Recent Release | 08 Nov 2022
Security’s Lament: The state of cyber security in the UK

Thought Leadership Team
Oxford Economics

The future belongs to organisations that create a strong cyber security foundation. Security preparations are essential to dealing with costly threats but also support innovation and enable revenue growth. Capturing this broader value requires the alignment of security plans with IT and business strategies.
But maintaining a robust cyber security strategy remains a work in progress for many organisations in the UK, which must develop, update, and execute their plans while combatting an unprecedented number of attacks. Significant changes across the security industry—mergers and acquisitions have consolidated certain segments, and new players enter almost daily—make the challenge even more complex.
The best-performing organisations understand the operational, financial, and reputational damage that can be done by a single cyber security incident. These organisations:
- Know where they are vulnerable to threats from within and without;
- Foster a cross-functional culture of security;
- Include security expertise on their boards;
- Procure, train, and upskill the right workers; and
- Strategically invest to modernise cyber security operations.
To better understand how cyber security decision-makers are implementing their plans, Oxford Economics and iomart surveyed 500 executives responsible for their organisation’s cyber strategy. The sample comprises executives from a range of industries—most with more than 1,000 employees—all based in the UK.
About the team
Our Thought Leadership team produces original, evidence-based research made accessible to decision-makers and opinion leaders. Principals for this project included:

Kayla Luparello
Research Associate, Thought Leadership

Teri Robinson
Managing Editor, Thought Leadership
You might be interested in

Mastering Thought Leadership: Four Key Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Initiating a successful Thought Leadership program requires careful planning and coordination at the concept stage.
Find Out More
New Tools, New Skills, No End in Sight: The Challenge of AI Adoption
To really understand exposure to risk, you need to look at how a business interacts with the broader economy.
Find Out More
Trump talks business on GCC tour, with a sprinkle of diplomacy
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region concluded an eventful week as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE hosted President Trump on his first major foreign trip since re-assuming office, underscoring an enduring strategic partnership.
Find Out More
Making sense of business transformation
To really understand exposure to risk, you need to look at how a business interacts with the broader economy.
Find Out More