While thinking about what to write for this month’s column, I had a few ideas I could focus on. Rather than pick one from various items that have caught my attention in the last few weeks, I thought, “Why choose?” So, I didn’t!
Instead, I highlight four articles about the use of technology and the global growth in Asia, with links to the original articles for you to read. The overall message from these articles (and others) is that the global importance of the Asia region is on the rise. The stat that predicts that Asia will be home to approximately 52% of the global population aged 18 to 24 by 2040 is particularly eye-opening. This is a tremendous resource for our region.
Identity-Related Cyberattacks
Let’s start with a CIO Asia article that focuses on protecting digital identities. Identity-based cyberattacks continue to pose significant risks to organisations, targeting both human and non-human identities such as user accounts, application credentials, and device-to-device authentication. As these attacks grow more sophisticated, cybercriminals are now leveraging generative AI to craft highly convincing phishing attacks, making credential theft harder to detect and prevent.
To combat these evolving threats, organisations must prioritise identity security by implementing robust authentication and access control measures. A proactive approach includes:
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Ensures that every login attempt is verified beyond just passwords.
- Single Sign-On (SSO) – Streamlines access management while improving security.
- AI-Driven Threat Detection – Identifies and responds to suspicious identity-related behaviour in real time.
- Zero Trust Security Principles – Enforces a “never trust, always verify” approach to access control.
However, as identity security solutions continue to expand, tool sprawl can lead to integration challenges and security gaps. To build a resilient cybersecurity strategy, organisations must adopt well-integrated solutions that provide visibility, control, and automation over identity security.
At Halodata, we work with a trusted network of cybersecurity vendors to help businesses strengthen their identity security posture with the right tools and expertise.
Read the CIO Asia article at https://cioworldasia.com/2025/01/13/best-practices-to-combat-identity-related-cyberattacks/.
The Growing Global Importance of Asia
McKinsey recently published an article titled CEO imperatives in Asia’s new era. In it, five analysts from McKinsey’s Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice cover how Asia is poised to significantly expand its global influence by 2040 by potentially contributing 42% of global GDP, hosting 60% of Fortune Global 500 companies, and encompassing 55% of the world’s workforce. Advancements in semiconductors, e-commerce, cloud services, and renewable energy are all driving the growth. To capitalise on these opportunities, CEOs of Asian companies should focus on four key areas:
Strategic Planning Amid Geopolitical Uncertainties – Industries will face varying challenges due to geopolitical shifts. CEOs must engage in robust scenario planning to effectively navigate these complexities.
Developing a Global Presence – By making strategic investments, building resilience, fostering growth-enabling capabilities, and enhancing core competencies, Asian companies can establish themselves as global players.
Fostering Innovation in AI and Transformational Technologies – With Asia projected to produce over 80% of global AI patents by 2040, CEOs should encourage AI-driven research and development to maintain a competitive edge.
Engaging Digitally Savvy Youth – As Asia becomes home to approximately 52% of the global youth aged 18 to 24, companies should tailor their strategies to connect with this demographic through digital platforms and personalised experiences.
By addressing these imperatives, Asian companies can take advantage of the global stage. Read more at the source: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/ceo-imperatives-in-asias-new-era.
A subset of the report’s authors also wrote an article on the same subject for Bloomberg. It is titled The rise of Asian global players, and you can also read that article on the McKinsey site at https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/future-of-asia/the-rise-of-asian-global-players.
Innovative manufacturing in Asia
The Asia Pacific region is the world’s largest manufacturing and consumer hub, and IDC analysts predict continued growth despite challenges. The analysts report that Governments in the region are actively supporting their manufacturing sectors by implementing initiatives that accelerate digital transformation, enhance connectivity infrastructure, and create new opportunities for manufacturers and technology vendors alike.
To navigate the supply chain complexities and competitive pressures in the region, IDC reports that manufacturers are focusing on flexibility and productivity to achieve operational gains. The rising costs of raw materials, driven by global supply constraints and fluctuating commodity prices, along with market dynamics leading to shorter lead times, add further complexity to supply chain management. In response, there is a growing interest in adopting technology solutions that integrate production processes with supply chain management.
Notably, IDC says that 30% of Asia/Pacific manufacturers have reported that advanced planning and scheduling (APS) solutions significantly contribute to meeting their operational key performance indicators. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) will be pivotal in enhancing performance and integration across various systems and processes. IDC predicts that by 2027, over 30% of Asia-based Top 2000 manufacturers will invest in new APS deployments.
Maintaining high product quality amidst increasing manufacturing complexity is another critical factor moving forward. The diversity of potential defects and limitations in real-world testing data challenge traditional inspection systems, potentially affecting product quality and consumer trust. AI offers solutions by streamlining data management. Machine Learning enables businesses to efficiently collect and organise large amounts of structured and unstructured data from various sources. This data allows for AI-driven analysis to identify potential risks, informs decision-making, and helps deliver process optimisation. Additionally, through synthetic data augmentation, GenAI facilitates comprehensive and accurate simulations and digital twins that align with real-world scenarios to enhance quality control measures.
In summary, the Asia/Pacific manufacturing landscape is still undergoing a significant technology-driven transformation. The advancements enable manufacturers to navigate complex supply chains, maintain high-quality standards, and capitalise on new growth opportunities within Asia and globally. Read the IDC article at https://blogs.idc.com/2025/02/10/empowering-future-manufacturing-ai-and-operational-technologies-for-2025-and-beyond/.
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