Cybercrime in Australia is accelerating and becoming harder to detect as attackers adopt AI tools, according to new research by IDC for Fortinet.
The survey found that 51 per cent of Australian organisations encountered AI-powered threats in the past year, with 76 per cent reporting the volume of attacks had doubled, and 16 per cent saying it had tripled.
These AI-driven threats include self-evolving malware, AI-assisted credential attacks, deepfake impersonation, and AI-enhanced zero-day exploits. Only 32 per cent of organisations said they were “very confident” in their ability to defend against such attacks, while 15 per cent admitted AI threats are outpacing their detection capabilities.
Simon Piff, Research Vice President at IDC Asia-Pacific, said the findings of this survey point to a growing need for AI-accelerated defence strategies across Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC).
“Organisations are facing a surge in stealthy, complex threats—from misconfigurations and insider activity to AI-enabled attacks—that bypass traditional detection methods. A shift toward integrated, risk-centric cybersecurity models is critical to staying ahead. In this new threat landscape, reactive security is no longer enough; predictive, intelligence-driven operations must become the norm.”
The survey revealed that the threat landscape is now defined by constant exposure, rather than isolated incidents. Common threats reported in Australia include denial-of-service (60 per cent), software supply chain attacks (59 per cent), cloud vulnerabilities (59 per cent), ransomware (56 per cent), and insider threats (51 per cent).
While financial losses from cyberattacks are growing, 54 per cent of businesses suffered monetary losses, and 34 per cent exceeded US$500,000, many security teams remain under-resourced. The study found that only 13 per cent of IT staff are dedicated to cybersecurity, and just 15 per cent of organisations have a standalone chief information security officer (CISO).
Budget allocation is also falling short. Although 80 per cent of businesses have increased cybersecurity investment, most of the increases were under 10 per cent. On average, just 1.4 per cent of total revenue is spent on cybersecurity.
Glenn Maiden, Director of Threat Intelligence at Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs, said organisations must approach security defence as a dynamic and continuously evolving ecosystem.
“This requires more than simply adopting the latest technologies. Lasting resilience comes from effectively embedding and optimising security solutions in alignment with people and processes.
“Fortinet is focused on helping companies shift from piecemeal defences to AI-powered security systems that are built for scale and sophistication. As the market shifts from infrastructure-centric models to more strategic priorities such as access, identity, and fortification, Fortinet is assisting customers to position cybersecurity as a long-term business enabler rather than just a protective measure.”
Despite efforts to consolidate security systems, 74 per cent of organisations are pursuing this approach, many still struggle with tool complexity and integration. The top benefits sought from vendor consolidation include faster support (59 per cent), cost savings (53 per cent), better integration (53 per cent), and improved security posture (51 per cent).
To stay up to date on the latest industry headlines, sign up to the C&I e-newsletter.
Click Here For The Original Source.
