A recent study by Thales, conducted with S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research, highlights significant challenges faced by organisations in Singapore and the broader Asia Pacific (APAC) region in securing their expanding, AI-driven cloud environments.
With 54% of Singapore respondents reporting that AI security spending is displacing traditional security budgets, the study underscores a critical shift in how organisations allocate resources to address emerging threats.
The findings reveal that cloud security is increasingly recognised as a priority. In Singapore, 60% of respondents identified it as one of their top five security concerns, with 18% ranking it as their highest priority. This mirrors the broader APAC trend, where 60% of respondents also placed cloud security among their top priorities.
However, the complexity of cloud environments presents unique challenges. A notable 69% of Singapore respondents indicated that securing cloud infrastructure is more difficult than protecting on-premises systems, compared to 58% across APAC.
As organisations integrate AI initiatives, the pressure on cloud security intensifies. Nearly half (49%) of Singapore respondents prioritised AI security investments, signalling a growing recognition of the need to protect sensitive data in increasingly complex environments.
Yet, only 37% of APAC respondents echoed this prioritisation, suggesting a disparity in readiness to tackle AI-related security risks.
The average Singapore enterprise now employs 77 Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, contributing to security tool sprawl and complicating access control and data visibility.
This proliferation of applications exacerbates security challenges, with many organisations employing five or more tools for data discovery, monitoring, or classification. error remains a significant vulnerability in cloud security.
The study found that 25% of Singapore respondents experienced an increase in user credential attacks, highlighting concerns around inadequate access controls. Despite 88% of Singapore organisations indicating that at least 40% of their cloud data is sensitive, only 76% have implemented multifactor authentication (MFA), leaving critical data exposed.
"As cloud-based assets remain prime targets for cyber attackers, organisations must streamline operations and strengthen their security measures to effectively manage the evolving threat landscape," said Eric Hanselman, chief analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research. "Without robust and adaptable security strategies, organisations risk significant operational disruptions and data breaches."