Why Mid-Market CEOs Must Lead the Shift to Proactive Cyber Security - Now

A Forrester Consulting study commissioned by WithSecure reveals that mid-sized companies in Europe are facing a perfect storm: rising digital risk, low cyber confidence, and regulatory pressure. The solution? A bold shift from reactive cyber security to a proactive strategy.

Across Europe, mid-market companies are waking up to a hard truth: their traditional cyber security strategies are no longer working.

A 2024 study by Forrester Consulting*, commissioned by WithSecure, surveyed 435 IT, compliance, and security leaders across European mid-sized businesses (defined in the survey as businesses with 5,000 employees or less). The findings are sobering:

• 63% of companies experienced a data breach in the last 12 months

• Only 41% of leaders feel very confident in their organization’s cyber resilience

• 53% say their digital exposure is simply too large to manage

In short, the cyber playbook that served the mid-market for years – buy tools reactively, patch vulnerabilities when they surface, outsource when it gets too complex – is now broken. And it’s costing companies real money, trust, and opportunity.

The traditional model of reactive cyber security is built on assumptions that no longer hold true:

• That attackers focus only on large enterprises

• That you can “bolt on” security as needed

• That basic compliance is enough to maintain trust 

But cyber criminals no longer discriminate. In fact, mid-sized firms are often seen as low-hanging fruit – large enough to hold valuable data, yet small enough to lack enterprise-grade defenses. And as companies scale digitally, their attack surface expands exponentially.

The Forrester study confirms this: hybrid cloud, SaaS sprawl, and remote work have created a security landscape where more entry points mean more blind spots.

The shift to a proactive cyber security strategy isn’t just about managing risk – it’s about enabling business growth. For forward-looking executives, it’s a boardroom-level imperative. Here’s why:

• Trust Drives Growth: Security is no longer a technical KPI – it’s a customer expectation. For B2C brands in particular, strong cyber security equals stronger brand equity.

• Operational Efficiency: Proactive strategies like multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring can drive up to 20% improvements in efficiency, according to the study.

• Regulatory Readiness: With NIS2 and GDPR enforcement tightening, compliance is now an executive responsibility. And European mid-market firms are feeling the pressure: only 60% manage vulnerabilities effectively, despite high awareness. 

Security doesn’t just protect the business – it helps drive it forward.

A critical insight from the Forrester study: two-thirds of respondents expressed a strong preference for European security vendors, citing easier alignment with GDPR, local data handling norms, and regional compliance frameworks.

In a world of growing concern over data sovereignty, using solutions “developed and delivered in Europe” isn’t just a box to tick – it’s a strategic decision to protect customer trust and simplify compliance. 

This is particularly relevant for companies using strict cross-border data rules. Solutions that are NIS2-compliant and privacy-conscious by design reduce legal complexity and give your stakeholders peace of mind.

Proactive cyber security doesn’t mean bloating your IT budget or buying a stack of siloed tools. It means embedding security into the DNA of your strategy. Based on Forrester’s findings, here’s what that looks like for modern mid-sized businesses:

• Exposure-Led Risk Management: Map your full attack surface – including shadow IT – and focus protection efforts based on business risk.

• Continuous Validation: Regular testing through breach simulation and red teaming ensures your defenses work under pressure.

• Unified Platforms: Replace fragmented tools with integrated solutions that offer visibility without complexity. 

The question for CEOs, CFOs, and board members is no longer whether cyber security is an IT issue. It’s whether your current posture will enable or restrict your business over the next 3–5 years.

You need to ask:

• Are we truly resilient – or merely compliant?

• Are we waiting for the next breach – or preventing it? 

• Are we treating cyber security as a cost center – or a growth lever?

The companies that act now – prioritizing resilience, trust, and European-aligned strategies – won’t just weather the storm. They’ll build durable, competitive advantages in a world that values digital trust above all else."

The Forrester study draws a clear line in the sand: Mid-market companies that remain reactive are falling behind. But those that embrace proactive cyber security – especially through the lens of trust, efficiency, and compliance – can thrive.

In this new era, cyber security is not a checkbox. It’s a strategic enabler. And mid-sized companies have a rare opportunity to leap ahead – if leadership is willing to act boldly, now.

*Source: Cybersecurity Market Survey, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of WithSecure, August 2024