Philippine organizations race to close cybersecurity gap as AI threats accelerate, Fortinet study finds
A Fortinet-commissioned study by Forrester Consulting reveals Philippine and Asia-Pacific organizations face growing cybersecurity risks, with 57% citing AI-driven attacks as a top concern while 54% struggle with fragmented tools and overwhelming alert volumes. Only 16% of firms have advanced security postures, and while 91% plan to increase AI security budgets, readiness gaps persist due to manual workflows and disjointed architectures.
Philippine and Asia-Pacific organizations are struggling to defend against escalating cyber threats, particularly AI-driven attacks, according to a Fortinet-commissioned study by Forrester Consulting. The research found 57% of surveyed firms identify AI-powered cyberattacks as a primary concern, as attackers automate intrusions and exploit vulnerabilities at machine speed. Internal challenges worsen the threat: 54% report fragmented security tools and alert overload, while 50% admit difficulty distinguishing real threats from noise, creating critical blind spots. Security maturity remains low across the region, with 68% of organizations stuck at an intermediate level and just 16% achieving advanced defenses. This gap leaves most vulnerable as threats grow more complex and automated. In response, firms are shifting from multi-vendor toolsets to unified security platforms, though only 20% currently use them. Adoption is expected to triple to 59% within 12–24 months, driven by demands to reduce tool sprawl (58%), improve integration (52%), and manage hybrid IT complexity (49%). The expected benefits of consolidation are significant: 90% anticipate operational improvements, including at least a 10% boost in detection, response times, and SOC efficiency for over 60% of respondents. However, 51% cite migration costs and disruption risks as barriers, while 46% question whether platforms can cover all security needs. AI investment is rising sharply, with 91% of organizations planning budget increases and over half expecting double-digit growth. More than 60% expect AI to enhance threat detection and accelerate incident response, while 58% hope for more consistent policy enforcement. Yet fragmented environments and limited automation maturity hinder readiness, leaving firms eager to leverage AI but struggling to implement it effectively. The study underscores a critical mismatch: while AI-driven threats escalate, organizations are still reliant on manual workflows (48%) and lack unified data foundations. Without addressing these gaps, even increased AI spending may not fully mitigate growing cyber risks in the Philippines and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
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