Cyber Risk Has Moved Into the Boardroom

Cyber risk is no longer just an IT concern. it’s a leadership issue that sits squarely alongside economic volatility as a top enterprise threat. PwC’s 29th Global CEO Survey confirms this shift: 31% of global CEOs say their organisations are highly or extremely exposed to significant financial loss from cyber attacks in the year ahead.

About eight [CEOs] in ten (84%) say they’re planning to improve enterprise-wide cybersecurity practices in response to geopolitical risk, underlining the interconnected nature of the threats they face.

This rise in perceived exposure signals a clear change in mindset. Cyber incidents are now recognised as direct threats to revenue, operations, reputation, and long-term business confidence.

Cyber Risk Is Often Underestimated

Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue, it’s a core financial and operational risk. Incidents don’t stay confined to IT systems; they disrupt operations, cut into revenue, attract regulatory scrutiny, and damage brand trust. Yet despite rising awareness, true readiness often lags.

Many organisations assume they’re protected simply because tools are in place or policies exist. In reality, untested controls, outdated assumptions, and unchecked access create dangerous blind spots. This gap between perceived security maturity and actual resilience is where the real risk accumulates.

4 Questions Executives Should Ask Themselves

To shift from concern to clarity, boards and executives should be asking:

• Would our controls withstand a real-world attack?
• Which assets or processes could cause the most financial damage if compromised?
• When was our last independent security test?
• Do we have clear visibility into our most likely and most costly risks?

These questions elevate cyber risk from technical checklist to informed strategy.

Evidence, Not Assumptions: The New Standard for Confidence

Cybersecurity confidence must be earned, not assumed. Structured testing, through independent assessments and penetration testing, validates controls, exposes real gaps, and translates technical risk into business impact.

At Cyber Node, we work with leadership teams to pressure-test their security assumptions under realistic attack scenarios. The outcome? Evidence-driven insights that support faster, smarter decisions.

Key Takeaway

Cyber risk has become a permanent leadership issue. What separates resilient organisations isn’t the number of tools deployed, it’s how clearly they understand their exposure and how rigorously they test their defences.

Confidence without evidence is a liability. If understanding your real cyber risk exposure is a priority in 2026, reach out to us at sales@cybernode.au or visit cybernode.au to take the next step.