As Hong Kong braces against phishing, ransomware surge, and alert fatigue, enterprises look to adopt AI and automation for security operations based on a survey commissioned by Fortinet and conducted by IDC.
Current security challenges
The survey on the state of Security Operations (SecOps) in the Asia-Pacific region revealed that 40% of organizations consider identity theft and Insider threats the most predominant cyber threats in HK.
Moreover, 56% of organisations reported ransomware incidents doubled in 2023 compared to 2022, with phishing and malware as primary attack vectors.
Around 72% point to remote work as the cause of an increase in insider threat incidents. Moreover, emerging technologies, such as cloud adoption, impact vulnerability to cyber threats.
Alert fatigue and threat containment
The report also revealed that only 50% of enterprises have dedicated IT resources for security teams. Over half (56%) feel they are underequipped to contain cyber threats containment. Cybersecurity teams also struggle with alert fatigue, as 2 out of 5 enterprises handle more than 500 incidents daily.
Preparedness
Results indicated that around 70% prioritize faster threat detection, while almost 60% aim to increase overall threat detection capabilities through automation.
“The integration of AI-assisted tools, reassessment of staffing, potential outsourcing, and increased automation emerge as imperative facets highlighted by the survey, emphasizing the urgency for organizations to embrace automation strategically,” Simon Piff, Research vice president at IDC Asia-Pacific.
“Fortinet's Security Operations Solutions, underpinned by advanced AI, not only addresses the pressing need for automation but provides a comprehensive strategy for incident detection and response,” Lawrence Tsui, Business Development & Strategic Solutions director, Hong Kong, Macau & Mongolia at Fortinet.