The balance of power in cyber warfare is shifting, particularly in regions like Asia, where the digital economy is expanding rapidly. Cybercriminals exploit economic vulnerabilities to launch attacks with minimal investment. As businesses find themselves caught in this escalating cyber battle, they must rethink their defenses—not only to survive but also to outsmart their attackers.

Cyber attacks can be devastating for organizations. A single attack can lead to a stock price plunge of up to 9%, with companies taking an average of 79 days to recover. Moreover, organizations face potential annual revenue losses of up to US$49 million due to downtime caused by cyber incidents. The economics clearly favor the attackers, who can exploit vulnerabilities at a fraction of the cost businesses must spend on defense.

However, the notion that defense is a losing game is far from true.

The double-edged sword of cybersecurity: AI

The emergence of AI-enhanced cyber-attacks is indeed a significant concern for businesses. Our latest research shows that 45 percent of respondents believe Gen AI will be a net win for cyber attackers, and a staggering 77 percent say it expands the attack surface to a concerning degree.

So, what makes these attacks more challenging? First, the increasing sophistication. Cybercriminals are using AI to create more complex and stealthy malware, making it harder for traditional security measures to detect. Then, there’s the issue of volume and speed. AI allows for the rapid creation and spread of malware, and this sheer pace can be overwhelming.

Thirdly, the evasion techniques used by AI-generated malware are another major challenge. These are designed to dodge detection and can often slip past security measures. A recent report by Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA) reveals that over a third of phishing attempts in 2023 used the more credible-looking “.com” domain—a 20 percent increase from 2022. Additionally, more than half of reported phishing URLs used the “HTTPS” protocol, a significant jump from just 9 percent the previous year.

Yet AI is not solely a weapon for attackers — companies can also harness AI to enhance their cybersecurity defenses.

Leveraging the right tools is critical in battling AI-generated malware. The saying “you can’t protect what you can’t see” rings true – it’s essential for organisations to maintain end-to-end visibility across their networks in order to detect and respond to threats in real time. Tools that provide full-stack insight, powered with advanced analytics and AI capabilities, can significantly amplify an organization’s ability to detect and mitigate AI-generated malware.

Another way organizations can fight back is through penetration testing and threat hunting. These proactive measures help find vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Regular vulnerability assessments are key to staying ahead of the curve, ensuring that security measures remain up-to-date with the ever-evolving threat landscape.

So, while the challenges are real, with these strategies in place, organizations can effectively manage the risks posed by AI.

The right investment pays off

To combat advanced cyber threats, companies must invest in both tools and talent. Our Hidden Costs of Downtime report reveals that organizations spend an average of US$43.3M annually on cybersecurity and observability. This investment is essential to maintaining uptime and staying ahead of cyber risks.

Notably, these resilient leaders also recover from downtime 28 percent faster and cyber incidents 23 percent quicker than others — and they adopt AI-driven tools at four times the rate of their peers. This proactive approach sets them apart in the cybersecurity landscape, positioning them as industry frontrunners.

Companies also need to rethink their strategies and place a greater emphasis on collaboration and tool consolidation. Figures show that digitally resilient organizations are breaking down silos, particularly between engineering, security, and IT operations. In fact, 76 percent of leading organizations have increased their collaboration with IT operations this year to improve digital resilience. By fostering better communication and integrating systems across departments, these organizations can respond to challenges more effectively and maintain stronger, more cohesive digital defenses.

Another key strategy is tool consolidation — over 40 percent of organizations pivot between too many disparate security tools and management consoles, causing dashboard overload and distractions from critical threats. This can lead to alert fatigue, burnout, and higher turnover among talent. By consolidating tools, companies can streamline operations, improve visibility, and enhance their ability to detect and respond to threats. This approach not only boosts efficiency but also enables cybersecurity professionals to focus on more impactful tasks.

The human element: collaboration is key

While the right tools are critical in the fight against cyber threats, the human element remains indispensable. Our State of Security report results show that the perception of managing cybersecurity requirements is almost evenly split, with 41 percent saying it has become easier, while 46 percent find it more difficult. This suggests that while challenges persist, improvements are also being made in the cybersecurity landscape.

One major factor contributing to this improvement is collaboration. An overwhelming 87 percent of respondents report working more closely with other teams compared to a year ago, which is crucial for building a more resilient defense against cyber threats.

However, cybersecurity remains complex, especially amid the escalating threat environment. Organizations attempting to implement basic cybersecurity controls may struggle to secure additional assets and endpoints, making it harder to protect against simple human errors, like misconfigurations, which rank as this year’s top threat vector.

Adapt and innovate to survive

As cyber-attacks grow in complexity and scale, businesses must recognize that the economic advantage currently enjoyed by attackers can be mitigated with the right strategies. By integrating AI with traditional tools, automating processes, and fostering collaboration, organizations can shift the balance of power in their favor.

In an era where cyber warfare is increasingly driven by economics, those who adapt and innovate will outsmart their attackers and secure their digital future.


Robert Pizzari is Vice President of Strategic Advisory for APAC at Splunk. Robert is a business and technology leader and worked across several leading technology organizations over his 26-year career. He has a passion for Cyber Security and has dedicated himself to helping organizations deal with the complexities arising from Nation State and financially motivated threats and adversaries.

As the Vice President of Strategic Advisory for APAC at Splunk, Robert is focused on helping organizations in the modernization of security operations, threat intelligence, behavioral analytics, automation, orchestration, and response capabilities required to sustain a modern security posture.

Prior to Splunk, Robert was at Check Point, where he led the Top 35 Global Accounts (Fortune 100) at Check Point across APAC and held multiple leadership positions in his previous tenure with FireEye,
Trustwave, F5, and Cisco.

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