In the AI ​​era, cyber threats are intensifying, and Thai organizations must urgently prepare to respond.

Businesses worldwide are accelerating their digital transformation, but this increased digital adoption also attracts a rise in cyberattacks. Currently, Thailand ranks among the countries in Southeast Asia experiencing the highest increase in ransomware and phishing incidents. As a result, both the public and private sectors need to invest more actively in strengthening their cybersecurity systems.

Article by Nattawich Wongsithiroj, Regional Technical Head, ManageEngine.

The rapid growth of digital transformation across various industries, from banking and finance to healthcare, manufacturing, and e-commerce, has led to a continuous increase in cyberattacks. A recent report from Kaspersky, a global leader in cybersecurity, indicates that Thailand ranks among the countries facing the highest increase in ransomware and phishing incidents in Southeast Asia. This has prompted both the public and private sectors to urgently invest in strengthening their cybersecurity systems.

Thailand's cybersecurity landscape is facing increasing pressure. A survey conducted by global cybersecurity firm Fortinet found that nearly 58% of organizations in Thailand had been attacked by AI-driven cyber threats in the past year.

Cybersecurity in the AI ​​era is becoming increasingly important, alongside the development of modern technologies. In recent years, AI has become a powerful tool for combating and addressing cyber threats. Therefore, the convergence of AI and cybersecurity has enormous potential to transform how we defend against increasingly sophisticated and evolving threats. By leveraging AI technologies such as machine learning and predictive analytics, organizations can strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and gain a competitive advantage in responding to ever-evolving cyber threats.

The interconnectedness of today's digital world necessitates a proactive approach for organizations, requiring the development and deployment of advanced AI systems capable of detecting and preventing cyber threats in real-time. Automating repetitive tasks allows security experts to focus on strategic issues while detecting malicious behavior faster and more accurately than humans.

Based on domestic data and analysis, cyberattacks in Thailand are on the rise in both quantity and sophistication. Industry monitoring and reporting reveal a rapid increase in automated phishing calls and messages, with Gogolook Thailand detecting over 168 million in 2024, reflecting the expansion of large-scale and more sophisticated social engineering attacks. Meanwhile, regional threat analysis firms, including reports from the Thailand Computer Emergency Response Team (ThaiCERT), continue to highlight the ongoing activity of advanced attack groups targeting Thailand's government, telecommunications, and healthcare sectors.

Balancing automation and human expertise.

While AI plays a crucial role in strengthening cybersecurity, it also brings new risks. Hackers can use AI to develop more sophisticated and undetectable attacks, while false positives can cause unnecessary panic and waste organizational resources. To address these challenges, organizations should adopt a holistic cybersecurity strategy that integrates AI-powered tools with traditional measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, and ongoing employee training.

To fully utilize the potential of cybersecurity in the AI ​​era, collaboration between humans and machines is crucial. While AI can efficiently perform repetitive and time-consuming tasks, security experts remain instrumental in interpreting results and making decisions on strategically important issues. AI should be viewed as a powerful tool that enhances human capabilities, not as a technology that will replace humans entirely.

Using AI to combat evolving threats.

The government has declared 2025 the “Year of Cybersecurity” and issued regulations requiring organizations to implement advanced security measures such as SSL/TLS, multi-factor authentication (MFA), regular patching, and intrusion detection systems. This is particularly relevant for critical infrastructure and government agencies under the Cybersecurity Act of 2562. These measures align with the global trend of accelerating the adoption of AI to enhance cybersecurity capabilities across all sectors.

Cybersecurity in the AI ​​era presents both new challenges and opportunities. As threats become more sophisticated, traditional defenses alone are no longer sufficient to protect critical data. Leveraging the power of AI allows organizations to detect, prevent, and respond to attacks more effectively and accurately. However, success depends on balancing the capabilities of AI with human expertise. When humans and technology work together, organizations can strengthen their defenses and jointly build a more sustainable and secure digital world.

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