Spotlight on Tech Transformation & Cyber Risk 2025

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Spotlight on Tech Transformation & Cyber Risk 2025

Spotlight on
Tech Transformation & Cyber Risk 2025

A reality check in dynamic and uncertain times

Executive Summary Global & Industry View Perception vs Reality Sign up for more Regional deep dive

Our latest Risk & Resilience survey¹ reveals a significant shift in cyber risk perception and perceived resilience to cyber security threats among global executives.

For the first time since 2021², concern over cyber risk has risen, with 29% of global executives citing this risk as their greatest threat, up from 26% in 2024. But while awareness of cyber risk grows, paradoxically, executives feel more prepared[i] for evolving cyber threats, with perception of resilience rising from 75% in 2024 to 83% this year.

This contradiction underestimates today’s cyber and tech threat landscape, which is increasingly dynamic and unpredictable – as the recent high profile ransomware attacks on major retailers have made alarmingly clear. Failure to recognise this reality leaves businesses exposed, unprepared and increasingly vulnerable to today’s fast-evolving digital threats.

However, it is good to see that 79% of firms are looking to improve their cyber security with third party suppliers, and 37% are planning to invest in improved cyber security this year. This investment is needed, as organisations are facing a quadruple whammy of ‘whack-a-mole’ style risks that they must navigate.

“Cyber controls are not one and done, there needs to be continuous investment.”

Sydonie Williams, Head of International Cyber Risks

Read on

Key takeaways

For brokers

1. Cyber resilience is more than cyber insurance cover – businesses need layered cyber security and pre-emptive, responsive and adaptive support to help them pre, during and post a cyber incident, in addition to buying cyber security insurance.

2. First and third party liability – today’s tech interconnectivity creates supplier vulnerabilities resulting in both first and third party liability – ranging from cyber risk and business interruption to D&O claims and loss of reputation.

3. Political tensions increase cyber risk - as geopolitical tensions rise and relationships shift, so too does cyber risk, as nation-state threat actors create new cyber vulnerabilities that cyber criminals can exploit.
For business leaders

1. A growing concern for shareholders - as cyber risk grows so too does the risk of disruption and reputational harm. Poor cyber security decisions now face greater scrutiny, exposing firms to legal, financial, and operational consequences.

2. All eyes on IP risk and data privacy - national IP and data privacy regulations are fragmented and create risks for firms operating internationally who might inadvertently fall foul of new legislation.

3. Harnessing the power of AI - with 37% of global executives planning to invest in new technologies this year, and 66% anticipating AI-induced job losses in the next 18 months – firms need to stay alert to best practice and evolving AI-related risks as they emerge.

Spotlight insights

3,500 global business leaders told us…

29%

selected cyber risk as their greatest threat this year, up from 26% in 2024, yet 83% feel ‘prepared’[I] for cyber risk, up from 75% in 2024.
79%

are planning to improve their cyber security with third party suppliers following high-profile systemic cyber incidents.
37%

plan to invest in improved cyber security this year, up from 24% in 2024.
79%

agreed that AI will have a positive impact on their business’ prospects this year, and 66% agreed that AI will replace jobs in their firm over the next 18 months.
23%

ranked IP risk as their top threat this year, and their sense of resilience to this risk has increased with just 17% feeling unprepared[ii], compared to 25% in 2024.
25%

ranked tech obsolescence risk as their top cyber & tech threat this year, down from 27% in 2024. Yet, 85% feel ‘prepared’[i] for this risk, up from 74% in 2024.

Cyber & technology risk & resilience

This year’s Risk & Resilience survey’s cyber & tech data demonstrates the inherently volatile nature of the cyber and technology risk landscape. Most notably, cyber risk is now perceived to be the greatest threat facing global executives this year, across all four risk areas surveyed (cyber risk, disruption risk, IP risk and technology obsolescence). However, executives are placing less emphasis on tech disruption risk and technology obsolescence this year.

How concerned is your industry about cyber & technology risk?

C-suite executives across seven countries and nine industries gave us their views on key tech and cyber risks. Below we map risk their concerns and their perceived resilience by industry.

These statistics are based on the percentage of global executives selecting these risks as their top cyber & technology risks in our 2025/26 Risk & Resilience survey.

Key takeaways

For brokers

1. Cyber resilience is more than cyber insurance cover – businesses need layered cyber security and pre-emptive, responsive and adaptive support to help them pre, during and post a cyber incident, in addition to buying cyber security insurance.

2. First and third party liability – today’s tech interconnectivity creates supplier vulnerabilities resulting in both first and third party liability – ranging from cyber risk and business interruption to D&O claims and loss of reputation.

3. Political tensions increase cyber risk - as geopolitical tensions rise and relationships shift, so too does cyber risk, as nation-state threat actors create new cyber vulnerabilities that cyber criminals can exploit.
For business leaders

1. A growing concern for shareholders - as cyber risk grows so too does the risk of disruption and reputational harm. Poor cyber security decisions now face greater scrutiny, exposing firms to legal, financial, and operational consequences.

2. All eyes on IP risk and data privacy - national IP and data privacy regulations are fragmented and create risks for firms operating internationally who might inadvertently fall foul of new legislation.

3. Harnessing the power of AI - with 37% of global executives planning to invest in new technologies this year, and 66% anticipating AI-induced job losses in the next 18 months – firms need to stay alert to best practice and evolving AI-related risks as they emerge.

Spotlight insights

3,500 global business leaders told us…

29%

selected cyber risk as their greatest threat this year, up from 26% in 2024, yet 83% feel ‘prepared’[I] for cyber risk, up from 75% in 2024.
79%

are planning to improve their cyber security with third party suppliers following high-profile systemic cyber incidents.
37%

plan to invest in improved cyber security this year, up from 24% in 2024.
79%

agreed that AI will have a positive impact on their business’ prospects this year, and 66% agreed that AI will replace jobs in their firm over the next 18 months.
23%

ranked IP risk as their top threat this year, and their sense of resilience to this risk has increased with just 17% feeling unprepared[ii], compared to 25% in 2024.
25%

ranked tech obsolescence risk as their top cyber & tech threat this year, down from 27% in 2024. Yet, 85% feel ‘prepared’[i] for this risk, up from 74% in 2024.

Cyber & technology risk & resilience

How concerned is your industry

How prepared is your industry?

Building Resilience

A number of high profile retailers in the UK are dealing with significant cyber attacks, and other incidents have highlighted the systemic risks posed by third party supplier attacks - where a single event can cascade across ecosystems, impacting numerous entities. For some the impact can be contained and managed, for others, it creates major problems. Firms that employ a defence in depth security framework are usually better able to weather the storm and resume operations more quickly.

Find out more