Eight computer security trends APAC leaders should urgently address
Computer security in APAC needs a reboot, with these 8 trends in mind. (Photo by NICOLAS ASFOURI / AFP)
Cybersecurity remains an ever-growing concern in a digitized, post-pandemic world. Covid-19 has killed in more ways than one – physically, and with the demise of multitudes of jobs across the world.
However, the outbreak has also catalyzed the maturation of digitalization – demand for digital services has been nothing short of explosive during the pandemic.
Growth of Digital in APAC
The Southeast Asian (SEA) region is not a stranger to digital disruption, innovation, and digitally transformative initiatives, either. Rapid and proactive action by governments to control the spread of Covid-19 has resulted in tight border and movement restrictions.
This has, in turn, jolted businesses ranging from mega entities to small and medium business (SMBs) towards optimizing and increasing adoption of digitalized solutions in order to keep their hungry economies connected and vital.
Computer security and talent shortage woes
The region has been racing to adopt technologies such as cloud, edge, 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and IoT, in post-pandemic economic recovery efforts. Alas, a menacing darkness looms over this sliver of economic hope: cybersecurity threats.
Earlier last year, Tech Wire Asia reported that cybersecurity was at the forefront of priorities for APAC business decision-makers alongside digital growth. However, the lack of talent in the field is still a major concern.
The 2021 cybersecurity update
In May 2021, Check Point Software Technologies released research data on cybersecurity threats in APAC and found that, compared to May of the previous year, cyberattacks have increased by an alarming 168%.
In fact, there was a 53% increase from April to May this year alone. The top five countries seeing the largest increase in cyberattacks as compared to May 2020 are Japan (40%), Singapore (30%), Indonesia (25%), Malaysia (22%), and Taiwan (17%).
The top three sectors most affected by these cyber threats are utilities (39%), internet and managed service providers (ISPs/MSPs with 12% of the total), and software vendors (6%). According to Check Point,
