Innovirtuz Technologies Pvt Ltd
Diwali is a time for celebration, light, and togetherness. But for cybercriminals, it’s also a window of opportunity. Each year, festive seasons in India witness a spike in cyber frauds, phishing, identity theft, and infrastructure breaches, targeting not just consumers, but large enterprises, campuses, auditoriums, and government systems.
In 2025, with AI-powered deepfakes, fake e-commerce offers, and insider threats on the rise, CIOs, CISOs, COOs, and facility heads must stay one step ahead.
This blog explores How Cybercriminals Leverage Festive Hype – the top threats this Diwali, real trends from Indian cybersecurity reports, and the infrastructure, AV, and security actions enterprises must take now.
1. Why Diwali is High-Risk for Cybercrime?
- AI-powered fraud is spiking: According to Business Standard, nearly 1 in 3 Indians encountered Diwali-related fraud in 2024, driven by AI voice cloning, deepfakes, and scam campaigns (Business Standard)
- Phishing, QR scams, and fake portals rise during sales, warns The Indian Express, with attackers targeting enterprise staff, vendor chains, and unsecured AV networks during events (Indianexpress).
- Zee News cautions against festive-season scams mimicking banks, shopping sites, and internal IT alerts (Zee News India).
- IT and cybersecurity teams often operate with reduced staff over the holidays, while infrastructure faces peak loads (streaming, conferencing, payments).
2. Top Risks for Large Enterprises During Diwali
| Threat | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
|
Phishing / Email Spoofing |
Fake internal messages with Diwali offers, gift links |
Credential theft, malware drop |
|
Deepfake & Voice Cloning |
Executives spoofed to request fund transfers or access |
Insider fraud, reputational loss |
|
Compromised AV / Event Systems |
Live stream hijacking or surveillance tap-ins |
PR damage, data leaks |
|
Supply Chain Attacks |
Fake vendors, fraud via partner portals |
Data breach, legal issues |
|
Weakened Physical Access Controls |
Open access for guests without real-time oversight |
Intrusions, sabotage |
3. What Enterprises Should Do Before the Festival ?
A) Harden Cybersecurity Systems
- Enable MFA enterprise-wide
- Update endpoint protection & patching
- Run phishing simulations for staff
- Use SIEM / SOC monitoring with escalation paths
- Leverage anomaly detection for AI-led frauds (e.g., voice deepfake alerts)
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B) Secure Physical Access & Surveillance
- Check all CCTV feeds, access logs, storage
- Create zonal access controls for auditoriums/events
- Integrate with biometric or mobile access systems
- Ensure NVR/DVR firmware is up-to-date
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C) Stabilize AV Infrastructure for Events
- Load test AV systems before Diwali shows/conferences
- Configure centralized control systems (audio, LED walls, PTZ cams)
- Ensure AV-over-IP networks are segmented and monitored
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D) Backup, DR & Redundancy Readiness
- Audit disaster recovery plans for apps/data
- Confirm redundant paths, load balancers, failover protocols
- Ensure backups are recent, tested, and encrypted.
4. Who Should Own This Readiness?
| Role | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|
|
CIO / CTO |
Ensure infrastructure, backup, DR scalability |
|
CISO |
Lead cyber risk audits, SOC monitoring, phishing drills |
|
COO / Facility Head |
Oversee physical access, AV coordination, vendor checks |
|
Event / Comms Heads |
Ensure safe AV/live-streaming, public interface security |
5. What the Market Says ?
- IMARC Group: India’s physical security market will hit USD 10.9B by 2033.
- TechSci Research: India’s PSIM market is growing at 12.27% CAGR till 2030.
- MarketsandMarkets: Global cyber threat intelligence market will reach USD 24.3B by 2027, with India being key.
6. Diwali Readiness Checklist
- Cybersecurity audit complete
- AV systems stress-tested
- Staff trained on phishing threats
- Backups verified and DR rehearsed
- Physical access systems updated
- SIEM/alerts integrated to SOC/command centre
Conclusion: Don’t Let Cybercriminals Dim Your Lights
Diwali is about illumination, but for India’s enterprise tech leaders, it’s also about vigilance. Cybercrime peaks during festive periods — and the stakes are highest for large enterprises, institutions, and public entities.
By aligning cybersecurity, AV, and physical security with seasonal risks, decision makers can ensure a safe, seamless Diwali for everyone.