Palo Alto Networks has unveiled its inaugural Cybersecurity Benchmark Study for Asia-Pacific and Japan, revealing that mid-market organisations are increasing their cybersecurity investments, yet still face significant challenges in operationalising artificial intelligence (AI) and adopting frameworks like NIST 2.0. The study, which includes insights from Singapore, highlights that whilst cyber budgets now constitute 15.2% of revenue, gaps in governance and identity management persist.
The report indicates that Singapore’s cybersecurity benchmark score of 19.28 out of 25 is slightly above the regional average, yet it trails behind other ASEAN markets.
This underscores the need for enhanced investment in cybersecurity capabilities and organisational alignment. Despite the increase in spending, many organisations struggle with fragmented tool stacks and low AI maturity, hindering their ability to respond to threats in real-time.
Michelle Saw, Vice President of Ecosystems for Asia-Pacific and Japan at Palo Alto Networks, stated, “Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue, it’s a business priority. As threats grow more sophisticated and AI reshapes the threat landscape, our benchmark study reveals that many mid-market organisations are still catching up.”
Key findings from the study show that 49% of organisations currently use partners for cybersecurity solutions, a figure expected to rise to 85% within two years. Additionally, the study highlights that AI-related capabilities are among the lowest-performing areas in cybersecurity programmes, despite growing awareness.
As mid-market firms in Singapore and the region continue to navigate the complexities of digital transformation, the study suggests a more integrated, AI-driven platform approach is necessary to build cyber resilience. The growing reliance on partners further emphasises the need for collaboration across the ecosystem to develop smarter, more adaptive security strategies.
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