As digital threats intensify and security budgets climb, one question keeps on being asked: Is all this effort actually making us safer?
Our 2025 Cybersecurity Maturity Report sets out to answer that. Drawing from global data across industries and organization sizes, the report uncovers where companies are progressing and where serious gaps remain.
Here’s a look at five standout findings from this year’s report.
1. More Security Spending Isn’t Making Us Safer
One of the most striking revelations? The correlation between increased security budgets and improved cybersecurity outcomes is weaker than expected.
Despite rising global security investments, many organizations aren’t seeing measurable improvements in their risk posture. The problem often isn’t lack of funding—it’s how that funding is used. Countries like the US and Germany spend heavily, for example, but they don’t always top maturity rankings. But higher-ranking places like Norway and Japan combine focused investment, cohesive strategy, and execution.
The takeaway: Strategic alignment of resources, rather than more spending, is essential for improving cybersecurity maturity.
2. The Supply Chain Is Still a Blind Spot
As businesses grow more interconnected, supply chain vulnerabilities are increasingly exploited by attackers. Yet many organizations still lack continuous monitoring of the security posture of their third-party vendors and partners.
Our findings show that even companies with strong internal controls often fail to apply the same standards across their digital ecosystem. This creates a dangerous blind spot, and it is one that can expose an otherwise mature organization to significant risk.
The takeaway: A mature cybersecurity posture must extend beyond your organization to include your entire supply chain.
3. Having a CISO Is a “Make or Break” for Resilience
The presence of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is one of the strongest predictors of cybersecurity maturity and business resilience. Organizations with a dedicated CISO consistently demonstrate more mature governance practices, faster response times, and greater alignment between security and business objectives.
What’s more, CISOs go beyond being just operational leads. They are increasingly strategic partners in the C-suite, helping drive decisions that reduce long-term risk.
The takeaway: Cyber resilience starts with leadership, and so investing in an empowered, visible CISO is essential.
4. Incident Response Plans Are Still Missing
Despite growing awareness of the inevitability of cyber incidents, many companies still lack a documented, tested incident response (IR) plan.
Our report reveals that a significant percentage of organizations either have incomplete IR frameworks or none at all. This lack of preparedness can turn a manageable incident into a full-scale crisis, costing valuable time, data, and reputation.
The takeaway: An incident response plan is a maturity benchmark. Also, it needs to be more than a document: It must be understood, rehearsed, and actionable.
5. Mid-Sized Companies Are Leading in Maturity Gains
Contrary to conventional wisdom, it’s not necessarily the large enterprises that are driving the biggest improvements in cyber maturity; it’s mid-sized companies.
Often more agile and less burdened by legacy systems, mid-sized organizations are showing significant progress in adopting modern security frameworks, implementing risk-based strategies, and aligning IT and business priorities.
They are also more likely to view cybersecurity as a growth enabler rather than a compliance obligation, which is a mindset shift that’s translating into measurable gains.
The takeaway: Cyber maturity isn’t just for the biggest players. In fact, mid-sized companies may be setting the pace for the future.
Conclusion: Maturity Is Measured in Mindset, Not Just Metrics
The state of cybersecurity maturity is improving, but unevenly. While some organizations are building real resilience, others are still checking boxes or investing in solutions without a clear strategy.
The 2025 Cybersecurity Maturity Report offers a roadmap for moving from reactive to proactive, from fragmented to integrated, and from vulnerable to resilient. Whether you’re a CISO, a business leader, or a technology partner, these insights can help you benchmark your progress and recalibrate your approach.
Download the full report to see where your organization stands, and what steps you can take to improve your cybersecurity maturity.
