As cyber attacks continue to grow in frequency and complexity, organizations are facing increasing pressure to rethink who should be responsible for protecting their systems, operations, and sensitive data. Security experts say cybersecurity is no longer simply an IT issue. Instead, it has become a business-wide responsibility that requires involvement from leadership teams, employees, and external security partners alike.
The discussion comes at a time when cyber threats are affecting organizations at an alarming scale. According to the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/2026, 43% of businesses and 28% of charities reported experiencing cybersecurity breaches or attacks during the past year. The numbers were considerably higher among medium-sized businesses, where 65% faced incidents, and large enterprises, where the figure rose to 69%. High-income charities were also heavily targeted, with 34% reporting attacks.
Phishing continued to dominate as the most common threat. The survey found that 93% of affected businesses and 95% of impacted charities encountered phishing-related attacks. These scams often involve deceptive emails, fake websites, fraudulent login portals, or impersonation attempts designed to steal credentials and sensitive information. Other cyber threats, including malware infections and digital impersonation schemes, also remain a persistent concern for organizations.
The financial damage linked to cybercrime is equally significant. Research associated with cybersecurity company ESET estimated that cyber attacks cost UK businesses nearly £64 billion annually, highlighting the growing economic impact of digital threats.
With risks continuing to escalate, many organizations are reassessing who should oversee cybersecurity strategy and decision-making. Experts say there is no universal model, as responsibility often depends on a company’s size, structure, industry requirements, and risk exposure.
In smaller businesses, cybersecurity duties are frequently managed by IT managers or internal technology teams. However, industry specialists warn that relying solely on technical departments may create gaps between security planning and broader business objectives. As organizations expand, many experts believe cybersecurity leadership should move closer to executive management.
Durgan Cooper, director at CETSAT, emphasized that cybersecurity accountability should ultimately rest with senior leadership or board-level executives. According to Cooper, effective protection requires coordination between technical teams, company leadership, and third-party partners while ensuring that security priorities align with organizational goals.
Within larger enterprises, cybersecurity responsibilities are commonly led by Chief Information Security Officers, often working alongside Chief Information Officers and other senior executives. Spencer Summons, founder of Opliciti, stated that organizations need cybersecurity leaders capable of understanding evolving threats, communicating risks clearly to boards, and integrating security into long-term business planning. He also noted that sectors such as healthcare and finance face additional regulatory pressure that makes executive oversight even more important.
Cybersecurity professionals increasingly stress that protecting organizations cannot remain the responsibility of a single department. Matthew Riley, European Head of Information Security at Sharp Europe, recommended that businesses establish clear governance frameworks defining who is responsible for different security tasks. Many companies now rely on systems such as RACI matrices, which identify who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed during cybersecurity operations and incident response.
Experts caution that assigning cybersecurity entirely to IT departments may leave important business risks overlooked. At the same time, distributing responsibility too broadly can weaken accountability and slow decision-making during critical incidents. Instead, many specialists advocate a shared-responsibility culture where cybersecurity awareness is integrated across the entire organization.
The growing intensity of cyber attacks has also increased pressure on cybersecurity professionals themselves. Security teams are now managing ransomware campaigns, phishing attacks, supply chain compromises, and AI-assisted threats at an unprecedented pace, often with limited staffing and resources. Experts say spreading cybersecurity awareness and responsibilities throughout the organization can help reduce burnout while improving overall resilience.
Thom Langford, EMEA Chief Technology Officer at Rapid7, argued that cybersecurity must become part of every business function rather than remaining isolated within security teams. According to Langford, organizations are more resilient when employees across all levels actively participate in protecting systems and identifying suspicious activity.
Industry leaders also believe executive involvement plays a decisive role in cybersecurity effectiveness. Specialists from Qualys noted that Chief Information Security Officers should ideally report directly to CEOs or boards rather than operating solely under IT leadership. This structure helps organizations approach cybersecurity as a broader business risk issue instead of treating it purely as a technical challenge.
Alongside internal leadership, many businesses are increasingly turning to external cybersecurity providers for additional expertise and support. Outsourcing security operations can help companies address skill shortages and resource limitations, but experts warn that organizations must still maintain strategic oversight. Businesses are advised to conduct thorough vendor assessments, establish strong service-level agreements, and continuously monitor external providers to reduce operational risks.
Security specialists say outsourcing works most effectively when external consultants collaborate closely with internal teams instead of replacing them entirely. Maintaining internal visibility and control remains critical for ensuring cybersecurity strategies stay aligned with company objectives.
As cyber threats continue growing, experts increasingly agree that cybersecurity ownership cannot rest with one person alone. Effective security strategies require executive accountability, technical expertise, employee participation, and continuous collaboration across departments and external partners. Organizations that treat cybersecurity as a company-wide responsibility rather than a siloed IT function are likely to be better prepared for the growing challenges of the modern digital threat environment.
