Organizations across the Asia Pacific region are struggling to keep pace with increasingly complex cybersecurity threats, according to a new study commissioned by Fortinet and conducted by Forrester Consulting.
The findings, presented at Fortinet’s Accelerate 2026 event, highlight mounting pressures on security operations as AI-driven threats and fragmented tools overwhelm defenses.
The survey revealed that 57% of organizations view AI-driven threats as a primary concern, while 54% cite fragmented tools and architectures as drivers of excessive alert volumes.
Half of respondents admitted that the sheer number of alerts makes it difficult to distinguish genuine threats, with nearly 50% still relying on manual processes.
Despite ongoing investments, cyber maturity remains limited: 68% of organizations fall into the intermediate category, and only 16% have reached advanced maturity.
A shift toward unified, platform-based security solutions is underway. Currently, just 20% of organizations operate on a unified platform, but projections suggest adoption could rise to 59% within two years.
Cost and migration challenges remain barriers, with 51% citing disruption concerns and 46% uncertain about platform capabilities.
Still, expectations are high — 90% of organizations anticipate improvements in detection, response times, and analyst productivity.
AI investment is also accelerating, with 91% of organizations planning budget increases and more than half expecting double-digit growth.
Yet readiness gaps persist, as many firms struggle with fragmented environments, limited automation, and a lack of unified data.
Bambi Escalante, country manager of Fortinet Philippines, underscored the operational strain: “Organizations are grappling with complex environments characterized by fragmented tools and rising alert volumes, complicating their ability to respond to threats.”
Rashish Pandey, VP of marketing and communications at Fortinet Asia Pacific, added that while expectations for AI’s transformative impact are high, success depends on effective integration and operationalization.
The study points to a clear trend: without streamlined architectures and integrated platforms, organizations risk falling behind in the fight against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
