APAC industries face rising ICS cyber threats
Kaspersky ICS-CERT reported that Southeast Asia ranked second globally by percentage of ICS computers where malicious objects were blocked in the first quarter (1Q) of 2025, while Central Asia ranked third and South Asia sixth.
APAC Kaspersky managing director Adrian Hia said ICS computers in the region recorded a higher infection rate of 23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, nearly three percentage points above the global average of 20.54 per cent.
He noted that in 2Q 2025, a new wave of phishing was blocked on ICS computers in the oil and gas sector in APAC. "This time, known spyware families like FormBook, AgentTesla and Noon were directly attached to the emails. Kaspersky solutions blocked all these attacks," he told the Cyber Security Weekend 2025, here today.
Citing ICS-CERT data, Hia said APAC is also among the top regions by virus detections, two to three times higher than the world average. The most affected industries include power energy, building automation, oil and gas, manufacturing, as well as ICS engineering and integration.
Although viruses are often considered legacy threats, they can cause operations disruption in the event of an outbreak, and they drive up maintenance costs.
Hia said the most affected APAC industries by virus threats in 2Q 2025 were power energy, building automation, oil and gas, manufacturing and ICS engineering and integration. "The most affected countries in terms of virus on ICS computers in 2Q 2025 were Vietnam, Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Nepal," he added.
To counter the escalating threats to critical infrastructure, Kaspersky urged the adoption of a layered cybersecurity framework, anchored by an intelligence-driven Security Operations Centre (SOC).
"This framework should start with prevention by using tools such as brand protection, attribution engines and compromise indicators, while also relying on incident response, penetration testing and cyber drills to minimise damage and accelerate recovery," Hia said.
He added that integrating IT and operational technology (OT) security through centralised SOC systems with real-time visibility will be crucial to ensuring resilience as APAC industries move towards greater digital and operational convergence. "With IT and OT integration set to accelerate in the years ahead, cybersecurity strategies in APAC must continue evolving, bridging both domains to secure operations and ensure resilience in an increasingly connected world," he concluded.
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New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
APAC industries face rising ICS cyber threats
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Kaspersky Partners with SIS International Limited to Expand Distribution in Hong Kong
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 July 2025 - Global cybersecurity and digital privacy company Kaspersky is pleased to expand its distribution network in Hong Kong by partnering with SiS International Limited. This collaboration reinforces Kaspersky's commitment to providing accessible, cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to businesses and individuals across the region. This strategic collaboration highlights SIS International Limited's dedication to delivering premium IT solutions and supporting the region's digital SiS International Limited, Kaspersky's industry-leading security products —including—will be more widely available, ensuring enhanced protection against evolving cyber threats."As cyber risks continue to grow, partnering with a trusted distributor like SIS International Limited allows us to strengthen our reach and better serve customers in Hong Kong," Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific. "This expansion ensures that businesses and individuals have seamless access to the cybersecurity tools they need to safeguard their digital environments."General Manager of Kaspersky in Greater China Alvin Cheng said, "We are honored that Kaspersky has signed an agency agreement with SIS International Limited. Currently, with the continuous escalation of cybersecurity challenges, Kaspersky's technologies and products possess significant advantages. By leveraging the resources of SIS International Limited, we are able to provide customized security services to enterprises in various sectors in Hong Kong, China. Through the joint efforts of both parties, we are certain to build a high-quality ecosystem, create more business opportunities, achieve a win-win situation, and drive the development of the industry.""We are deeply honored to be appointed as Kaspersky's official distributor in Hong Kong," said Raymond Au, general manager at SiS International Limited. "This partnership aligns seamlessly with our mission to provide cutting-edge IT solutions and enhance cybersecurity for our valued clients. We are committed to working closely with Kaspersky to deliver advanced security solutions tailored to the unique needs of the Hong Kong market."By joining forces with SIS International Limited, Kaspersky is enhancingacross Hong Kong. Clients can expect, reinforcing the region's defenses against modern cyber collaboration comes at a pivotal time when cybersecurity is of paramount importance, as businesses and individuals face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. By joining forces, Kaspersky and SiS International Limited are committed to fostering a secure digital environment and empowering organizations to thrive in the digital more information, please contact: Joe Lam, channel director, Kaspersky Hong KongEmail: [email protected] Website: Hashtag: #Kaspersky The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Kaspersky Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at About SIS International Limited SiS International Limited is one of the largest distributors of IT solutions across Asian countries. With over 30 years in the distribution business, SiS has managed to build long-term and trusting relationships with vendors and channel partners. As an experienced distributor, SiS International Limited provides a wide variety of products and offers professional technical services. By delivering business solutions to our customers, we assist in successfully proliferating their businesses.
