Boards ramp up investment in data privacy and security in rush to become GDPR compliant and avoid data breaches, Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey finds

• Cyber crime threats reach all-time high
• Only a fifth of world’s IT leaders are well prepared for a cyber attack
• Over a third of organizations were GDPR non-compliant

Boards ramp up investment in data security and privacy in the rush to become GDPR compliant and to avoid highly damaging data breaches which have reached an all-time high, reports the 2018 Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey.

The largest IT leadership survey in the world, analyzing responses from organizations with a combined annual cyber security spend of up to US$46bn1, found almost a quarter (23 percent) more respondents than in 2017 are prioritizing improvements in cyber security as cyber crime threats reach an all-time high, while managing operational risk and compliance has also become a significantly increased priority (up 12 percent). These two areas represent the fastest growing IT priorities of company boards.

IT leaders today face the challenging task of delivering rich, customer-centric data in an environment laden with risk. Data trust and privacy threats continue to hold the attention of CIOs, but while measures to improve data security are underway within companies and through legislation such as GDPR, over a third (38 percent) of those surveyed in April expected they would not be GDPR compliant at the deadline. Additionally, 77 percent of IT leaders are ‘most concerned’ about the threat of organized cyber crime, up from 71 percent last year. Only one fifth (22 percent) state they are well-prepared for a cyber attack.

The survey found that trust is the new battleground for IT, as organizations delicately balance the revenue-driving potential of utilizing customer data with the need for privacy and security. Those businesses managing this balance most effectively (customer-centric organizations) are 38 percent more likely to report greater profitability than their competitors. However, the drive towards protecting data has caused a huge demand for ‘security and resilience’ skills, which experienced the biggest jump in skills shortages, increasing 25 percent year-on-year.

“CIOs have a really difficult tight rope to walk,” said Albert Ellis, CEO, Harvey Nash Group. “On one hand the board is asking them to drive innovation, promote transparency and following recent high profile data breaches, ensure the responsible use of customer data throughout the organization. On the other hand, the board is increasing scrutiny and demanding improved reporting on cyber security, data integrity and resilience, as regulators and consumers become much more demanding on personal data. The organizations that can get this balance right, between innovation and governance, are in the strongest position to compete in an increasingly complex technology environment.”

“The seemingly inevitability of a cyber attack crosses all borders and has now crossed firmly over the threshold for board-level discussions,” said Akhilesh Tuteja, Global Cyber Security Services Co-Leader, KPMG International. “Protecting the business from a cyber attack has jumped further up the boardroom agenda than any other item and IT leaders are being encouraged to make their defences the best that they can be.”

A move towards digital platforms and solutions is proving a huge challenge for CIOs. While organizations recognize an effective digital strategy is critical to successful data security, many report they still struggle - with 78 percent stating that their digital strategy is only moderately effective, or worse. More than a third of companies (35 percent) can’t hire and develop the people they need with digital skills. And almost one in ten (9 percent) think that there is no clear digital vision or strategy at all.

To help with digital success, chief digital officers (CDOs) are proving their worth. Organizations with a CDO, either in a dedicated or acting role, are over twice as likely to have a clear and pervasive digital strategy than those without one (44 percent versus 21 percent). The report also shows that the most influential and successful organizations are fanatical about delivering value both to and from their customers - ‘Customer centric’ organizations are 38 percent more likely to report greater profitability than ones that are not.

Female IT Leadership Inches Forward

• Female IT leadership continues on an exceptionally slow upward trend, this year reaching 12 percent - up from 10 percent last year.
• Women represent just one in five (21 percent) of technology teams.
• The industry appears to be significantly divided on the extent to which diversity matters to business success. Almost a quarter (24 percent) of IT executives say inclusion and diversity has no bearing on achieving business and technology objectives. Forty-seven (47) percent report it has some influence, and 30 percent say inclusion and diversity impacts business and technology objectives to a great extent.

“This year the annual KPMG CIO Survey has become the largest IT leadership survey ever undertaken in terms of coverage both worldwide and in Kazakhstan. Moreover, the key findings are equally true for both the global markets and our local market. First of all, they are true for the attitude towards cyber security risks. This type of risk is of the utmost concern to the CIOs and in this regard the board of directors are demonstrating more and more often their attention to and responsibility for management of this risk. The companies are pushing their budgets for infosecurity and understand, at large, the need to strike a balance between the risks and opportunities by stimulating the customer-oriented approach also in the security departments. The second important thing is a notorious problem of a lack of qualified personnel. And here, like everywhere else, the highest demand is for the big data specialists” – comments Konstantin Aushev, Head of IT Advisory at KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Big Data and Analytics Remain the No. 1-needed Skill

• Two thirds (65 percent) say skills shortages are preventing them from keeping up with the pace of change.
  
• For the fourth year in a row, big data and analytics is the number one skill in short supply (46 percent).
  

About the Survey

In its 20th year, the 2018 Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey is the largest IT leadership survey in the world in terms of number of respondents. The survey of 3,958 CIOs and technology leaders was conducted between 20th December 2017 and 3rd April 2018, across 84 countries.

For more information about the survey and to request a full copy of the results, please visit www.hnkpmgciosurvey.com.

About Harvey Nash

Harvey Nash has helped over half the world's leading companies recruit, source and manage the highly skilled talent they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive, global and technology driven world.
With over 2,500 employees in 36 locations, we have the reach and resources of a global organization, whilst fostering a culture of innovation and agility that empowers our people across the world to respond to constantly changing client needs. We work with clients, both large and small, to deliver a portfolio of services: executive search, professional recruitment and IT outsourcing.

To learn more, please visit www.harveynash.com.