Financial transformation has emerged as a critical imperative for organizations in 2024, driven by the need to adapt to rapidly changing economic conditions, technological advancements, and evolving business landscapes. Coming into 2025, as CFOs face pressure to do more with less while driving growth and maintaining compliance, they are turning to digital solutions and holistic approaches to reshape and modernize financial processes. This transformation goes beyond simply adopting new te...
Contrary to their predictive decline in value, a 2024 Forrester report noted that among global infrastructure hardware decision-makers, 61% said that their firm uses a mainframe. Of those that use mainframes, 54% indicated that their organisation would increase its use of a mainframe over the next two years”.With 71% of Fortune 500 companies still using mainframes, advancing technologies and evolving business drivers in 2024 highlight the challenges posed by neglecting mainframe modernisation...
As we move deeper into the digital age, the significance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated, particularly in Asia, a continent characterized by its diverse cultures and rapidly evolving economies. By 2025, fostering community cybersecurity readiness will be crucial for several reasons, including protecting economic stability, safeguarding cultural heritage, and enhancing social cohesion amidst the growing threats posed by cybercrime.Sharing with us his views on just how organisations can d...
Gartner defines privileged access management (PAM) as tools that provide an elevated level of technical access through the management and protection of accounts, credentials and commands used to administer or configure systems and applications. Available as software, SaaS or hardware appliances, PAM tools manage privileged access for both people (system administrators and others) and machines (systems or applications). Gartner defines four distinct tool categories for PAM tools: pri...
As Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024 unfolds, it is critical for organizations, especially in Asia, to emphasize the tangible business value of cybersecurity investments. With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated and pervasive, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue; it is a fundamental aspect of business resilience and growth. Demonstrating the return on investment (ROI) from cybersecurity initiatives can help secure ongoing support from stakeholders, drive informed d...
As we enter a new era defined by rapid advancements in generative AI, the landscape of cybersecurity is evolving at an unprecedented pace. These powerful tools, capable of creating content and automating tasks, present both opportunities and significant risks for organizations across Asia. With the potential for misuse in generating deepfakes, phishing attacks, and automated malware, cybersecurity leaders must prioritize robust strategies to safeguard their digital environments. Emphasiz...
In today's digital landscape, fostering a security-aware culture is paramount for organizations in Asia. CIOs and CISOs play a crucial role in embedding cybersecurity into the organizational ethos. This involves not only implementing robust security measures but also promoting continuous education and awareness among employees. By cultivating an environment where security is a shared responsibility, organizations can better mitigate risks and respond effectively to threats. Encouraging o...
Cybersecurity resilience refers to an organization's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents while continuing to operate effectively. This resilience is not merely about having robust security measures in place; it also involves fostering a culture of security awareness and agility within the organization. As businesses undergo transformations—whether through digital transformation, mergers and acquisitions, or shifts in workforce dynamics—cybersecurity strategies...
CIOs face the challenge of balancing transparency with the competitive edge of proprietary AI models. This requires a strategic approach to communicate AI practices without compromising sensitive algorithms. As global AI regulations evolve, especially in Asia, CIOs must adopt flexible compliance strategies and foster a culture of adherence to both local and international guidelines.Choosing between custom solutions, vendor partnerships, or off-the-shelf software presents unique pros and cons....
As one of the most populous and rapidly developing nations, Indonesia faces unique sustainability challenges, from managing its natural resources to addressing social inequalities. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles have become integral to the country's long-term growth and development strategy, as businesses and policymakers recognize the need to balance economic progress with environmental protection and social responsibility.At the forefront of this movement are chief f...
The Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies 2024 highlights four dynamic areas: autonomous AI, developer productivity, total experience, and human-centric security and privacy programs, encompassing 25 groundbreaking technologies.While some of these innovations are still in their infancy, often lacking proven use cases and the expertise to implement them, they present both a challenge and an opportunity for CIOs and CTOs. The question arises: why should leaders invest their attention and...
The National Institute for Standards and Technologies defines cyber resiliency as the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse conditions, stresses, attacks, or compromises on systems that use or are enabled by cyber resources. According to the Veeam Ransomware Trends 2024, APJ edition, leaders in the region are increasing their budgets for cyber prevention and detection by 6.3%, while spending on recovering technologies will rise by 6.2%. The figures are doub...
The convergence of AI and ERP offers the potential to overcome traditional barriers to efficiency and accuracy in financial management, enabling Asian companies to compete more effectively on a global scale. AI-powered ERP systems can help address regional challenges such as complex regulatory environments, diverse currencies, and rapidly changing market conditions by providing more agile and responsive financial tools. However, challenges such as data security concerns, the need fo...
As the role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) continues to evolve, the need for a strategic approach to talent management has become increasingly crucial. In today's rapidly changing business landscape, finance leaders must focus on financial performance and ensure their teams are equipped with the skills and mindset to navigate future challenges.A sustainable talent management strategy is key to building a pipeline of skilled professionals committed to the organization's long-term success...
McKinsey says artificial intelligence (AI) adoption (globally) increased dramatically in 2024 after years of little meaningful change. Marketsandmarkets forecasts the AI market to reach US$407 billion by 2027, experiencing substantial growth from its estimated US$86.9 billion revenue in 2022. A Forbes Advisory survey reveals that 64% of businesses believe that AI will help increase their overall productivity. Now its all well and good to try out a technology and get it to work in a department...
IDC predicts by 2025, the cloud will surpass on-premises infrastructure as the primary location where operational data is stored, managed, and analysed for 65% of A2000 organisations.The rapid growth of data and the increasing complexity of managing it in the age of AI and hybrid cloud environments present significant challenges for organisations. As AI adoption accelerates, enterprises must rethink their data storage, management, and processing strategies to support performance-intensive wor...
Zero trust adoption in Asia has been gaining momentum, albeit with varying levels of progress across the region. While 76% of global organisations have begun implementing zero trust strategies, with 35% claiming full implementation, the Asia Pacific region shows a disparity in adoption rates. Organisations are motivated to adopt zero trust primarily to improve overall security, enhance user experience, and foster cooperation among security teams. Zero trust segmentation emerges as a viab...
The rapid advancement of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has ushered in a new era of technological innovation, offering unprecedented capabilities in content creation, problem-solving, and dare we say decision-making. However, this transformative technology also presents complex ethical challenges that must be navigated with utmost care and responsibility. As GenAI systems become increasingly integrated into various aspects of our lives, fostering consumer trust rises in ...
Gartner discourse with finance leaders reveal that these very same leaders see a future for finance that is digital, scalable and data-rich. At FutureCFO conferences around Asia, a common thread keeps coming up in discussions about digital transformation, delivering value and becoming partners to the business – the importance of upskilling finance teams. Gartner says CFOs must redefine the digital function to attract and retain the next generation of finance talent.In this PodChats for Future...
The proliferation of synthetic identities, which are fabricated identities created by combining real and fictitious personal information, has fuelled a surge in fraud across various industries. These synthetic identities are often used to open fraudulent accounts, obtain credit or loans, and engage in other illicit activities. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has exacerbated this issue, enabling criminals to generate highly realistic fake identities with ease, including fab...