2019 Ponemon Study on Automation and Cybersecurity Staffing in Asia Pacific, United States and the UK shows an evolving Asia Pacific cybersecurity arena

By : Candra Mata | Tuesday, April 16 2019 - 11:16 IWST

Ponemon Institute
Ponemon Institute

INDUSTRY.co.id - Singapore, April 16, 2019 - DomainTools, a leader in domain name and DNS-based cyber threat intelligence, today announced the results of the study “Staffing the IT Security Function in the Age of Automation”, conducted in conjunction with the Ponemon Institute. 

More than 1,400 security professionals based across the Asia Pacific (APAC), US, and the UK provided answers on the impact that automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will have on the staffing of cybersecurity functions. All respondents in the study are responsible in attracting, hiring, promoting and retaining cybersecurity personnel within their organizations.

Universal Shortage of Cybersecurity Staff and Need for Automation

Results clearly indicated a shortage of cybersecurity staff across geographical regions (78% of all respondents admitted their teams are understaffed).

According to respondents, automation will provide a partial solution to the problem, relieving cybersecurity professionals of time-consuming and non-cost-effective tasks, such as malware analysis, which is either already automated (50%), or is planned to become so in the next three years (56%).

Only 35% of respondents, however, think that automation will reduce the headcount of their cybersecurity function: 40% even expect an increased need for hires with more advanced technical skills.

“Within just one year, the perspective around adoption of automated technologies has notably shifted among cybersecurity professionals,” said Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute. 

“Contrary to the popular belief that the rise of automation will threaten the job market, organizations now feel these technologies will help ease the current strain on resources, and offer the potential to promote job security for highly skilled staff, while strengthening cybersecurity defenses.”

UK and US respondents were much more confident that automation will improve their cybersecurity staff’s ability to do their job (59% and 65% of respondents, respectively) than APAC respondents (48%), who were also more likely to distrust AI as a cybersecurity tool (37% of respondents, compared to 31% in the UK and 24% in the US).

Asia Pacific Ahead in Cybersecurity Skills Availability 

Skills shortages also seemed to be lower in the APAC region (67%) compared to the UK (70%) and the US (78%), perhaps partially explaining the different level of reliance and trust on automation and AI across regions.

At the same time, the survey reported that 40% of respondents expect an increased need for hires with more advanced technical skills, aligning especially in Asia Pacific where governments and educational institutions are already accelerating specialized cybersecurity programs and initiatives, such as the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence announced during the Asean Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity (AMCC) in September 2018, where ASEAN nations are adopting a rules-based approach to regional cybersecurity frameworks. 

ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a ten-nation group comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Of those respondents who said AI is trusted as a security tool in their organizations, the majority listed staff shortages as the main reason why their enterprise has adopted the solution (53%).

“The results of the survey reveal that, overall, cybersecurity professionals are confident that automation will make their workload more manageable and will increase the accuracy of certain tasks, without jeopardizing their job security”, says Corin Imai, senior security advisor at DomainTools. 

“Although there are geographical differences in the level of confidence placed in AI and automation as cybersecurity tools, the reasons that motivate their adoption – relieving overworked teams, preventing downtime and business disruptions, reducing threats created by operating in the global digital economy, etc. – seem to be consistent across regions, suggesting that goals and expectations are aligned for organizations across the globe.”

News Comment

Today's Industry

Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI

Rabu, 28 Februari 2024 - 12:47 WIB

Carsurin and NBRI Strengthen Strategic Alliance to Propel Indonesia’s EV Industry

PT Carsurin Tbk ("Carsurin") and the National Battery Research Institute ("NBRI") are pleased to announce the signing of a pivotal Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA), marking a significant advancement…

Beras (Foto/Rizki Meirino)

Rabu, 21 Februari 2024 - 08:43 WIB

Gov’t to Continue Disbursing Rice Assistance

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ensured that the Government will continue rolling out the rice assistance program for low-income families. The President made the statement when handing…

Ilustrasi pabrik beras. (Foto: DetikFood)

Rabu, 21 Februari 2024 - 08:40 WIB

Bapanas Head Ensures Availability of Rice Stock Ahead of Ramadan

The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has ensured the availability of rice for the fasting month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 1445 Hijri/2024 CE. “We believe that there is enough rice for the fasting…

Receives Chairman of Jababeka (KIJA), Menpora Dito Ready to Support the Development of Sports SEZs

Rabu, 21 Februari 2024 - 08:23 WIB

Receives Chairman of Jababeka (KIJA), Menpora Dito Ready to Support the Development of Sports SEZs

Chairman of PT Jababeka Tbk (KIJA), Setyono Djuandi Darmono met the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Menpora RI) Dito Ariotedjo at the Kemenpora RI Office, Senayan,…

The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo Receives Aid for Palestine

Senin, 19 Februari 2024 - 17:39 WIB

The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo Receives Aid for Palestine

The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo welcomes the Radjiman Wedyodiningrat Warship (RJW-992) which arrived at the Al Arish Port, North Sinai Province of Egypt at 8.00 A.M. Cairo local time (13/02).…