NEWS
Aon report reveals surging AI cyberthreats in APAC
new report from Aon highlights a significant increase in both
A the frequency and complexity of cyber incidents across the Asia-Pacific region, largely driven by AI-powered attacks and geopolitical tensions. The 2025 Cyber Risk Report, based on data from over 3,200 Aon clients, reveals a 29 % year-over-year rise in cyber incidents in APAC, with a staggering 134 % increase over the past four years.
Notably, AI-driven deepfake attacks have contributed to a 53 % surge in social engineering incidents, leading to a 233 % increase in related insurance claims. Geopolitical forces, such as trade disputes and supply chain reconfigurations, are also shaping how APAC companies manage cyber risk. Malware and ransomware remain significant threats, often leading to reputational damage.
The report emphasizes that CIOs and business leaders in APAC need a clearer view of their cyber exposure, stronger alignment between cybersecurity and insurance strategies, and data-driven tools to make informed decisions amidst this evolving threat landscape. The findings underscore the urgency for robust cyber resilience strategies in the face of increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled attacks.
According to Adam Peckman, who leads risk consulting and cyber solutions for Aon in the region, nation-state actors are expected to continue leveraging cyber operations to advance economic and strategic objectives.
“ This trend is likely to accelerate with nation-state-backed threat actors continuing to employ cyber campaigns to facilitate conflicts or instigate grey-zone operations for the purposes of economic coercion, corporate espionage, or to harm regional rivals by targeting strategically important economic infrastructure,” he said.
Regulation and AI drive APAC financial firms towards multi-cloud models
new global survey by the London
A Stock Exchange Group( LSEG), featuring insights from 453 financial services executives, reveals that financial firms in APAC( and EMEA) are increasingly adopting multi-cloud models. The strategic shift is largely driven by evolving regulatory and AI demands, rather than just cost-cutting. The research found that 87 % of firms have increased cloud investment over the past two years, prioritizing scalability, revenue growth, and AI enablement.
Notably, 91 % of firms are currently using or planning to use cloud for AI-related initiatives within the next 12 months, with generative AI, fraud detection, and risk management being top use cases. While 84 % describe their firms as advanced in AI adoption, particularly investment firms, the report highlights the critical need for robust data governance and ethical AI frameworks. CIOs in the financial sector must navigate complex, country-specific regulations and ensure AI governance aligns with strategic goals, demanding new data storage tools and specialized talent.
Stuart Brown, Group Head of Data & Feeds at LSEG, said:“ The results of our survey show that adopting cloud is no longer a technology or engineering led decision; it is a key business imperative. Companies are increasingly driving meaningful value from the cloud, improving operational resilience, and preparing for the next wave of innovation.”
“ Over the next three years, that innovation will be driven by AI and machine learning, with financial institutions increasingly using cloud to power fraud detection, risk management, data analytics and generative AI.”
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