Experts are urging Asia-Pacific businesses to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their cybersecurity strategies in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. As hackers leverage AI technologies to enhance their attack methods, organizations must adopt similar tools to fortify their defenses, especially as the new year approaches. Steve Ledzian, chief technology officer for Google Cloud Security and Mandiant in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, underscored the urgency, stating that AI-enabled cyberattacks have become standard practice, significantly elevating both the scale and effectiveness of such operations.
Ransomware and extortion continue to pose substantial risks to businesses, with financial impacts of tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars per incident, Ledzian noted. To combat these threats, he recommends that companies implement converged, AI-powered platforms that utilize agentic AI and threat intelligence to expedite threat detection and investigation. As the landscape of cyber threats evolves, organizations must adapt their technological strategies to stay ahead of potential attacks.
AI is not only streamlining mundane tasks, such as report writing and analyzing extensive logs, but is also being deployed proactively to identify early signs of impending attacks. This includes monitoring large volumes of Internet domains that hackers typically register to launch future attacks. Paul Wilcox, vice-president for Asia-Pacific and Japan at cybersecurity firm Infoblox, emphasized the enhanced capabilities of AI in this domain. Traditional domain name system (DNS) monitoring tools have existed for some time, yet the integration of AI allows for more nuanced insights derived from long-term data analysis, enhancing the detection of anomalies that could indicate malicious activities.
Wilcox elaborated that AI can discern patterns in Internet traffic, such as unusual spikes in requests for specific domains or the geographic dispersal of domains that would normally be localized. This capability allows businesses to identify potential threats before they materialize. He noted that in some cases, domains established years prior have subsequently been used as launchpads for attacks. AI-assisted DNS tools are now not limited to conventional servers or personal computers; they also protect operational technology (OT) devices like air-conditioning sensors and surveillance cameras, which often operate with minimal oversight.
As businesses increasingly depend on AI to manage these devices autonomously, experts warn that this shift necessitates an upgrade in security measures. Kenneth Lai, vice-president for Asean at Internet infrastructure provider Cloudflare, highlighted a move toward a new security model known as “agent-less zero trust.” This approach verifies the identity of every machine interaction in real-time, transforming the entire network into a trusted security framework for automated machinery. However, achieving this level of security requires organizations to first establish a solid foundational cybersecurity strategy.
Daniel Toh, chief solutions architect for Asia-Pacific and Japan at defence and technology conglomerate Thales, pointed out that many cybersecurity incidents stem from internal misconfigurations rather than sophisticated external breaches. According to recent studies, 44% of all cloud security incidents are attributed to misconfigurations in identity and access management. Toh predicts a shift in focus among cybersecurity leaders towards resilience in the coming year, with an emphasis on zero-trust methodologies designed to bolster their security posture against potential disruptions.
The ongoing race to enhance AI capabilities in cybersecurity is expected to intensify as organizations strive to keep pace with evolving threats. However, Toh cautions that without addressing foundational security weaknesses, businesses risk becoming easy targets. As the threats grow more complex, the need for robust cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly urgent, highlighting the critical role that AI will play in shaping the future of digital defense.
See also
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Cybersecurity Risks for 2026: AI-Driven Attacks and Misinformation Loom Large
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