As cyber threats evolve in sophistication and scope, cybersecurity in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region is undergoing a pivotal transformation. Forrester Research reveals a striking 79% of senior security decision-makers in APAC plan to increase their threat intelligence budgets in 2026, surpassing their counterparts in Europe (71%) and North America (77%).
This trend reflects a strategic shift from reactive to proactive, intelligence-led defence mechanisms.
Key takeaways from the report:
- AI bridges the cybersecurity talent gap: With a notable shortage of cybersecurity professionals in APAC, organisations are increasingly turning to AI-powered threat intelligence platforms. These tools are reportedly improving efficiency by reducing threat analysis time by more than 50%. For instance, CyberSecurity Malaysia has leveraged large language models to accelerate report generation, showcasing the power of AI in enhancing security operations.
- Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): Given APAC's geopolitical significance, the region is a prime target for nation-state-backed APT groups. Threat intelligence is essential in identifying and mitigating these threats, particularly in critical sectors such as government, finance, and energy.
- Regulatory complexity: The fragmented regulatory landscape across APAC necessitates sophisticated threat monitoring and reporting capabilities. Intelligence is increasingly viewed as a compliance-critical tool, enabling organisations to manage reputational risks while ensuring timely incident responses.
- Fraud and brand protection: With high digital adoption rates, the region is experiencing a surge in cyber fraud and brand impersonation. Companies are utilising threat intelligence to detect phishing campaigns and account takeovers, thereby safeguarding their reputations.
- AI's transformative role: Generative AI is revolutionising threat intelligence operations, enhancing detection speed and accuracy while enabling better aggregation of diverse threat data sources.
Stressing the urgency to adapt, Forrester senior analyst, Meng Lui says: “The cybersecurity landscape in APAC is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Security leaders must prioritise platforms that deliver contextual intelligence and seamlessly integrate with existing operations.”
Looking ahead to 2026, the cybersecurity landscape will continue to be shaped by political instability and rapid technological advancements. Security leaders must prepare for the implications of agentic AI deployment and ensure their organisations are equipped to mitigate the associated risks effectively.
As CISOs in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong prepare for the challenges ahead, investing in threat intelligence will be critical to safeguarding digital assets, adhering to regulatory requirements, and staying ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber adversaries.
