Gartner, the technology research and consulting firm, has discovered that 85% of chief executive officers (CEOs) say cybersecurity is critical for business growth, according to the results of its recently-published survey.

The Gartner CEO and Senior Business Executive Survey questioned over 450 CEOs and other senior business leaders between the period of June and November 2024.

The survey also found that 61% of CEOs are concerned about cybersecurity threats, driven in large part by artificial intelligence’s growing role in commercial activity, and the political debates about the sourcing and use of advanced technologies.

Though, with regulatory changes and cybersecurity threats challenging competitiveness, CEOs said they see a direct linkage between cybersecurity capabilities and enterprise growth.

“Cybersecurity is no longer just about protection; it’s a critical driver for business growth,” explained David Furlonger, distinguished vice president analyst and Gartner fellow.

“With 85% of CEOs recognizing its importance, security leaders have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the value of cybersecurity investments not only in safeguarding assets but also in enabling strategic business objectives.

“Effective communication is key,” added Furlonger. “CEOs should highlight the role of security leaders in both protecting the business and enhancing cybersecurity to drive growth.

“This involves, for example, assessing risks in foreign markets and intellectual property protection. Security leaders are positioned to significantly influence value generation, and they should communicate how cybersecurity aids enterprise growth.”

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Gartner’s findings around CEOs’ perception of cybersecurity come at a critical time, considering how advancing technology, not least generative artificial intelligence, has and is continuing to transform the cyber landscape.

Chief information security offices (CISOs) themselves have said that AI-powered threats are having a significant impact on their organisations this year, marking a 5% increase in this answer over 2024, according to research from Darktrace.

Meanwhile, separate research from SoSafe discovered that 87% of security professionals report that their organisation has encountered an AI-driven cyber-attack within the last year.