Sophos: Budget 2026 Strengthens Malaysia’s Cybersecurity Readiness Amid Rising AI Risks

KUALA LUMPUR: Sophos has praised Malaysia’s Budget 2026 for reinforcing the nation’s digital economy and cybersecurity readiness. Malis Selamat, Managing Director for ASEAN, Greater China and Korea at Sophos, said the measures announced demonstrate strong government commitment to digital resilience.

Cybersecurity Readiness

Citing Sophos’ Future of Cybersecurity in Asia Pacific and Japan 2025 report, he noted that 90% of Malaysian organisations face cybersecurity burnout, with AI adoption both improving response speeds and introducing new risks. The report found 36% of organisations report “shadow AI” usage, while 13% remain uncertain about its presence.

Malis welcomed initiatives such as the Cybercrime Bill, the new Cybersecurity and Cryptology Development Centre under NACSA, and the RM12 million allocation to the National Scam Response Centre. He said cybersecurity must now be treated as a strategic and cultural priority, with stronger governance, investment, and industry collaboration to sustain Malaysia’s digital growth.

Business News