Asia-Pacific cyber-attack risks in line with global trends but high attack expectations remain for 2023

Image via Unsplash

Cyber-attack risks in the Asia-Pacific region decreased to a moderate level last year, mirroring the global trend, yet a recent survey found that 78% of organisations worldwide anticipate successful attacks occurring in 2023.

Jon Clay, 42 years old, vice-president of threat intelligence at multinational cybersecurity software company Trend Micro, stated that the global cyber-risk index (CRI) shifted into positive territory for the first time. He said this suggests organisations may be taking measures to enhance their cybersecurity preparedness, but more still needs to be done, particularly as employees continue to pose a risk.

The Tokyo-based firm’s seventh index, in partnership with research group Ponemon Institute, evaluates an organisation’s readiness to combat various types of cyber-attacks. The scores vary from +10 to -10, with the latter representing the highest risk level.

During the second half of last year, the CRI globally rose to a moderate 0.01, up from -0.15 in the first half. The cyber-preparedness index also saw improvement, increasing from 5.24 to 5.34 in the same time frame.

Related news

The survey, which gathered data from 3,729 organisations, reported that “the good news is that organisations are making changes to improve their preparedness for attacks”. Regional results also reflected this global trend, with the CRI demonstrating better cybersecurity preparedness in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, moving from -0.12 to 0.12 and from -0.11 to 0.05, respectively.

North America saw a slight improvement with an increase in scores from -0.33 to -0.10 over the past six months, while Latin America remained at -0.03. Despite the overall rise in the index, the majority of organisations surveyed still held a pessimistic view of their outlook for the year. Approximately eight in ten respondents believed it would be “somewhat to very likely” they would experience a successful cyber-attack (78%), a customer data breach (70%), or a critical data IP breach (69%).

In comparison to the previous report, these figures represent reductions of 1%, 2%, and 7%, respectively. The study indicates that one of the main concerns for businesses regarding cybersecurity preparedness is not knowing the physical location of vital data assets.

Top concerns regarding cyber-attacks include disruption or damage to critical infrastructure, decreased productivity, the cost of external consultants and experts, regulatory actions or lawsuits, and damage to reputation or brand.

Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of Ponemon Institute, highlighted the importance of focusing on technology solutions, as well as people and processes, to help mitigate risks associated with the shift to hybrid work. He said, “Organisations are rightly concerned about the risk posed by negligent employees and the infrastructure used to support remote workers,” reports Bangkok Post.

Business News

Thaiger Talk

Join the conversation and have your say on Thailand news published on The Thaiger.

Thaiger Talk is our new Thaiger Community where you can join the discussion on everything happening in Thailand right now.

Please note that articles are not posted to the forum instantly and can take up to 20 min before being visible. Click for more information and the Thaiger Talk Guidelines.

Alex Morgan

Alex is a 42-year-old former corporate executive and business consultant with a degree in business administration. Boasting over 15 years of experience working in various industries, including technology, finance, and marketing, Alex has acquired in-depth knowledge about business strategies, management principles, and market trends. In recent years, Alex has transitioned into writing business articles and providing expert commentary on business-related issues. Fluent in English and proficient in data analysis, Alex strives to deliver well-researched and insightful content to readers, combining practical experience with a keen analytical eye to offer valuable perspectives on the ever-evolving business landscape.

Related Articles