New research reveals growing executive anxiety over cybersecurity. With nearly half of CEOs unsure how to defend their companies publicly after an incident, technology leaders are stepping into a critical new role: protecting not just the business, but its credibility and brand trust.

According to Gartner’s 2025 CEO and Senior Business Executive Survey, 45% of CEOs say they would not feel comfortable defending their company after a cyberattack. This signals a major shift in executive expectations and a pivotal opportunity for CIOs, CISOs, and technology leaders to lead beyond the firewall.

Cybersecurity has become a defining priority in the C-suite, not just a matter of defense, but a matter of leadership.

CEOs Are Leaning on Technology Leaders for More Than Protection

Gartner’s research signals an evolution in executive expectations. CEOs increasingly see cybersecurity as a direct enabler of business growth, but they also expect CIOs and CISOs to take a visible leadership role in the aftermath of breaches.

The message is clear: when a breach happens, the CEO won’t go it alone.

The technology team must be prepared to protect the organization’s reputation and maintain public trust, both critical to sustaining long-term enterprise value.

Trust, Not Just Defense, Is the New Cybersecurity Imperative

While cybersecurity has traditionally been measured by how many breaches were prevented, today’s CEOs want more.

According to Gartner, 85% of CEOs now view cybersecurity as critical for enterprise growth, tying strong protection directly to business outcomes like market expansion, customer retention, and brand resilience.

This shift means CIOs and CISOs must reframe cybersecurity as:

• A strategic enabler of geographic growth and intellectual property protection.
• A differentiator that builds trust with customers, investors, and partners.
• A source of resilience that protects not only assets but also public confidence.

How Technology Leaders Can Meet Rising Expectations

1. Align Cybersecurity with Business Growth

Gartner urges technology leaders to move cybersecurity conversations beyond technical risk and toward business value outcomes. Frame cybersecurity initiatives in terms of how they:

• Enable safe expansion into new markets.
• Protect digital assets that drive innovation.
• Build trust that increases customer loyalty.

2. Lead Public Trust Communications

Given CEOs’ discomfort in managing breach fallout, CIOs and CISOs must be ready to:

• Act as trusted spokespersons on security and resilience.
• Prepare clear, business-focused narratives about cybersecurity capabilities.
• Support the CEO and board with confident, transparent messaging when incidents occur.

Cybersecurity storytelling, the ability to communicate how security actions protect the future of the business, is now a critical leadership skill.

3. Focus on Outcome-Based Security Metrics

Rather than emphasizing threat reduction alone, security leaders should show how cybersecurity:

• Accelerates digital transformation.
• Protects new revenue streams.
• Enhances the brand’s promise of reliability and safety.

This approach, strongly recommended by Gartner, strengthens the link between cybersecurity investment and enterprise value.

The Wrap

Technology leadership is trust leadership.

As cybersecurity threats evolve and brand reputations hang in the balance, technology executives have a new mission: Defend the organization’s future by defending its trust.

The CIOs and CISOs who master this broader leadership role, protecting not only systems but also public confidence, will be the ones who help their enterprises thrive in the autonomous, AI-powered business era.