Logicalis APAC CIO Report: The CIO’s 2025 Mandate

As noted by Lee Chong-Win CEO, Logicalis Asia Pacific, this demonstrates that “technology is no longer just an enabler - it’s a catalyst for growth, innovation and competitive advantage.”

The Logicalis APAC CIO Report 2025 found that nearly all (96%) of organisations across the region are investing in technology to create new revenue streams. But with this investment comes mounting pressure — CIOs are now expected to prove that every dollar spent on technology translates into measurable business impact.

The Technology Payoff Isn’t Guaranteed

Across APAC, businesses are pouring money into AI, cloud computing, automation, and next-generation networks. The purpose of these investments is to fuel growth, efficiency, and new revenue streams. However, the APAC CIO Report 2025 found that results are mixed.

While 96% of CIOs report investing in next-generation technology, two-thirds admit these investments have not yet delivered the expected returns. This underscores a key issue that they share: technology alone isn’t enough — it must be strategically implemented and aligned with business goals.

This pressure is compounded by a growing demand that returns are immediate. The report found that 86% of CIOs face increasing pressure to prove the financial impact of their technology investments. Unlike in previous years, where emerging technologies were adopted with a long-term mindset, today’s CIOs must ensure rapid ROI while maintaining a forward-thinking strategy.

The most successful CIOs are able to shift the thinking in their organisations to move beyond technology adoption and focus on long-term commercial impact, while also achieving short-term “low hanging fruit” returns upfront. By integrating AI-driven automation, data-driven decision-making, and cloud scalability, these leaders are ensuring that technology investments aren’t just theoretical advantages but real business assets.

More Spending, Yet More Breaches

No one is safe from cybercriminals. According to the report, 91% of organisations in APAC suffered a cybersecurity incident in the past year, and more than half experienced multiple breaches. This is incentivising organisations to pour money into security solutions. Unfortunately from the CIO’s perspective, this is often without achieving the level of protection they need.

Nearly half (45%) of CIOs say their organisations have overinvested in security tools that aren’t being fully utilised. At the same time, 53% report that their security patch management systems are too complex to manage effectively, creating dangerous blind spots.

Instead of continuously expanding their cybersecurity portfolios, forward-thinking CIOs are focusing on optimisation and efficiency. This means investing in automated threat detection,

AI-driven security analytics, and centralised security platforms—tools that don’t just add layers of protection, but actively streamline security operations.

The rise of Managed Security Services is also changing the game. By outsourcing security management to dedicated providers, CIOs can reduce internal complexity, cut costs, and improve overall security posture. As the report suggests, the focus must shift from simply spending more on security to spending smarter—ensuring that investments deliver meaningful protection without unnecessary complexity.

The (Good) Business of Sustainability

Increasingly it is becoming clear that sustainability means financial opportunity. The Logicalis report reveals that 94% of APAC organisations have seen direct financial benefits from environmental technology investments, with 60% reporting these gains as significant.

For CIOs, this presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Sustainability initiatives—such as energy-efficient data centres, cloud-based infrastructure, and smart resource management—are proving to be cost-saving measures as much as they are environmentally responsible. But the pressure is increasing. Governments, investors, and customers are all demanding greater transparency and action on sustainability.

The findings also reveal that 96% of CIOs see IT as central to their organisation’s sustainability strategy. This underscores a new reality: technology is no longer separate from ESG goals—it is the foundation of them. From reducing carbon footprints through AI-powered energy management to ensuring supply chain sustainability through blockchain, CIOs are leading the charge in embedding ESG into business operations.

Moreover, the financial link between sustainability and profitability is now undeniable. Companies that prioritise green technology are not only meeting regulatory requirements but also reducing long-term operational costs and strengthening their market position. The key for CIOs is to treat sustainability as a business strategy rather than a compliance exercise.

The days of technology for technology’s sake are over. The most effective CIOs in 2025 will be those who transform innovation into impact, risk into resilience, and sustainability into profitability.

The Logicalis APAC CIO Report 2025 offers exclusive intelligence on what is empowering forward-thinking CIOs across APAC.

Download it here