By Carlos Marques | VP Business Development | DataGroupIT
In a hyper-connected world, cyber threats are not just technical risks –they are existential business risks. Smart enterprises are shifting from reactive security to proactive cyber resilience, transforming their security posture into a source of strategic strength.
The Stakes Are Higher Than Ever
In 2024 alone, the global average cost of a data breach climbed to $4.88 million – a 10% year-on-year increase. Ransomware attacks surged past 5,200 incidents, crippling supply chains, halting operations, and eroding trust. The picture in Africa is no less severe. In South Africa, the average data breach cost reached R53.1 million, and breach notifications tripled year-on-year.
Globally, cybercrime is projected to cost businesses $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. These aren’t abstract numbers – they represent lost revenue, reputational damage, customer churn, and executive resignations.
From Marks & Spencer’s £300 million ransomware fallout in early 2025, to the Lumma Infostealer malware infecting nearly 400,000 systems across industries, the message is clear: cybersecurity has outgrown the IT department.
Cyber Risk is a Business Risk
The traditional view of cybersecurity as the sole responsibility of the IT department is dangerously outdated. Cyber incidents now touch every corner of the business – finance, legal, HR, marketing, supply chain. What was once a technical challenge has become a board-level strategic imperative.
Today’s breach doesn’t just take down systems – it takes down trust. Cybersecurity has evolved from being a compliance checkbox to becoming a key pillar of business resilience, governance, and continuity. Whether you’re managing sensitive employee data, safeguarding customer records, or navigating cross-border compliance frameworks, every function has a cyber stake.
From Cybersecurity to Cyber Resilience
Cybersecurity focuses on protection. Cyber resilience is about endurance. Cyber resilience is the ability of an organization to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse conditions – be it a cyberattack, data leak, or system failure.
No company can guarantee zero breaches. But cyber-resilient companies can ensure continuity, respond fast, and bounce back stronger. That’s what separates operational chaos from competitive advantage.
Cyber Resilience in Action: Case Study – Maersk
When global shipping giant Maersk was hit by the NotPetya cyberattack in 2017, the malware wiped out 49,000 laptops and 1,200 applications across 600 locations in 130 countries. Within hours, global operations ground to a halt—ports closed, containers stalled, and bookings vanished.
But Maersk’s response became a textbook case in cyber resilience. Despite having to rebuild its entire infrastructure from scratch – including restoring key servers using data from a single backup copy in Nigeria – Maersk resumed operations within ten days. The company invested heavily in strengthening its cyber defences and incident response protocols. Today, it’s often cited as a model for enterprise-wide cyber resilience.
This incident demonstrated that resilience is not about avoiding every attack – but about responding with speed, coordination, and clarity to limit damage and restore confidence.
Why Cybersecurity is No Longer Just an IT Issue
Here’s why every business leader, not just CIOs, must own the cyber agenda:
- Cross-functional Impact: Breaches don’t respect departments—they hit finance, HR, legal, and operations alike.
- Brand Trust: Customers expect their data to be protected. A breach can destroy years of goodwill.
- Regulatory Pressure: Frameworks like GDPR, POPIA, and the SEC’s cyber disclosure rules demand board-level accountability.
- Financial Fallout: Ransomware demands, downtime, and regulatory fines affect EBITDA and investor confidence.
- Boardroom Priority: Cyber risk is now a governance issue. CEOs and boards are being held responsible.
“We used to treat cybersecurity as an IT budget line item. Now, it’s a core part of our business continuity, brand promise, and boardroom agenda.” — Tumi Mokwena, CEO, Pan-African Financial Services Group
Executives across industries are realizing that resilience is no longer optional—it’s the cost of doing business in a digital world. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, organizations that can recover quickly and communicate clearly will maintain stakeholder trust and market position.
Cyber Resilience as a Competitive Advantage
Forward-thinking companies are leveraging cyber resilience not just for defence—but as a strategic differentiator.
- Operational Continuity: Rapid recovery protects revenues and keeps customers loyal.
- Customer Confidence: Resilience builds lasting trust and partnership readiness.
- Compliance as an Enabler: Meeting security standards boosts RFP win rates and investor trust.
- Innovation Catalyst: A secure foundation accelerates digital transformation, not hinders it.
- Market Edge: Resilient companies stand out in procurement, due diligence, and industry rankings.
What Enterprises Should Do Now
To move from reactive to resilient, businesses must:
- Integrate cybersecurity into enterprise risk management.
- Engage boards and C-suites in cyber strategy discussions.
- Adopt resilience frameworks like NIST CSF or ISO 27001.
- Invest in people and processes—not just technology.
- Foster a culture of cyber accountability across all teams.
The Path Forward
Cyber threats are here to stay. But with the right mindset, cyber resilience becomes more than just defence – it becomes the foundation for innovation, continuity, and competitive strength.
Trust is now currency. And cyber resilience is the vault that protects it.
Is your business cyber-resilient? It’s time to shift from secure … to unstoppable.