Cybersecurity Awareness Month - BDO

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Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Secure. Confident. Ready.

The disconnect between digital transformation ambitions and cybersecurity execution is widening. While organisations invest in AI, cloud, and analytics to drive growth, only 40% embed cybersecurity at the planning stage. The result: delayed projects, higher risks, and weakened competitiveness in an increasingly digital-first world.

A new International Data Corporation (IDC) survey, sponsored by BDO, reveals the stark reality. Average response times to cyber incidents exceed four days, with full recovery over a week - delays that erode trust, disrupt operations, and stall innovation. Emerging risks from GenAI, including phishing, data leakage, and governance blind spots, highlight the urgent need for a cohesive risk management framework.

Ultimately, security must move upstream, embedded early and supported by expert teams, automation, and orchestration. 

The ultimate goal for BDO Cyber is ensuring that our clients feel: Secure. Confident. Ready.

Explore how you can scale securely and confidently with BDO.

Cybersecurity month articles

How to get the best ROI from your cybersecurity budget while reducing risk

15 October 2025

In today’s digital-first economy, cybersecurity budgets are increasing rapidly. Yet despite their growth, many organisations continue to experience frequent incidents.

According to Raymond Lim, Executive Director, Technology Advisory, BDO Malaysia, it is clear that cybersecurity is no longer a “nice to have” but a critical necessity. When planning a budget, organisations must determine what is fundamentally essential, guided by a risk-driven approach that prioritises the protection of core assets and operations.

Too often, businesses downplay the importance of cybersecurity, viewing it as an optional expense rather than a strategic investment—until a breach occurs and the lesson is learned the hard way. While some organisations manage to recover from an adverse incident, others suffer irreversible damage to their finances, reputation, and customer trust. Read our top five tips on how to maximise the impact of your cybersecurity budget.

Cybersecurity’s role in digital transformation: Why early engagement matters

cyber-month-1

8 October 2025

According to a new BDO-sponsored report, only 40% of organisations integrate cybersecurity during the planning stage of digital initiatives. The delay introduces risks that can derail progress and erode trust. Discover why early cybersecurity engagement matters in your digital transformation plans.

Insights from Malaysia

In Malaysia’s increasingly digital economy, cybersecurity budgets must evolve from reactive cost centres into strategic enablers of resilience and growth. Cybersecurity is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a critical necessity. Investments should follow a risk-driven approach that prioritises the protection of core assets and operations, aligning with readiness, risk priorities, and transformation goals.

Budget 2026 signals a stronger push against cybercrime, with RM32 million allocated and a new Cyber Crime Bill on the horizon. These measures, alongside National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA)’s planned Centre for Cryptology and Cyber Security Development, reflect a national shift toward more coordinated, technology-driven defences.

Raymond LimExecutive Director, Technology Advisory, BDO Malaysia

With the Cyber Security Act 2024 now in force for NCII sectors, we see more emphasis being placed on cybersecurity. Early engagement is no longer a necessity but a strategic imperative. Placing cybersecurity early at the heart of digital transformation builds trust, drives innovation, and strengthens resilience.

Raymond LimExecutive Director, Technology Advisory, BDO Malaysia