, and AI-enabled intrusion techniques, the need for proactive detection and real-time response capabilities has grown sharply. The collaboration is expected to help organisations move from reactive security models to predictive and prevention-first architectures.
Beyond threat analysis, the initiative also places strong emphasis on cybersecurity talent development. India faces a widening gap between the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals and the available workforce. The research centre will work toward addressing this challenge by supporting training programs, knowledge-sharing platforms, and industry–academia engagement. This approach is designed to create a pipeline of AI-aware cybersecurity experts who can respond to emerging digital risks.
The launch reflects a broader shift toward public–private partnership in cybersecurity, where collaboration is becoming essential to defend against borderless and rapidly evolving cyber threats. By bringing together technology providers, telecom infrastructure, enterprises, and potentially government stakeholders, the centre aims to create a unified and intelligence-driven security ecosystem.
Another critical focus area will be research on how AI is being weaponised by threat actors. From automated vulnerability scanning to AI-generated phishing campaigns and adaptive malware, cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging machine learning to bypass traditional security controls. The centre’s work will help organisations understand these patterns and deploy countermeasures that are equally intelligent and automated.
For Indian enterprises accelerating their cloud and AI adoption, the initiative is expected to provide actionable threat insights, improved security frameworks, and best practices for building cyber resilience at scale. It also aligns with the country’s broader push toward digital sovereignty and secure digital infrastructure.
Industry observers view the launch as a timely step toward strengthening India’s position in the global cybersecurity landscape. As cyber risks become a boardroom priority and regulatory expectations around data protection tighten, intelligence-led security operations and AI-powered threat detection will play a decisive role in safeguarding digital growth.
With the AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre – India, Zscaler and Bharti Airtel are not only addressing immediate security challenges but also investing in long-term capability building. The initiative signals a future where cybersecurity is driven by collaboration, powered by AI, and deeply integrated into the nation’s digital transformation journey.
As AI reshapes both innovation and cyber risk, such partnerships could become the foundation of resilient and secure digital economies.
