According to insurance and reinsurance broking firm Aon’s 2025 Global Risk Management Survey, cyber attacks and data breaches have emerged as a top risk for Indian businesses in 2025.
Aon reports that, in India, around 77.8% of businesses have faced substantial losses from property damage, 46.2% due to business interruption, while 63.6% reported that exchange rate fluctuations were heavily responsible. These, along with talent attraction and retention challenges, are more pronounced in India than in the rest of Asia, said the broker.
Other concerns revealed by the survey include economic slowdown and slow recovery, regulatory and legislative changes, cash flow and liquidity risk, and lastly, damage to reputation or brand.
Aon’s biennial survey gathered insights from nearly 3,000 risk managers, C-suite leaders and executives across 63 countries, highlighting how risk priorities are evolving globally in response to technological, economic and geopolitical forces.
Rishi Mehra, Chief Executive Officer, Aon India, commented, “Indian businesses are demonstrating remarkable agility in the face of digital disruption, talent adaptability and geopolitical shifts.
“As cyber attacks and data privacy risks continue to rise, both in frequency and impact, organisations must not only strengthen their resilience but also adapt quickly to these accelerated challenges. By investing in robust risk management strategies and fostering a forward-thinking mindset, Indian companies can better navigate today’s complex environment and position themselves for long-term success.”
Aon believes that Indian businesses are increasingly formalising their risk management strategies in response to these risks, as 70% of respondents have already established dedicated risk management and insurance departments, while 64.9% actively measure the total cost of insurable risk, most noting rising costs.
The broker says that mitigation efforts in the country are robust, with 92.9% having plans and formal reviews for cyber attacks, 90.9% for property damage, 55% addressing talent retention and 64.7% looking into privacy risks.
Aon said, “Organisations rely on a mix of expert advice, benchmarking and scenario planning, while a growing number (91.9%) are turning to captive insurance solutions to strengthen financial resilience and risk transfer capabilities.”
The survey also had a section that measured the evolving risk landscape for the next three years. In this, cyber attacks and data breaches still topped the list; however, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as one of the top future risks for Indian businesses. The emergence of AI as a future risk, according to Aon, reflects both its transformative potential and the uncertainties it brings to business operations and security.
Meanwhile, economic slowdown and business interruption remain persistent threats, demanding ongoing investment in resilience. However, climate change rose as a critical concern, with its impact on supply chains, infrastructure and regulatory requirements expected to intensify.
Sushant Sarin, Managing Director and Head of Strategy and Commercial Risk Solutions, Aon India, added, “In a world where disruption is the new normal, Indian businesses must invest in adaptive risk management-prioritising digital and climate resilience, scenario planning and ongoing employee training. Leveraging data-driven insights and benchmarking against industry peers will be key to building resilience and sustaining competitive advantage.”
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