Cyber threat in South East Asia

01 Dec 2016

Asia Pacific

Creating a Secure Organisation

Cyber Security

Cyber threat in South East Asia - who is being targeted and why

The number and impact of global cyber attacks has increased, according to data compiled by Control Risks’ dedicated Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) team based in Singapore.  Attacks perpetrated by criminal groups were the most common over the last year, doubling in frequency. Download the infographic

Politically-motivated attacks rose by 56%, underlining the contrasting motivations of hostile actors and the need for companies and governments to better understand the underlying drivers of cyber risk in order to isolate and mitigate the most relevant threats. 

Across South East Asia, government institutions were the most frequently targeted, accounting for approximately one-third of all attacks in the region.  Finance and telecommunications were the second most frequently targeted sectors, followed by mining, manufacturing and engineering. 

Attackers have tended to focus on compromising the integrity of data – modifying it for their own criminal ends – rather than seeking to steal confidential information or impact the availability of systems. 

The impact of each attack is also increasing in severity, as firms digitise and consequently become more reliant on online data.  The financial fallout for organisations can include the loss of revenue, fines from regulators, and loss of market share, in addition to legal challenges and reputational damage.