National cyber security index ranking APAC 2023, by country
As of July 2023, Malaysia reached the highest score on the National Cyber Security Index among countries in the Asia-Pacific region, 79.22 out of 100. In contrast, Myanmar received 10.39 index points, the lowest score across APAC.
Cybercrime and industry composition in APAC
Cybercrime in the Asia-Pacific region has experienced a surge recently, not least attributable to rapid digital transformations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another important reason for the substantial number of attacks is the prevalence of manufacturing industries in the APAC region - cybercrime in the manufacturing industry is more common relative to other industries. In 2022, about a quarter of cyberattacks across industries worldwide occurred in the manufacturing industry. The industry’s economic significance, richness in intellectual property, and digitalized industrial processes tied to other sectors make it an attractive target for cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity in Malaysia
In 2022, the revenue growth of the cybersecurity market in the Asia-Pacific region was led by Malaysia, with a 15 percent growth. Even though Malaysia ranked highest in the national cyber security index in the region in 2023, a year earlier, the share of businesses that experienced cyber incidents in the Asia-Pacific region was largest in Malaysia, with about three-quarters of local companies experiencing such incidents. The Malaysian government has taken steps to create a safer cyber environment, including the establishment of the National Cyber Security Agency in 2017.
