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Cybersecurity is now a boardroom priority. In organizations of all sizes, executives and cybersecurity professionals work together to defend networks, respond to emerging threats, and ensure business continuity. To succeed, they must overcome leadership challenges, stay ahead of evolving threats, and build stronger collaboration across the organization.

To learn more, check out the infographic created by The University of Tulsa’s online Master of Science (M.S.) in Cyber Security program.

Cybersecurity Challenges for the C-Suite

Nearly all organizations have experienced cyber attacks or data breaches in recent years. According to a 2025 EY survey, 84% of C-suite leaders said their companies experienced a cybersecurity incident in the past three years.

The cost of cybercrime continues to climb. Globally, cybercrime is projected to cost an estimated $10.5 trillion in 2025, according to Cybercrime Magazine. IBM research shows that the average cost of a data breach reached $4.4 million in 2025.

In response, 84% of executives report that their organization has increased its cybersecurity focus in the past three years, according to EY. Also, 85% plan to increase their cybersecurity focus over the next year.

The top challenges that C-suite cybersecurity leaders faced, according to a 2024 KPMG survey, included difficulty assessing threat severity and vulnerabilities (32%); operational challenges with security, data quality, and completeness (30%); and identifying real threats versus low-fidelity alerts (30%). Cybersecurity executives also listed perimeter monitoring (25%) and delays in detection and remediation (24%) among their most significant challenges.

Understanding Cyber Threats

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, businesses increasingly depend on cybersecurity specialists to identify risks, train employees, and strengthen defenses.

Insider threats remain a top concern. In the Cybersecurity Insiders 2024 Insider Threat Report, 83% of organizations reported an insider attack, while 48% said insider attacks increased over the past year.

Common Cyber Threats

Businesses face a growing number of cyber threats. Top concerns include:

• Phishing: Fraudulent emails trick employees into sharing credentials or downloading malicious links.

• Malware: Harmful software infects systems through downloads or unsecured personal devices.

• Zero-day exploits: Cybercriminals exploit unknown software flaws before they’re patched.

• Distributed denial-of-service attacks: DDoS attackers target websites with heavy traffic to disrupt business and block customer access.

• Ransomware: Attackers lock networks until a ransom is paid to restore access.

• Cryptojacking: Hidden malware hijacks systems to secretly mine cryptocurrency.

How do organizations respond to cyber threats? According to FTI Consulting’s 2022 report CISO: Communications Redefined, 90% of chief information security officers (CISOs) communicated more about information security in the past year, while 89% increased their budget for cybersecurity improvements. A further 89% heightened their focus on information security on board agendas, while 88% had greater senior leadership scrutiny and 88% increased their implementation of new security products.

Improving C-Suite and Cybersecurity Collaboration

Cybersecurity professionals and executives are jointly responsible for protecting the business and fostering its security culture.

Bridging the C-Suite and Cybersecurity Divide

Business leaders outside of information technology (IT) and cybersecurity professionals face a confidence gap and communication challenges. For example, according to Ivanti’s 2024 Cybersecurity Risk Management in the C-Suite Report, 60% of non-IT leaders believed their organization could prevent or stop a cybersecurity incident, compared with only 46% of IT professionals.

According to FTI Consulting’s 2022 research report CISO Redefined: Navigating C-Suite Perceptions & Expectations, 1 in 3 senior executives said their CISO was hesitant to raise vulnerabilities or painted an overly optimistic picture of their organization’s cybersecurity. CISOs reported challenges communicating with the C-suite; 31% said executives didn’t understand technical cybersecurity concepts. Meanwhile, in an EY survey, 63% of CISOs said they struggled to motivate other C-suite leaders to prioritize the organization’s cybersecurity.

Building a Strong Cybersecurity Culture

Cybersecurity leaders can help bridge the divide and strengthen security by building a strong cybersecurity culture. For example, leaders can promote transparent communication to reduce insider threats. Encouraging incident reporting can also help organizations identify security gaps and strengthen resilience.

Cybersecurity leaders and nontechnical members of the C-suite should also lead by example. Visible leadership drives awareness across an organization.

Adapting to Emerging Threats

Organizations must prioritize cybersecurity to adapt to emerging threats. Cybersecurity teams continue to monitor evolving attack patterns and recommend new approaches.

The rise of generative artificial intelligence poses new challenges for organizations. Gartner projects it to be present in 17% of cyber attacks and data leaks by 2027. Furthermore, in a KPMG survey, 2 in 3 security leaders say that artificial intelligence-based automation is critical to stay ahead of threats.

The Value of Cybersecurity Collaboration

When executives and cybersecurity teams communicate effectively, they align business strategy with security priorities. Strong collaboration builds resilience, accelerates response, and protects long-term trust, helping organizations stay agile as cyber threats evolve.

Sources:

Business.com, “Types Of Cyber Risks Businesses Should Be Aware Of”

Cybercrime Magazine, “Cybercrime to Cost the World $12.2 Trillion Annually by 2031”

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Defining Insider Threats

Cybersecurity Insiders, 2024 Insider Threat Report

EY, Cyber Study: How the C-Suite Disconnect Is Leaving Organizations Exposed

FTI Consulting, CISO Redefined: Navigating C-Suite Perceptions & Expectations

Gartner, Gartner Forecasts Global Information Security Spending to Grow 15% in 2025

IBM, Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025

Ivanti, Aligning Perspectives: Cyber Risk Management in the C‑Suite

KPMG, A New Age of Cybersecurity Culture

KPMG, KPMG Survey: C-Suite Cyber Leaders Optimistic About Defenses, but Large Percentage Suffered Recent Cyber Attack