---

But here’s the kicker: when you sit down and look at the upcoming board meeting agenda, cybersecurity is nowhere to be found.

It isn’t even mentioned.

Cybersecurity is a top concern, supposedly

PwC’s Dutch CEO Survey shows that 56% of Dutch CEOs are very concerned about cyber risks. The Allianz Risk Barometer lists cyber incidents as the biggest worry for companies globally and Gartner’s 2023 Top Cybersecurity Trends reports that business leaders are recognizing cybersecurity as a top business risk, yet organizations still struggle with implementing the necessary measures to mitigate risks.

Despite cyber attacks consistently being recognized as the number one risk, it’s surprising that cybersecurity rarely seems to appear on strategic board agendas or short-term business plans.

This paradox—where cybersecurity is acknowledged as a priority but not incorporated into actual planning—poses a significant risk to organizations. It’s a frustrating challenge, particularly for IT teams who understand the urgency but struggle to gain leadership buy-in.

What causes this disconnect, and how can the paradox be solved?

The challenges of the cybersecurity paradox

When breaking down the cybersecurity paradox, we can look at two key sets of challenges: philosophical and practical.

Priorities and understanding

One of the main philosophical hurdles is the tension between long-term cybersecurity needs and short-term business goals. Executives are often under pressure to focus on growth, profitability and innovation – areas that drive immediate results and investor confidence.

Cybersecurity doesn’t always fit in that picture, in fact, it’s often viewed as a cost center rather than a driver of growth, making it harder to justify proactive investments.

This is at least in part because cybersecurity tends to be a victim of its own success. When security measures work well, nothing happens. No breaches, no disruptions—just smooth operations. Because of this, leaders may not see the tangible value of these measures, treating them as less urgent until a breach forces them to pay attention.

Expertise and resource allocation

In the extension of the last philosophical argument, cybersecurity’s success is difficult to measure, which makes it challenging to justify ongoing investment. If the effectiveness of cybersecurity is marked by the absence of visible incidents, how do IT teams prove the need for continuous funding?

Additionally, many executives lack the technical expertise required to make informed decisions about cybersecurity. This can lead to the issue being delegated to IT departments rather than being treated as a broader, strategic business concern.

(Tip: if you’re looking for an easy way to broaden your cybersecurity knowledge, check out our Threat Talks podcast!)

Finally, and related to the previous point, resource allocation is often a challenge. Tight budgets, competing business priorities, and the complexity of modern security tools make it hard to secure the appropriate funding and support for cybersecurity initiatives.

Solving the cybersecurity paradox

To resolve this paradox, both the philosophical and practical challenges need to be addressed.

From a philosophical standpoint, companies must shift their perception of cybersecurity from being nothing but an operational expense, to it being a business enabler. This requires involving stakeholders from across the company – the board, IT operations, but also finance, operations, HR – and embedding cybersecurity into broader business initiatives. Cybersecurity should be seen as everyone’s responsibility, not just the IT department’s.

On the practical side, measuring and reporting the value of cybersecurity in terms of risk reduction and operational continuity can help bridge the gap between security initiatives and business strategy.

Where to start?

The cybersecurity paradox reflects a disconnect between recognizing the importance of cybersecurity and making it a strategic priority.

A strong first step towards bridging this disconnect is conducting a cybersecurity assessment. This process helps identify vulnerabilities and involves key stakeholders, ensuring that leadership, IT, and other departments are aligned. By bringing all voices to the table, organizations can start to make cybersecurity an integral part of their long-term strategy.