Corporate boards are finding it difficult to navigate the rapidly evolving threat landscape of cyberattacks, particularly as they face new breach disclosure rules proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A survey indicated that nearly half of board members are pursuing education programs to better understand these issues, highlighting the complexity and urgency of cybersecurity as a top corporate risk.

Research shows that less than 9% of an average corporate board possesses technical expertise, and alarmingly, half of the surveyed companies have no technical expertise at all on their boards. This lack of fluency in cyber risk concepts leaves directors ill-equipped to oversee significant enterprise risks, which is increasingly critical as cyber threats become more sophisticated.

With the global cost of cybercrime expected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025, cybersecurity has become a crucial concern at the board level. Business leaders are now required to share intelligence rapidly with industry partners while maintaining transparency with customers and regulators, reshaping the way corporate governance is approached in light of these financial implications.