Cybersecurity: from obstacle to strategic lever
For too long, cybersecurity has been seen as a barrier to innovation or simply a necessary evil. However, “cyber-agile” organizations, i.e., those that score highest on six key security dimensions (see below), grow 20% faster than others.
They don't just defend themselves: they transform their cybersecurity into a platform for innovation.
And this performance is not dependent on size or industry. It is their posture, practices, and organizational culture that make all the difference.
The 6 pillars of cyber agility
The report identifies six essential dimensions that define an organization's cyber maturity. Here is an overview of these pillars, with concrete ideas for inspiration.
1. Awareness
The first step is to see what you are protecting. However, 87% of cyber-agile organizations have complete visibility of their on-site application portfolio, compared to only 77% of others. The same is true for the cloud.
Without this visibility, it is impossible to assess risks or detect suspicious activity. It is therefore necessary to invest in monitoring tools, map your digital ecosystem, and update your security policies regularly, on average every four months for the best performers.
2. Compliance
Navigating the regulatory jungle is dangerous. The most advanced organizations are proactive: 50% anticipate regulatory changes instead of reacting once fines have been imposed.
The result? Fewer legal risks, greater partner confidence, and fewer lost sales. According to the study, 46% of companies have already lost contracts due to perceived non-compliance.
3. Connectivity
The network has become porous: remote working, BYOD, IoT, multiple partners... The vectors of attack are multiplying.
Cyber-agile organizations are twice as likely to have a clear view of their networks and security measures in place. They deploy Zero Trust architectures, segmented access (SASE, SD-WAN), and integrate cybersecurity into supply chain governance.
4. Strategy
Only one in four organizations aligns its cybersecurity strategy with its business strategy. In cyber-agile companies, this is the case for 60%.
Why? Because cybersecurity is seen as a lever for resilience, agility, and performance. It is considered from the product design stage and included in transformation plans. It has a permanent seat on the executive committee.
5. Skills
The talent shortage is hitting the sector hard. However, agile organizations invest heavily in training (an average of $3.5 million per year) and empower each employee.
In these organizations, 75% of staff members know that they have a role to play in cybersecurity. They also recruit specialized experts: SOC analysts, security architects, AI or compliance specialists.
6. Innovation
Finally, cybersecurity is a catalyst for innovation. 82% of agile cyber leaders believe that their security efforts strengthen their ability to innovate.
They adopt AI to detect threats, automate incident responses, and use ethical hackers to test their defenses. Security becomes a foundation, not a hindrance.
Benefits of improved cyber agility for organizations:
- Improved user and customer confidence
- Increased business efficiency
- Strengthened reputation
- Improved overall business flexibility
- Stronger collaboration
Becoming cyber agile: a collective effort
The conclusion is clear: in an increasingly complex environment, cyber agility is an economic and strategic imperative.
But beware: it cannot be decreed. It must be built. And that necessarily involves:
- A rigorous assessment of your current posture;
- Upgrading skills at all levels of the organization;
- Ongoing training tailored to the reality on the ground;
- A shared culture that makes cybersecurity everyone's business.
Cybersecurity, a driver of agility and resilience
The most resilient organizations today are not only the best protected: they are the ones that know how to learn, adapt, and collaborate in the face of uncertainty. In other words, the most agile.
By integrating cybersecurity into the heart of their culture and strategy, these organizations gain more than just protection: they gain time, trust, innovation capacity, and flexibility. They transform a constraint into a competitive advantage.
With instability now the new norm, the question is no longer “Why invest in cybersecurity?” but rather “How can we use security as a lever for sustainable agility?”
It is up to each individual to ask this question within their organization. And to answer it with clarity, ambition... and consistency.
To go further:
