As technology and digital systems become increasingly embedded in daily business operations, rising digital threats are a growing problem for leadership teams. Taking proactive steps to invest in cybersecurity measures can ensure a business is ready and prepared for threats at every level.
Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members detail where they are now investing heavily in cybersecurity to combat digital threats. Read on to learn more about which investments are critical for mitigating potential threats and breaches.
1. Digital And Team Infrastructure
I recommend financing the right systems first. Invest in infrastructure built for zero threat to protect the company. And even when you’ve built the right system, the threat isn’t over, as there may be problems in team structure. What structures do you have in place to check system gaps? Who have you onboarded and trained? What’s your KYC? Threats can be internal, external and systemic, requiring organizational consciousness. – Jennifer Orode, Ingenium Concepts Limited
2. A Cyber Resilience Framework
Leaders should be investing time and effort in strengthening the business’s cyber resilience framework. Combine advanced technology with strong governance and a culture of awareness. It’s most critical to also train your workforce. Technology alone can’t and won’t defend against evolving threats. Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT function; it’s a business imperative and everyone’s responsibility. – Jennifer D’Angelo, NJII
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3. Education
Our biggest cybersecurity investment is education. Tools protect systems, but awareness protects people. We train every team member—from leadership to new hires—to spot risks and act fast. It’s not just an IT issue, but everyone’s job. A secure culture always outperforms secure software. – Braden Yuill, Virtual Coworker
4. Eliminating Vulnerabilities
Start by getting employees out of email and into a Teams environment. Do dark web searches for compromised information, run phishing exercises and demand strong passwords. Prevention is worth the time and expense. Run internal response drills so others know what to do in the event of an incident. Get insurance. There is not one thing to do other than to be vigilant and constant in your defense. – Joe Crandall, Greencastle Associates Consulting
5. Fraud Protection
At our software company, we’re investing heavily in fraud protection. We are strengthening identity verification and monitoring behavioral patterns to catch suspicious activity early and protect user trust before harm occurs. It may not always directly move the needle on our bottom line, but it has a huge impact on customer confidence and the overall user experience, which is something every leader should prioritize. – Nathan Miller, Rentec Direct
6. AI-Driven Autonomous Defense
We’re investing most in AI-driven autonomous defense. These are agentic systems that learn, reason and act faster than human teams. As threats evolve across cloud, blockchain and AI supply chains, only self-learning workflows can keep pace. The future of cybersecurity is automation with intelligence, not reaction. – Victor Fang, Ph.D., AnChain.AI
7. A Cyber Insurance Policy
Cybersecurity should be every company’s No. 1 priority in 2025. Besides taking all necessary steps to protect sensitive data on a technical level, having a robust cyber insurance policy with a reputable insurer is crucial. – Krisztina Veres, Veres Career Consulting
8. Proactive Defense Systems
We’re investing most in proactive defense, from continuous monitoring and employee training to AI-driven threat detection. Technology alone isn’t enough, and awareness and speed matter most. Other leaders should follow suit, as prevention is far cheaper than recovering trust after a breach. – Vladyslav Drapii, Legarithm OU
9. People
As COO and chair of three audit and risk committees overseeing cybersecurity, my biggest investment recommendation is people. Run role-based training with live simulations. Conduct monthly phishing drills. Execute spear-phish tests and just-in-time micro-lessons. Track click-and-report rates by team, and coach outliers. Security is only as strong as the least-prepared employee. – Marie Holive, Proteus International
10. Employee Empowerment
Cybersecurity starts with humans. We advise organizations to build deepfake-era habits. Train everyone to pause, verify and raise a hand. Make reporting easy, celebrate close calls and fix gaps without blame. Tools matter, but the courage to speak up matters more. Invest there to cut detection time and damage. – John Palinkas, Institute for Digital Transformation
11. Incident Response Planning And Simulation
Our focus is on incident response planning and simulation to ensure quick recovery if a breach occurs. If you stay prepared by practicing real-world scenarios, you’re ready to minimize damage when an attack happens. By simulating breaches, you can quickly identify gaps, refine response and make recovery much faster. A quick, coordinated response can significantly reduce the impact of a cyberattack. – Sabeer Nelliparamban, Tyler Petroleum Inc.
12. Talent Recruitment And Development
The smartest investment in cybersecurity today is recruiting top-tier talent and continuously developing your existing team’s expertise. Skilled professionals who understand the rapidly changing threat landscape are your greatest asset. When their knowledge is paired with the right security tools, leaders can drive measurable impact, creating a proactive, resilient environment. – Dennis Kozak, Ivanti
13. Protection For Documented Systems
We’re doubling down on securing our documented systems because exposed SOPs or client workflows kill value. Buyers don’t just look at revenue; they assess risk. Cybersecurity isn’t just IT’s job anymore, as it’s leadership’s responsibility to protect enterprise value. If you ignore it, your cybersecurity metrics drop fast. – Joe Carter, Twin Flame Group TX
14. Automated Vulnerability Scans
We’ve integrated security into our build pipelines so that every code goes through automated vulnerability scans. Fixing issues at commit costs less than fixing them post-breach, which could run into millions. I think other leaders should see security as part of engineering culture rather than the responsibility of a separate department. – Ran Ronen, Equally AI
15. Cloud Security
We’re investing heavily in cloud security. As more operations move to the cloud, securing that environment is critical. At the same time, human error remains a top risk, so we are also investing in employee awareness training to empower teams with the right knowledge to help prevent breaches. Other leaders should do the same to protect data, build trust and ensure business continuity. – Kamya Elawadhi, Doceree
16. Human-Centered Security Measures
Humans remain the weakest link in cybersecurity. The majority of breaches stem from social engineering or human error. In my ventures, we’re investing in human-centered security, including continuous education, behavioral analytics and phishing simulations that build instinctive vigilance. The future of cybersecurity isn’t just smarter algorithms; it’s more intelligent humans. – Oluwaseun Dania, Alpha-Geek Technologies Ltd
17. Customer Data Protections
I invest most heavily in protecting customer data and training employees to recognize and respond to threats. Technology alone isn’t enough—security is a people issue. Building awareness and accountability across the team creates the strongest defense. – Adi Klevit, Business Success Consulting Group
18. Franchisee-Facing Security And Training
We’re heavily investing in franchisee-facing security and training. Our partners are our frontline representatives, and their systems must be locked down, including everything from data protection to operational access. It’s simple: A strong chain is only as secure as its weakest link. As leaders, we must protect our entire network, not just the corporate office. – Adam Povlitz, Anago Cleaning Systems
19. Identity And Access Management
We are investing most heavily in identity and access management. With remote work and cloud adoption, identity has become the new perimeter, and stolen credentials are the top attack vector. Leaders must adopt the same protections because AI-driven attacks are now exploiting human error through identity and cloud misconfigurations. Securing these two areas locks the digital front door. – Reco McCambry, Novae
20. Third-Party And Supply Chain Security
We’re investing heavily in third-party and supply chain security. Even the strongest internal systems fail if vendors or partners are compromised. We also now vet every integration, require continuous monitoring and enforce strict compliance across our ecosystem. Other leaders should follow suit because your cybersecurity is only as strong as the weakest link in your network. – Michael Shribman, APS Global Partners Inc.