The Cybersecurity Perception Gap: Why Executives and Practitioners See Risk Differently
Oct 24, 2025
Cyber Resilience / Data Protection
Does your organization suffer from a cybersecurity perception gap? Findings from the Bitdefender 2025 Cybersecurity Assessment suggest the answer is probably "yes" — and many leaders may not even realize it. This disconnect matters. Small differences in perception today can evolve into major blind spots tomorrow. After all, perception influences what organizations prioritize, where they allocate resources, and how they respond in critical moments. Confidence at the Top, Caution on the Ground Bitdefender's latest assessment surveyed 1,200 cybersecurity and IT professionals , and at first glance, the results suggest optimism. An impressive 93% say they are "somewhat" or "very confident" in their ability to manage cyber risk as the attack surface expands. But dig deeper, and the optimism begins to split. Nearly half ( 45% ) of C-level respondents — including CISOs and CIOs — describe themselves as "very confident" in their organization's readiness. Yet among mid-l...
