92% of PH firms now use AI to fight cyber threats, study shows

Insider Spotlight

• 92% of PH organizations now use AI in their cybersecurity systems
• 78% faced AI-powered attacks in the past year
• 80% increased cybersecurity budgets, but many teams remain short-staffed
• Data source: 2025 IDC survey commissioned by Fortinet
  
  

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming the new sidekick in keeping Filipino businesses safe online.

A new IDC survey commissioned by Fortinet found that 92 percent of organizations in the Philippines are now using AI in their cybersecurity systems — proving it’s no longer just a buzzword but a business necessity.

Why it matters

With cyberattacks getting faster and smarter, companies are turning to AI to predict and stop them before they strike. The study revealed that 78 percent of local firms encountered AI-powered threats in the past year, with many reporting double or even triple the usual attack volume.

Smarter tools, smarter teams

AI now handles the heavy lifting — scanning, detecting, and responding to potential risks — while people focus on strategy. Still, most firms keep AI in a “co-pilot” role, guiding human analysts rather than taking full control.

“Organizations are no longer experimenting with AI—they’re embedding it across threat detection, incident response, and team design,” said Simon Piff, research vice-president at IDC Asia-Pacific, in a press release. “This signals a new era of smarter, faster, and more adaptive security operations.”

Budgets climb, but teams struggle

Nearly 80 percent of companies boosted cybersecurity spending this year, though most increases were modest. Most of that money goes into identity security, zero-trust frameworks, and cloud protection, showing a shift from buying tools to building intelligence.

However, the human side still lags. Only 13 percent of IT teams focus on cybersecurity, and just 6 percent of organizations have a dedicated chief information security officer (CISO), leaving many teams overstretched.

“CISOs across the Philippines are entering a more advanced phase of cybersecurity planning—one where AI doesn’t just defend but shapes how teams and budgets are structured,” said Bambi Escalante, country manager of Fortinet Philippines.

The bottom line

AI is becoming the new cyber sidekick for Filipino firms — smarter, faster, and always learning. But as the digital battlefield evolves, the real challenge is building teams and trust to match the tech’s growing power. – Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma

Source: IDC Info Snapshot, “State of Cybersecurity in Asia/Pacific: From Constant Risk to Platform-Driven Resilience,” sponsored by Fortinet (August 2025).