Airtel Business wins multi-year deal to secure Indian Railways' digital network

Airtel Business has signed a multi-year contract with the Indian Railway Security Operations Centre (IRSOC) to provide advanced security services for the digital backbone of India’s railway network. Indian Railways is one of the country’s most critical assets, running over 13,000 trains every day, serving more than 20 million passengers, handling millions of digital transactions, and moving 1.5 billion tons of freight each year. Protecting this system means safeguarding sensitive data such as customer identities, payment details, and key operational databases for ticketing, train tracking, freight, and signalling.


Under the agreement, Airtel Business will set up multi-layered security controls to protect this vast database and ensure smooth, safe operations. The services will cover the entire digital infrastructure of Indian Railways, including 160,000 employees spread across 26 locations.


The security framework will combine leading global technologies with advanced Make in India cybersecurity tools. Airtel Business said the system will be fully compliant, AI-driven, and tailored to the needs of critical national infrastructure.


Sharat Sinha, CEO & Director – Airtel Business, said “At Airtel Business, we understand that in today’s times of escalating cyber risks, that threaten operational continuity, data integrity and passenger safety, advanced defense mechanisms play a critical role. We are honoured to be chosen by IRSOC as their trusted partner to fortify the security of India’s most complex and large-scale digital infrastructure with vast railway networks and databases. Our robust security layer will advance security efficiency in ticketing and data management, shield all railway digital operations from evolving cyber threats while delivering safe and seamless digital services to millions of daily railway commuters.”


Dilip Kumar, EDIP — Railway Board , said “Due to the increased reliance on digital information and communication technologies for operations, maintenance, production and procurement of assets, cyber security is of the utmost importance. The establishment of IRSOC will help in providing a centralised Security Operations Centre to continuously monitor IR assets, detect and respond to cyber security threats efficiently, gather threat intelligence and ensure proper collaboration with National Cyber Security Agencies. Further, streamlining the operation and maintenance of information technology-related assets will improve service delivery and safeguard the interests of passengers by providing uninterrupted services.”