Security Culture Starts at the Top: What Business Leaders Need to Know

Cybersecurity is no longer the sole responsibility of IT teams. It's a strategic business imperative that begins at the executive level. A strong security posture depends not only on tools and technical controls, but on leadership that understands its role in building and maintaining a security-first culture.

Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, frequent, and damaging. Business leaders must actively participate in cybersecurity planning, not simply delegate it. This includes recognising that security is as much about people and behaviour as it is about systems and software.

A key starting point is embracing the principle of least privilege. This means ensuring employees only have access to the systems and data necessary to perform their duties. Access should be based on roles, reviewed regularly, and revoked promptly when no longer needed. When implemented properly, this principle significantly limits the damage that can occur in the event of a breach.

Did you know?
In 2024, 69% of all data breaches reported in Australia were the result of malicious or criminal attacks, the majority of which involved phishing, stolen credentials, or compromised emails.
(Source: OAIC Notifiable Data Breaches Report)

But technical controls alone are not enough. Building a security-conscious organisation requires cultural change. Employees need to see that security is prioritised, not only during awareness campaigns or audits, but as part of everyday operations. And that starts at the top.

Leaders must set the tone:

• Model good behaviour, like using multi-factor authentication without complaint.
• Treat cybersecurity incidents as strategic risks, not just IT issues.
• Encourage transparency around near-misses and mistakes, fostering a learning culture.

Here are five key cybersecurity trends that business leaders should consider when shaping their security posture and culture:

What’s happening: Cybercriminals are using generative AI to create convincing phishing emails, deepfakes, and malware at scale. At the same time, defenders are deploying AI to detect anomalies, automate incident response, and monitor behaviour across systems.

Why leaders should care: The line between a well-crafted scam and a legitimate communication is becoming harder to detect. Businesses need layered defenses that evolve in real-time, and leadership that supports investment in them.

What’s happening: BEC scams are more targeted and more successful than ever, often exploiting compromised email threads and posing as trusted colleagues or suppliers.

Why leaders should care: Email remains the single most common vector for cyberattacks. It's critical to invest in tools that go beyond default Microsoft 365 security and to train staff to recognise and report suspicious activity.

What’s happening: Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is no longer aspirational. It is rapidly becoming the expected security model, especially for hybrid and remote workforces.

Why leaders should care: This model treats every user and device as a potential threat until verified. It aligns closely with the principle of least privilege and requires clear leadership support to implement across the organisation.

What’s happening: Governments are tightening cybersecurity requirements. In Australia, updates to critical infrastructure regulations and incident reporting rules are already in effect. Globally, frameworks like the EU’s NIS2 and the US SEC’s cyber disclosure mandates are reshaping accountability.

Why leaders should care: Non-compliance can result in significant financial, operational, and reputational damage. Cybersecurity readiness must be treated as a board-level concern.

What’s happening: High-profile breaches involving software vendors have highlighted how vulnerabilities in third-party tools can compromise entire ecosystems.

Why leaders should care: Your business is only as secure as its weakest link. Executives must ensure supply chain risk management is embedded in procurement, onboarding, and monitoring processes.

Building a Security-First Culture: Practical Leadership Steps

Beyond understanding the trends, business leaders play a vital role in setting the tone and embedding good cyber hygiene throughout the organisation. Here’s how:

• Normalise secure practices: Use password managers, enforce MFA, and ensure updates and patches are applied promptly.
• Run regular simulations: Tabletop exercises and incident response drills build confidence and reduce response time.
• Reward good behaviour: Recognise employees who report phishing attempts or contribute to security initiatives.
• Appoint internal advocates: Security champions can help build awareness within departments and provide valuable feedback.

Security culture is not a campaign. It's a continuous commitment, reinforced by consistent leadership behaviour and business processes that prioritise security as an enabler of trust and continuity.

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern. It’s a strategic imperative that begins at the senior leadership level. Strong security posture depends not just on tools, but on leadership that understands its role in building and maintaining a security-first culture.

Recent statistics from the Australian Office of the Information Commissioner (OAIC) make one thing clear: cyber threats are accelerating. In 2024, the number of notifiable data breaches in Australia reached 1,113, a 25% increase from 2023 and the highest total since reporting began in 2018.

Malicious attacks, especially phishing and social engineering, accounted for 69% of breach notifications, while cyber security incidents represented 61% of attacks in the second half of 2024.

Major incidents underscore the risk. In July 2025, a cyberattack on Qantas’s call centre platform exposed personal data of approximately 5.7 million customers, including names, email addresses and birthdates. Shortly before that, the Trumpet of Patriots political party suffered a ransomware attack compromising identity records, banking info and employment history. And in June, a breach at Brisbane Entertainment Centre led to staff data theft and forced the business to provide credit monitoring to affected employees.

These examples demonstrate that any group, in any industry vertical, and of any size, is a target. They highlight why leadership engagement matters. Cyber resilience requires more than action-level mitigation, it demands strategic oversight.

Resilient businesses understand that cybersecurity is not just about protecting infrastructure, it’s about protecting people, relationships, and the future of the organisation. That starts at the top, with leaders who understand that every decision sends a message about what matters.

Now is the time to lead by example.

Keeping Businesses Safe and Secure

Prevention is always better than a cure, and one of the best defences is to encourage businesses to proactively boost their company’s cyber resilience levels to avoid threats landing in inboxes in the first place. The fact that a staggering 94% of malware attacks are delivered by email, makes email an extremely important vector for businesses to fortify.

No one vendor can stop all email threats, so it’s crucial to remind customers that if they are using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, they should also have a third-party email security specialist in place to mitigate their risk. For example, using a specialist AI-powered email threat detection solution like MailGuard.   

For a few dollars per staff member per month, businesses are protected by MailGuard's specialist, zero zero-day email security. Special Ops for when speed matters!  Our real-time zero zero-day, email threat detection amplifies your client’s intelligence, knowledge, security and defence.

MailGuard provides a range of solutions to keep businesses safe, from email filtering to email continuity and archiving solutions. Speak to your clients today to ensure they’re prepared and get in touch with our team to discuss fortifying your client’s cyber resilience.

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