The recent developments in India–Israel cybersecurity cooperation, reflected in the signing of multiple agreements and initiatives, highlight a growing recognition of the need to secure digital assets that are increasingly enmeshed with critical national infrastructure.

A wide range of substantive outcomes marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February 2026 visit to Israel. India–Israel relations were elevated to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity’, opening a new chapter in the bilateral partnership. Among the long list of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), cybersecurity emerged as a key area of cooperation.[i] The leaders shared their commitment to develop a multi-year strategic programme to steer bilateral collaboration in the domain. The signing of the Declaration of Intent on cooperation in ‘Horizon Scanning’ also reflects a growing resolve to establish a joint mechanism to identify emerging global trends across multiple domains, including cybersecurity, and to develop strategic foresight for informed planning and decision-making.[ii]

Even though the cybersecurity partnership between India and Israel is not a new domain of collaboration, the recent move to expand cooperation marks a significant stride as both countries seek to deepen their ties to secure the cyber realm. Also noteworthy is that cooperation in the cyber realm predates the first formal MoU signed in 2018, with the private sector actively engaged. The brief examines the trajectory of India–Israel cybersecurity cooperation and explores the private sector’s role in deepening bilateral ties.

Cybersecurity Threatscape in India and Israel

Both India and Israel, as highly digitalised democracies, have faced significant challenges and threats in the cyber domain. Driven largely by geopolitical factors and the rising incidence of cybercrime, both countries have undertaken reforms in their cybersecurity framework.[iii] In India, cybersecurity governance in the civilian sphere remains fragmented, with multiple agencies handling different responsibilities, whereas Israel appears to follow a more unified approach to securing civilian infrastructure. Recent assessments indicate an exponential rise in geopolitically motivated cyberattacks targeting Israel, with the country accounting for 12.2 per cent of all such global incidents in the year 2025.[iv] On the other hand, India is identified as the second-most-targeted country for cyber scams globally, according to a report.[v]

The exponential surge in cyber incidents targeting Indian and Israeli critical infrastructure during periods of conflict underscores how cyber operations have become integral to modern warfare and military engagements.[vi] While both countries differ in their strengths, organisational capabilities, and the nature of the threats they face, the deepening of ties over the years reflects converging interests in the cyber domain, as well as a willingness to offset each other’s weaknesses and complement each other’s strengths.

Engagement at the Government Level

The first significant step towards building a bilateral technological partnership was taken in May 1993 with the signing of an agreement for cooperation in Science and Technology. This was followed in December 1996 with the signing of an ‘Agreement on Technical Cooperation’, aimed at promoting collaboration through the exchange of experts and the facilitation of academic and technical training opportunities.[vii] These agreements played a foundational role in paving the way for future technological partnerships, including cybersecurity cooperation.

Another milestone in cybersecurity cooperation occurred in February 2014, when cybercrime was identified as a potential area of cooperation in a bilateral agreement on homeland and public security issues. This was particularly notable, as cybercrime at the time was neither as widespread nor as technologically sophisticated as it has since become.[viii] The agreement also mentions cooperation on ‘counter terrorism technology’, which is not clearly defined but could include collaboration to address online radicalisation, propaganda, and other aspects of cyber terrorism.[ix] Deliberations on the utility of cybersecurity cooperation have also taken place under the India–Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism, a mechanism designed to review conventional and emerging threats emanating from terrorist groups.[x]

The first dedicated cybersecurity cooperation was formalised through an MoU that focused on developing human resources through skill-building programmes and training, while also fostering business-to-business collaboration in the cybersecurity sector.[xi] Recognising the need to secure the increasing dependence on the digital........

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