Korean corporations cited fragmented security tools and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-based threats as their top cybersecurity challenges.
Fortinet released the findings of its "APAC AI security operations status report" on the 10th. The report was commissioned by Fortinet and prepared by global consulting firm Forrester Consulting.
The survey found that 65% of respondents in Korea named "fragmented security tools and architecture" as the most urgent cybersecurity issue. AI-based threats followed at 63%.
In actual security operations, staffing and tool issues also proved burdensome. The reasons cited for difficulty in threat detection and response were staff shortages at 53% and fragmentation of security tools at 49%.
Cybersecurity maturity was not high. Among Korean corporations, 68% remained at an "intermediate stage," where tools and processes are not fully integrated and operational execution varies. In contrast, only 16% had reached an "advanced stage," where the overall security environment is integrated and AI is used in real operations.
In response, corporations are moving to shift their security architecture toward integrated security platforms. Only 20% currently operate an integrated security platform, but that share is projected to rise to 57% within 12–24 months.
The top reason for needing an integrated platform was resolving tool sprawl at 60%, followed by improving the level of integration at 56% and managing the complexity of hybrid environments at 42%.
Corporations said they aim to improve operational efficiency and scalability by focusing on SOC automation, visibility enhancements, and platform integration. For priorities over the next 12 months, however, incident response (44%) and improving threat detection (41%) ranked high, while simplifying security operations and resolving tool sprawl stood at 31%.
Cost burden was also cited as a major obstacle in the integration process. Among Korean respondents, 69% pointed to transition costs and potential operational downtime as barriers to platform integration. Another 55% said it is hard to be confident that a single platform can provide sufficient capabilities across multiple security domains. These figures were higher than the proportions across Asia-Pacific, at 51% and 46%, respectively.
As for AI, respondents saw it as both a new threat and a means to strengthen security capabilities. A total of 91% said they plan to increase their AI-related budgets, and more than half expected a double-digit growth rate.
More than 60% of respondents expected AI to contribute to better threat detection accuracy, faster response times, and overall security posture improvements. Reported benefits of AI adoption included reduced manual work at 57%, stronger centralized control at 56%, and more consistent policy enforcement at 54%.
However, in environments where security tools and data are not integrated, the use of AI also has limits. Forrester Consulting said, "APAC organizations face the dual challenge of AI-based threats and internal complexity; while investment is solid, they still struggle with security operations," adding, "a shift to an integrated, platform-based approach is key to improving visibility, efficiency, and resilience."