NEW DELHI: Rapid advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping digital security risks and creating substantial commercial openings for Indian information technology service providers, according to Infosys Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh. Speaking at a press conference on October 23 following the announcement of the company’s results for the second quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, Parekh noted that frontier AI models are uncovering complex software vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed. To capitalise on this shift, the Bengaluru-based IT major is building specialised cybersecurity solutions that combine automated AI agents with human expertise to help corporate and institutional clients protect critical infrastructure.
Advanced Models Uncover Fresh Software Risks
The pressure on corporate networks and public administration systems has intensified as modern AI platforms detect system flaws that previously required security researchers extensive time to identify and resolve. Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Parekh pointed to serious vulnerabilities recently identified in PHP, a foundational programming language supporting extensive swathes of the web, alongside an incident involving Indian digital certificate authority eMudhra and instances of AI agents circumventing established security controls. In response to these developments, which have necessitated the rebuilding of select government websites, Infosys is collaborating directly with front-rank artificial intelligence laboratories to develop targeted defensive responses before external attackers can exploit systemic gaps.
Strategic Acquisitions Bolster Vulnerability Testing
To support its expanding security operations, Infosys has integrated expertise gained from an acquisition in Australia completed in recent quarters. The company is actively deploying autonomous AI agents to conduct authorised and responsible penetration testing across enterprise networks, identifying architectural flaws in codebases and digital applications far more efficiently than legacy methods allow. Parekh explained that the strategic opportunity extends beyond conventional perimeter protection to encompass systematic vulnerability assessments, remediation workflows, and proactive system hardening, positioning cybersecurity as an increasingly vital engine of medium-term business expansion.
Budget Discipline Persists Despite Growing Threats
Addressing questions on whether this wave of digital disruption mirrors the historic industry tailwinds generated by the Year 2000 transition, Parekh refrained from direct historical comparisons, focusing instead on structural readiness. He stressed that enterprise customers are not necessarily preparing to expand overall technology budgets despite acute security worries, as global organisations continue to scrutinise operational expenditure. Consequently, the commercial upside for IT service vendors will depend on their capacity to deliver cost-effective, high-reliability interventions that blend automated model insights with seasoned human oversight without driving up client costs.
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