In the past few years, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has reported a significant shift toward integrating security-first strategies within enterprise digital transformation efforts. This trend was evident at the recent Check Point Software’s CPX 2025 APAC conference in Bangkok, where industry leaders from various sectors discussed their approaches and solutions for building resilience against ever-evolving cyberthreats. This article examines how these enterprises are navigating their digital transformation journeys and the common challenges they face in an increasingly hyperconnected world.
Common Challenges in Digital Transformation
Latency and Visibility Issues
With the explosive growth of hyperconnectivity, enterprises encounter persistent latency issues and a lack of visibility across their extensive networks. These challenges demand solutions that can maintain high performance without compromising security. The ability to strike an optimal balance between operational efficiency and thorough protection against cyber risks has become a pressing concern for many organizations in the APAC region.
The rise of interconnected devices and systems has dramatically increased data exchange rates, making traditional security measures inadequate. As enterprises expand their networks, ensuring real-time visibility into traffic and potential threats becomes crucial to prevent breaches and data loss. Advanced network security solutions that can swiftly identify and respond to potential threats help organizations maintain the requisite balance, fortifying their infrastructure against cybercriminal activities.
Rising Operational Costs
The continuous escalation of operational costs associated with maintaining and upgrading cybersecurity infrastructure is another significant challenge for APAC enterprises. As cyberthreats grow in complexity and frequency, the demand for sophisticated yet cost-effective security measures has become paramount. Organizations must invest in technologies that offer high-level protection without straining their financial resources.
Finding cost-effective solutions requires strategic planning and collaboration with trusted cybersecurity vendors. Enterprises may adopt scalable security solutions that align with their growth and evolving threat landscape. Streamlining security measures across different organizational layers and ensuring consistent policy enforcement can help mitigate costs while providing comprehensive protection. The ultimate goal is to defend against cyberattacks without causing financial strain, ensuring that investments in security yield substantial and sustained returns.
Case Studies: Solutions and Strategies
Vector Ltd’s Transition from Legacy Systems
Vector Ltd, a key distributor of gas and electricity in New Zealand, faced the intricate challenge of moving away from legacy systems. Aaron McKeown, the Chief Information Security Officer, emphasized the necessity of modernizing their technology to enhance security and support multi-factor authentication. The company’s transition to Check Point’s Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions was an essential step in upgrading their cybersecurity posture.
The successful migration required meticulous planning and thorough pilot testing. Vector undertook a strategic approach, involving initial tests with a small group of users to troubleshoot potential issues before a full-scale rollout. This gradual implementation ensured that the transition was smooth and that employees could seamlessly adjust to the new system. By prioritizing a detailed communication strategy, Vector effectively engaged stakeholders and garnered the necessary support for the transition.
SingAREN’s High-Speed Network Security
SingAREN, Singapore’s National Research and Education Network, confronted the unique challenge of securing high-speed networks vital for global research data exchange. Jon Lau, Vice President of SingAREN, elaborated on the pressing need to maintain network performance while ensuring security. Leveraging Check Point’s Quantum Maestro hyperscale network security solution, SingAREN successfully addressed these challenges.
The integration of advanced security solutions enabled SingAREN to gain comprehensive visibility into its network, optimizing traffic performance and significantly increasing throughput. By focusing on scalability and adaptability, the organization could mitigate latency issues and ensure robust protection against a rising tide of cyberattacks. Quantum Maestro’s capacity to deliver hyperscale security addressed the critical need for processing large volumes of data swiftly and securely. SingAREN’s proactive stance demonstrated the importance of using cutting-edge solutions to fortify high-speed networks against global cyber threats.
Virtusa’s Multi-Cloud Security Management
For Virtusa, a global digital engineering firm, managing security across multiple Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) posed considerable challenges. Salman Kaleem, Director of Technology and Cloud Security, shared their experience in orchestrating a secure multi-cloud environment. The firm adopted Check Point’s CloudGuard web application firewall (WAF) to streamline deployment and provisioning security measures at scale.
Virtusa’s implementation of CloudGuard provided a centralized dashboard that facilitated efficient monitoring and management of security policies across their cloud landscape. This approach enabled the firm to maintain a unified security posture while leveraging the benefits of multi-cloud environments. By ensuring 95% of its workloads remained securely deployed in the cloud, Virtusa minimized vulnerabilities and fortified its defenses against evolving cyberthreats. The integration of automated deployment solutions underscored the importance of agility and centralized oversight in managing complex cloud security frameworks.
SCBX’s Comprehensive Digital Ecosystem Security
The Thai fintech group SCBX, comprising 12 subsidiaries, faced the task of securing an expansive digital ecosystem. Tony Wongwanich, Head of Group Security Strategy & Advisory, emphasized the importance of maintaining visibility across their intricate digital infrastructure. The adoption of Check Point’s External Risk Management solution played a pivotal role in achieving this objective.
By focusing on key areas such as detecting threats or data leaks on the dark web, identifying fraudulent impersonations of their websites or executives, securing the supply chain, and monitoring their attack surface, SCBX could preemptively address potential vulnerabilities. The solution’s capabilities enabled the organization to identify and remove around 1,000 fake websites, social media pages, and applications. By doing so, SCBX could act swiftly to secure customer data leaks and address emerging threats. This comprehensive approach highlighted the necessity of proactive risk management in securing a vast digital ecosystem.
Broader Insights and Strategies
Understanding Secure Connection Architectures
During the CPX conference, Itai Greenberg, Chief Strategy Officer at Check Point Software, underscored the critical need for understanding the appropriate architecture for establishing secure connections. He pointed out the limitations of a cloud-only SASE architecture in terms of costs and latency. Instead, he advocated for adopting a hybrid mesh architecture to offer greater agility and secure connections across diverse environments.
The hybrid mesh approach combines the strengths of traditional network security with cloud-based solutions, delivering flexibility and comprehensive protection. By integrating various security measures, enterprises can achieve low-latency connections and effective threat management. This strategy also allows businesses to adapt to evolving demands and technological advancements, ensuring sustained resilience against cyberattacks. Greenberg’s insights provided a clear roadmap for organizations seeking to enhance their security frameworks while balancing performance and cost considerations.
Continual Learning and Adaptation
In recent years, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has seen a marked shift towards incorporating security-first strategies into enterprise digital transformation initiatives. This movement was particularly highlighted at the recent CPX 2025 APAC conference hosted by Check Point Software in Bangkok. Here, thought leaders across various industries shared their insights and strategies for bolstering resilience against the continuously evolving landscape of cyberthreats. This article explores how these enterprises are successfully navigating their digital transformation journeys, detailing the solutions they are implementing and the common hurdles they encounter in a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected and reliant on digital infrastructure. By prioritizing security, these organizations aim to protect their data and assets while reaping the benefits of advanced technologies. The discussions at the conference underscored the significance of a proactive stance in cybersecurity to ensure sustainable growth and innovation in the APAC region.
