Cloud-native technologies, AI, and IoT are expected to push India’s digital economy to make up 20% of the economy by 2026. Even so, the increased growth leads to more cyber threats – 13.7% of all global cyberattacks happen against Indian businesses, and the average business has to fend off around 702 cyberattacks each minute. Because of these risks, companies are now required to follow Application Security Compliance, and the Indian application security market is set to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9% to reach $2.74 billion by 2029. We examine the ways Indian businesses can ensure their future operations stay protected by having strong Application Security Compliance strategies.
How India Fares in Application Security Compliance (2025)
1. More Attacks Than Ever
- There were more than 7.15 billion cyberattacks targeted at Indian websites in 2024, according to translation.
- API endpoints were much more at risk, facing nearly 30% more attacks compared to ordinary websites and a significant rise of 166% in DDoS events.
- Cyber criminals used tools like ChatGPT to raise attacks on API vulnerabilities by 873% and attacks on website vulnerabilities by 94%.
2. Sector-Specific Threats
- There were 2x the number of bot attacks in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sector compared to others, and the insurance sector had 2.5x as many.
- 236% more DDoS attacks hit SMBs than large companies, often as a result of a lack of sufficient security, and employees support the IT team only when something happens out of the ordinary.
- Government, finance, and healthcare were the primary victims of serious cyber attacks in 2025, and these incidents occurred after the Pahalgam terror attack, which led to more than 1.5 million attacks.
3. Rising Demand and Increasing Profits
- By the year 2029, the market is predicted to reach $2.74 billion, growing at a rate of 13.9% each year over the 2025–2029 period as more money is spent on security solutions in all industries.
4. Regulations and Compliance
- Financial companies are being closely watched because by June 30, 2025, they must comply with frameworks like SEBI’s Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience Framework (CSCRF).
- New rules like the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, and the DPDP Act now require sectors considered ‘critical’ to report incidents, operate 24×7, and appoint Chief Telecom Security Officers (CTSO).
- Despite the directives, using virtual patching in organizations is rare, with less than half and almost a third not scanning APIs.
5. Issues and Gaps
- Because of the high volume and increasing demands of attacks, organizations are having trouble staying prepared, especially with many serious vulnerabilities appearing and third-party developers adding more code to their systems.
- Although there are changes in cybersecurity rules in India, issues such as a lack of clarity and old statutes still make it hard for industries to apply these rules smoothly and with ease.
- There has been a 47% rise in the amount of time needed to fix security issues with applications compared to 2020, which shows that patching these problems is delayed.
6. Suggestions and Best Ways
- Experts say that we should constantly observe our systems with complex WAAP (Web Application Security and API Security Testing) solutions, AI techniques, and automatic scanning of APIs during the CI/CD span.
- Compliance with new rules and dealing with changing risks requires frequent security audits, including a thorough application security audit, risk assessments, and training for all staff.
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Three Pillars of Application Security Compliance
Any sturdy Application Security Compliance program is mainly supported by Process, Technology, and People as key supports. All of these aspects make sure applications are secure, will keep running, and are in line with regulations during their lives.
Process
- Developing Written Policies & Procedures – Develop security rules, operations, and processes that cover the app from start to finish.
- Secure Development Lifecycle – SDLC is a standard process for software development.
- Include security actions and compliance reviews in each step of the SDLC to spot possible problems as soon as possible.
- Risk Assessment and Threat Modeling – Frequently perform risk assessments and threat modeling to spot, rate, and deal with potential dangers in advance.
- Good Governance – Check that your processes are in line with regulations (such as GDPR and PCI DSS) and verify this compliance via regular audits.
- Handling Incidents – Plan and follow steps for detecting, responding to, and recovering after security incidents happen.
Technology
- Security Controls Implemented – Use firewalls, encryption, access controls, and secure authentication to safeguard the applications from threats.
- Security Testing – Conduct Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), and Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) to notice vulnerabilities at each suitable stage.
- Runtime Protection – Instead of catching threats after they occur, use Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) and Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP) that monitor and block dangerous activities as soon as they happen.
- API & Cloud Security – Apply specialized technologies to secure APIs and cloud platforms, so your data remains private and is protected in agile structures.
- Software Patches & Updates – Fix any discovered issues in your applications as soon as possible to protect them from new kinds of threats.
People
- Security Awareness – Training is designed to teach users what kinds of threats exist and how they work. Teach developers, testers, and stakeholders about secure coding practices, legal requirements, and novel risks.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration – Work together so that development, operations, and security teams build security into all the stages of application development (DevSecOps).
- Continuous Upskilling – Make certain teams keep learning by providing the latest information on security tools, techniques, and rules.
- Developing A Strong Culture – Create an awareness among all team members that their job is to support Application Security Compliance.
Application Security Compliance Standards Shaping India
| Standard | Focus Area | Adoption Rate in India |
| CERT-In Guidelines | Critical infrastructure | 89% |
| ISO 27001 | Data protection | 62% |
| PCI DSS | Payment security | 54% |
| NIST SSDF | Secure software development | 48% |
Future of Application Security Compliance
1. Exceptionally High Growth In The Market
- The global application security testing industry is estimated to increase from $16.61 billion in 2025 to $41.8 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 26%.
- More security breaches lead to increased growth, an increase in digital systems, and a greater use of mobile and cloud applications.
2. Third-Party Risk Management is Now Most Important
- Three-quarters of compliance leaders in 2025 are worried about third-party risk, and 82% have already run into problems with it within the last year.
- Many organizations are changing their focus from initial checks to long-term oversight, by carrying out better initial checks (84%) and closer ongoing monitoring (80%).
3. Policies Designed to Control AI and Automation
- Because of the introduction of new global rules, 67% of compliance leaders now consider AI governance to be a top priority.
- Compliance functions in finance, such as noticing risks, monitoring fraud, and producing reports, are often performed with AI, but this also results in some new compliance and ethical challenges.
4. Increased Productivity
- 67% of those in charge are now relying on AI analytics instead of fixed metrics to detect risks.
- Automation and instant access to data are speeding up the detection and response to threats.
5. Continually Testing Security
- Security is now handled early, powered by shift-left security, DevSecOps, and automated testing, so vulnerabilities are identified earlier in development.
- Till 2030, it is projected that mobile app security testing will grow four times larger, because of a rise in mobile apps and digital transactions.
6. Tougher Monitoring and Accountability
- Even though more than 60% of leaders wish to measure if their compliance program works effectively, less than 40% believe their current measures are effective.
- There are now new tools and metrics, such as the Compliance and Culture Effectiveness Quotient, that allow for fast compliance reviews based on experience.
7. Security Designed for the Quantum Era
- Organizations are reacting to quantum computer risks by adopting strong quantum-resistant encryption.
- Using cloud-native security and strict identity/access management is being done quickly to manage threats in hybrid and cloud environments.
8. Demands for Better Privacy and More Regulation
- Leaders are making changes to ensure privacy, responding to new rules like the GDPR and DPDP Act (India).
- Many regulations now require incident response and supply chain risk management.
How Qualysec Technologies Can Help in Application Security Compliance
1. Process-based Pentesting
Qualysec tests web, mobile, cloud, API, IoT, and blockchain applications by using advanced methods to spot issues that automated tests will not find. Since our testing uses hacker-like techniques, organizations can see how secure they are and where they fail to comply with regulations.
2. Application Security Services for All Phases
As soon as development begins, Qualysec relies on the Secure Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to follow best security practices. This approach, integral to their Application Security Testing Services, allows compliance and security to be considered throughout the development process, rather than being added after everything is done.
3. Services Created for Industries with Regulations
Specifically, Qualysec is known for making security systems that are scrupulously compliant with industry rules in finance, healthcare, and education. We take care of guidelines related to industries, for instance, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001, so you can remain compliant with regulations.
4. DevSecOps Integration
Security is part of every step in the DevOps process at Qualysec. We scan and test for vulnerabilities by automated means, using advanced Application Security Testing Tools, but verify with manual testing before deployment of secure and rules-compliant apps.
5. Complying with Matching Regulations
Qualysec regularly checks for any revisions to global and local rules and standards. Because of the detailed reports and audits, companies can take steps to match GDPR, HIPAA, ISO/IEC 27001, and local laws, which reduces the risk of legal and financial costs if they fail to comply.
6. Easy, Developer-Friendly Reports
Clients get reports filled with helpful information and instructions on what to do. They help companies address risks fast and act as proof of compliance during audits.
7. Constant Support
The Qualysec team is always available to support you, giving advice and assistance to development and network teams so issues can be resolved and proper rules can be kept in place.
8. Using Threat Intelligence Before Attacks
Using AI and continuous monitoring, Qualysec helps businesses spot potential threats early and remain compliant as cyber security threats continue to evolve.
9. Good Reputation
Because Qualysec has secured 450+ assets across 18+ countries with no data breaches, it is one of the leading cybersecurity companies in India.
10. Following the Law
There are no generic answers from Qualysec. We select security solutions that fit the specific risks, rules, and business needs of each client, which provides stronger and more lasting compliance.
Talk to our Cybersecurity Expert to discuss your specific needs and how we can help your business.
Conclusion
To sum up, Indian organizations depend upon Application Security Compliance as they tackle the complicated and changing cybersecurity world in 2025. With strong regulations such as the DPDP Act, CSCRF, and the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, and many threats aimed at APIs and digital applications, organizations have to comply to avoid fines, to gain customer confidence, and to protect the operation of their business. To keep your applications in India secure and in compliance with regulations, contact Qualysec Technologies today!
FAQs
1. What are the 4 types of security applications?
- Web Security – Guards various apps accessed via the web (i.e., by using firewalls).
- Mobile Security – Protects iOS/Android apps against unwanted changes.
- Cloud Security – Looks after data and applications in SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS environments.
- API Security – Protects the exchange of information between different microservices.
2. What are the three pillars of application security?
Development that focuses on security, constant monitoring, and compliance with rules.
3. What are application security standards?
ISO 27001, NIST SSDF, PCI DSS, and CERT-In are the main guidelines.
4. What is compliance in application?
Find out what the necessary standards are for your app and ensure your app respects industry and legal rules.
5. What role does SBOM have in maintaining compliance?
SBOMs let Indian regulators see precisely what is in the software, which they now require for 75% of cases.
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