New Forrester Research: 79% of APAC Security Leaders to Boost Threat Intelligence Budgets in 2026

Cybersecurity in Asia Pacific (APAC) is undergoing a critical transformation. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and region-specific, organisations are rapidly investing in threat intelligence to stay ahead of adversaries. According to the latest Forrester report , The Top Trends Shaping Threat Intelligence in Asia Pacific, 79% of senior security decision-makers in the region plan to increase their threat intelligence budgets in 2026, outpacing their peers in Europe (71%) and North America (77%).

This surge in investment reflects a strategic shift from reactive security models to proactive, intelligence-led defence. Key takeaways from the report include:

• AI Bridges the Cybersecurity Talent Gap. APAC faces a severe shortage of cybersecurity professionals, with many organisations relying on generalist IT staff. To address this, firms are turning to AI-powered threat intelligence platforms. These tools are significantly improving efficiency, reducing threat analysis time by over 50% and cutting investigation-to-report creation from days to minutes. For example, CyberSecurity Malaysia used large language models to accelerate report generation, while CyCraft’s AI virtual analysts reduced investigation time from 3.5 days to just 15 minutes.

• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) Require Specialised Detection. APAC’s geopolitical importance and rapid digitalisation make it a prime target for nation-state-backed APT groups such as Lazarus Group and Dark Pink. Threat intelligence is becoming essential for detecting and mitigating these threats, particularly in sectors like government, financial services, and energy.

• Regulatory Complexity Accelerates Intelligence Adoption. The region’s fragmented regulatory landscape, spanning Singapore’s Cybersecurity Act to Australia’s Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme, demands sophisticated threat monitoring and reporting capabilities. Threat intelligence is increasingly viewed as a compliance-critical tool, helping firms align with diverse legal requirements, manage reputational risk, and ensure timely incident response.

• Fraud and Brand Protection Are Top Priorities. With APAC’s high digital adoption comes a surge in cyber fraud and brand impersonation. Organisations are leveraging threat intelligence to detect phishing campaigns, account takeovers, and data leaks. For instance, Gojek uses Group-IB’s dark web research tools to uncover fraudster tactics, including deepfake emulators and malicious scripts targeting mobile apps and APIs.

• AI Transforms Threat Intelligence Operations. Generative AI is revolutionising how threat intelligence is operationalised. From automated vulnerability identification to AI-powered alert triage, these technologies are enhancing detection speed and accuracy. Centralised platforms are also enabling firms to aggregate and correlate diverse threat data sources, streamlining security operations.

“The cybersecurity landscape in APAC is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and organisations can no longer afford reactive security models,” said Meng Liu, Senior Analyst at Forrester. “Threat intelligence, powered by AI and localised insights, is now a strategic imperative for businesses and government agencies seeking to protect their digital assets, comply with regulations, and stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threat actors. Security leaders must prioritise platforms that deliver contextual intelligence, integrate seamlessly with existing operations, and support compliance across diverse jurisdictions.”