expert
OPINION
Cybersecurity is no longer siloed in the IT department ; it ’ s a boardroom conversation influencing high-level strategy .
The implications of this shift are profound . Cybersecurity is no longer siloed in the IT department ; it ’ s a boardroom conversation influencing high-level strategy . As such , the UK ’ s Cyber Security Council also predicts the creation of 10,000 new cyber jobs in 2024 , addressing the skills gap in the sector .
Because security is now woven into the C-suite , cyber-resilience sits at the heart of business operations . Yet this shift brings its own challenges . There is a growing demand for board members who can bridge the gap between technical cybersecurity knowledge and business acumen . Organisations are scrambling to upskill existing board members or bring in fresh talent with this rare combination of skills . As we move into the second half of 2024 , I expect to see a surge in executive education programs focused on cybersecurity governance .
Businesses would see security as a strategic business component ( verdict : room for improvement )
As alluded to earlier , the statistics are stark when it comes to cybercrimes . UK businesses experienced approximately 7.78 million cybercrimes in the last 12 months . Yet , astonishingly , only 35 % feel prepared to deal with cyberattacks . This disconnect
between threat level and preparedness is both a challenge and an opportunity .
Forward-thinking businesses have indeed seized it as a strategic business component , leveraging robust cybersecurity as a competitive differentiator . They ’ re not just protecting themselves ; they ’ re building trust with customers , partners and regulators . At a time when data breaches can obliterate brand reputation overnight , a strong security posture is becoming a business imperative .
This shift is manifesting in interesting ways . We ’ re seeing increased collaboration between security teams and other business units . Marketing departments are touting security credentials as a selling point . Product development teams are embracing ‘ security by design ’ principles . The businesses that are thriving are those that view security not as a cost centre , but as a business enabler .
But this embracing of security isn ’ t without growing pains , too . It ’ s for this reason that I ’ d say there ’ s still room for improvement on this trend . Many organisations are grappling with how to balance security needs with business agility . There ’ s a pressing need for security professionals who can speak the language of business , translating technical risks into business impacts . Like C-suite
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