As businesses increasingly incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations, the stakes for cybersecurity continue to rise, with more than 40% of leaders reportedly unclear about the risks associated with emerging technologies like Generative AI.
Simon Green, president of Palo Alto Networks for Asia Pacific and Japan, warned of a "perfect storm" of AI-driven cyber threats looming on the horizon. He stated, “The days of fragmented security approaches are over—organisations must pivot to unified platforms powered by transparent and trustworthy AI to stay ahead.” This sentiment reflects the urgency for organisations to rethink their cybersecurity strategies in light of increasing sophistication in cyber attacks.
One primary trend for 2025 is the shift towards a unified data security platform. As organisations face growing complexity in their cybersecurity environments, they are expected to consolidate their tools into a single platform for enhanced visibility and control. This approach will help address the ongoing skills shortage in the sector, enabling more efficient management of security across various layers, including networks, code repositories, and cloud workloads.
Deepfakes are predicted to become more prevalent in APAC, with cybercriminals increasingly utilising this technology for deceptive attacks. Past incidents have already demonstrated the effectiveness of deepfakes in targeting corporations for financial gain. As generative AI technology improves, the credibility of these attacks is likely to escalate, with audio deepfakes becoming more common.
The potential for quantum computing to disrupt cybersecurity is another area of concern. Although quantum attacks on current encryption methods remain theoretical, nation-state actors are expected to employ "harvest now, decrypt later" strategies, targeting sensitive data with the intent to exploit it once quantum technology matures. To counter these threats, organisations must adopt quantum-resistant technologies and begin transitioning to post-quantum cryptographic standards.
In the AI era, transparency will play a crucial role in maintaining customer trust. As regulators focus on the ethical use of AI, organisations will need to communicate openly about their AI models, particularly regarding data collection and decision-making processes. This transparency will be essential for fostering trust among customers and stakeholders.
Lastly, an increased focus on product integrity and supply chain security is anticipated. In 2025, organisations are expected to conduct thorough risk assessments and enhance their monitoring of infrastructure and application performance metrics, particularly in complex cloud environments.
As cyber threats evolve, these predictions serve as a vital guide for organisations aiming to bolster their cybersecurity frameworks.
“Attacks using Generative AI, in particular deepfakes are proving to be a major challenge for ASEAN organisations. This, combined with the increased speed, scale and sophistication of threats will force ASEAN organisations to modernise their cybersecurity postures with a centralised, AI-driven, scalable, cloud-based approach, in 2025,” opined Steven Scheurmann, regional vice president for ASEAN, Palo Alto Networks