Cyber Security Is The CEO’s Biggest Problem

Cyber security continues to be the top concern of business leaders and is the area where leaders feel their knowledge is most lacking, according to research conducted by events and technology company GDS Group

According to senior leaders at the 300 global companies polled on behalf of Meet the Boss, an online round-table platform and subsidiary brand of GDS Group, cyber security remains their top priority. 

The survey asked those in technology leadership roles, “Please rate how relevant / important these hot topics are to your role” and asked respondents to give an importance score out of ten. Cyber Security achieved the highest score of 9.0, closely followed by Cloud Strategy (8.5) and Digital Transformation (8.4). 

What was a surprise, however, was that Internet of Things (IoT) and AI/Automation received the lowest scores (5.0 and 7.5 respectively). When examining the most common cyber security threats, virtually all of them fall under one of the following three categories: human behaviour/error; IT or third-party relationship. In order to reveal any knowledge gaps that might exist, respondents were then asked, “Rate your knowledge level on the following topics”.

The biggest gap between the relevance/importance of a topic and the level of knowledge felt by respondents was revealed in cyber security, with an importance score of 9.0 and knowledge of just 7.2.

As part of the survey, GDS also asked 37 board level contacts what topics they said were the most important to them. In contrast to technology leaders, they rated AI/Automation as one of the most important topics with an extremely high score of 8.0/10.0, indicating a disconnect in priorities down the chain of command.

The research shows that business leaders have a real hunger for knowledge on most topics and are very flexible with how they approach their learning. While there is a small preference for face-to-face learning, they are equally at home learning from digital content, digital training courses and virtual conferences and roundtables.

The survey identified that the most senior technology leaders at major global firms seem incredibly knowledgeable on many of the most important topics, but admit to being less proficient in many of the emerging topics. The survey asked, “Please rate how useful the following are in helping you learn about hot topics.” There was no mode of learning that stood out as a clear winner.

  • Face to face training and digital content got the highest average scores (7.7 and 7.4), despite these being polar opposites in terms of investment (time and money) and degree of interactivity. 
  • Second equal were digital training courses, which strike a balance between ease of attendance and interactivity, written content, which allows self-paced learning, and virtual round tables which achieve high levels of human interaction with only a small investment of time involved.
  • Methods of learning which require little investment of time and money received the same scores as methods which were extremely expensive and time-consuming.

Spencer Green, the founder and chairman of GDS expressed surprised to see that AI and automation are not currently a top priority for technology leaders. “As a relatively new trend, we expect it will climb the ranks as we see more evidence of its ability to transform businesses. The high interest we found among board level contacts in AI/automation provides another indication that this will become a key trend... While interest in cyber security, data, cloud and digital transformation remain as high as ever, so it is vital for us to help our clients to inform and educate business leaders in these areas.” Green said

GDS Insights:        Exhibition World:       MeetTheBoss:           CISCO Investments:      Telegraph:

You Might Also Read: 

Blame The Boss For Cyber Attacks:

 

« Cyber Security Certifications - Online Exam
Warning: Ransomware Attacks On Virtual Classrooms »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

Pervade Software

Pervade Software

Pervade Software is a global provider of dedicated compliance tracking software with monitoring & reporting capabilities.

Operational Center for Information Systems Security (COSSI)

Operational Center for Information Systems Security (COSSI)

COSSI is responsible for the detection and mitigation of cyber attacks directed at French Government information systems.

Software Factory

Software Factory

Software Factory develops custom-built high-performance software solutions and products for applications including industrial cyber security.

Networkers

Networkers

Networkers is a global recruitment consultancy helping unite job-seekers and hiring companies across the technology industry.

Aves Netsec

Aves Netsec

Aves is a deceptive security system for enterprises who want to capture, observe and mitigate bad actors in their internal network.

EdgeWave

EdgeWave

EdgeWave provides simple but highly effective data security and advanced threat protection in solutions that are affordable, scalable and easy to use.

Skurio

Skurio

Skurio create cost-effective, intuitive and powerful Cloud based solutions to identify threats, detect data breaches outside the network and automate the response.

Hivint

Hivint

Hivint is a new kind of Information Security professional services company enabling collaboration between our clients to reduce unnecessary security spend.

Pathway Forensics

Pathway Forensics

Pathway Forensics is a leading provider of computer forensics, e-discovery services and digital investigations.

Nexis

Nexis

Nexis GmbH is a German IT security company specializing in IAM, access control, and risk management.

Scientific Cyber Security Association (SCSA)

Scientific Cyber Security Association (SCSA)

The main goal of Scientific Cyber Security Association is the development of scientific and practical directions of cyber security.

CyberSure

CyberSure

CyberSure is a programme of collaborations and exchanges between researchers aimed at developing a framework for creating and managing cyber insurance policy for cyber systems.

Corelight

Corelight

Corelight is the most powerful network visibility solution for information security professionals.

Incopro

Incopro

Incopro is an online IP and brand protection software provider that arms brand owners with actionable intelligence to combat online and offline intellectual property and copyright infringements.

Automation Workz

Automation Workz

Automation Workz has been ranked as a top 10 Cybersecurity Bootcamp in the US by Career Karma.

SYN Ventures

SYN Ventures

SYN Ventures invests in disruptive, transformational solutions that reduce technology risk.