Why Cyber Risk Still Isn’t on Your 2025 Agenda—And What That’s Costing You

Nine months after a ransomware attack, I met with a CEO still navigating the aftermath.

He assured me the company had “mostly recovered”—systems were up, clients had returned. But when I asked if they’d done a cyber risk assessment since the breach, his response was telling: “Not yet—we’ve been too busy.”

That’s like surviving a heart attack and saying you’ll get a checkup once the meetings slow down. The business was online. But trust was shaken, operations were wobbly, and the long-term impact hadn’t even been measured. This is the disconnect I see every week—and the reason this message needs to resonate more deeply.

Let’s start with the recently released 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. It confirms what we’ve seen across the board: most companies still believe cyber risk is something to “get to later.” However, the data indicates that it is already here.

What the Data Says (and Why It Should Rattle You)

The 2025 DBIR didn’t pull punches. These five takeaways highlight what too many businesses overlook:

1. Vendor Breaches Doubled

• Third-party breaches jumped from 15% to 30%
• Your vendor network is now your most vulnerable asset
• Most vendor risk programs weren’t built for SMBs
• Solution: MyCSO Advisor provides scalable, third-party validation without losing critical partners

2. Ransomware = Operational Gridlock

• 44% of breaches involved ransomware
• Businesses lose 22 to 24 days of productivity
• This isn’t just financial—it’s a hit to your operations, relationships, and brand

3. Human Error Still Dominates

• Over 60% of breaches stemmed from human mistakes
• Common issues: weak credentials, phishing, and accidental data leaks
• This isn’t about blame—it’s about building systems that expect mistakes and absorb them

4. Exploits Are Up 34%

• Attackers increasingly target unpatched systems
• Common bottlenecks: limited time, under-resourced teams, lack of executive support
• If patching is slipping, it’s not just IT’s problem—it’s a leadership failure

5. Generative AI: The Risk You Think You’ve Covered

• Employees are using AI tools on company devices, often unsanctioned
• Sensitive data is being sent to ChatGPT-like platforms with zero oversight
• Most companies still lack AI-specific governance, visibility, and auditability
• Want a deep dive? Read: AI’s a Game-Changer—But Are You Ready for the Catch?

The Disconnect Is Real

There’s a myth I hear a lot:

“Cyber risk is important—but we’ve got people for that.”

Translation: “It’s not my job.”

Here’s the reality:

• In our 2024 survey, fewer than 5% of CEOs had cyber risk in their top 10 priorities
• Cybercrime is projected to hit $10.5 trillion annually this year
• Most companies breached by ransomware thought they were “covered” until they weren’t

If your CFO said financial risk wasn’t on their radar, would that be acceptable? Of course not. Cybersecurity is no different. It’s not a tech problem. It’s a business risk problem. And the longer leadership treats it as “someone else’s job,” the greater the exposure.

Here’s What Leadership Looks Like in 2025

• Decide that cyber risk is no longer someone else’s problem—it’s a business risk that demands executive ownership.
• Commit to a strategy that fits your company—not a generic compliance checklist.
• Execute before you’re left reacting to a crisis instead of preventing one.

At NCX Group, we have spent 25 years helping organizations—from small 15-person firms to Fortune 50 companies—build resilient cyber risk programs. Our solutions, like MyCSO Advisor and MyCSO Assurance, simplify cybersecurity, reduce exposure, and help you protect the people and revenue that matter most.

Let’s Talk

If it’s been more than a year since your last cybersecurity assessment—or if you’ve never done one—now is the time.

👉 Schedule a Strategy Call with NCX Group

P.S. Fixing cyber risk after a breach is like fixing your brakes after the crash. Makes for a good story—just not a good strategy.

Repost from LinkedIn –  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/decide-commit-execute-mike-fitzpatrick-ans3f/