Data protection rules are tightening faster than most executive teams can update their playbooks. California has approved new regulations requiring risk assessments and cybersecurity audits for many businesses, and the SEC has rolled out new cybersecurity disclosure requirements that raise the stakes for boards and C-suites. Globally, companies face tightening scrutiny, and the penalties for missteps can be steep: GDPR violation fines exceeded €3 billion in the first half of 2025 alone.
For business leaders already juggling digital transformation, AI adoption and sprawling data ecosystems, managing incoming (and ongoing) waves of cybersecurity rules and regulations can feel overwhelming. But the real danger isn’t just the number or complexity of new rules—it’s the blind spots leaders don’t realize they have. From siloed security and shadow IT to hidden vendor vulnerabilities, many organizations have all the warning signs of an incoming compliance headache.
As experts in enterprise cybersecurity strategies and regulatory compliance, the members of the Senior Executive Cybersecurity Think Tank know where leaders most often overlook risk—and why regulators tend to focus on those areas after a breach. Below, three of them share what executives should prioritize now to stay compliant and resilient and avoid costly surprises down the line.
“The risk lies in what you think you know but don’t see within your data ecosystem.”
You Have to Map Your Data to Protect It
Modern regulations don’t just demand that organizations lock down their data. They require leaders to prove they thoroughly understand how their data flows and is used. With decades of international experience in cyber and digital risk, Maman Ibrahim, Founder of Ginkgo Resilience LTD, details how businesses can get started on the journey of building robust data protections.
“Executives should prioritize building data protection into the fabric of their operations,” he says. “They must map where sensitive data lives, who touches it and how it’s shared across borders, systems and vendors.”
Ibrahim notes that while data minimization, encryption and access controls aren’t new, what’s often missed is accountability.
“Leaders underestimate the risks in shadow systems, third-party platforms and legacy integrations that bypass governance,” he says.
Another blind spot Ibrahim pinpoints is a disconnect between security and privacy functions. When these operate in silos, he warns, gaps form and regulations are breached. To counter those weaknesses, he calls for alignment and always-on vigilance.
“Executives need cross-functional alignment, continuous monitoring and incident response plans that not only protect the perimeter, but also assume breach,” he says.
The bottom line for Ibrahim? “The risk lies in what you think you know but don’t see within your data ecosystem.”
“Build support into your product now for those regulations that apply to your business, not once there is a claim against you.”
Regulatory Clarity Is Your First Line of Defense
When cybersecurity requirements shift, many executives feel pressure to sprint after whatever rule is making headlines. But Jothy Rosenberg, Executive Chairman and President of Dover Microsystems, argues that leaders should be taking a more deliberate approach. His advice is to start by understanding exactly which regulations apply to your business model, your geography and your customers.
“Identify the data protection regulations that apply to your industry,” Rosenberg says. “These include HIPAA for medical, SOC 2 for B2B financial, GDPR for selling in Europe and CCPA for California.”
The list of cybersecurity regulations isn’t static; companies entering new markets or introducing new products may find themselves subject to entirely different regulatory frameworks.
Rosenberg says the real trouble starts when organizations wait until they’re under pressure to comply. Too many teams bolt controls or documentation onto products after the fact, hoping regulators won’t look too closely. That gamble rarely pays off.
“Build support into your product now for those regulations that apply to your business, not once there is a claim against you,” he urges.
“Move beyond ‘patch everything’ to a risk-based approach that considers exploitability, asset criticality and business impact—not just CVSS scores.”
Smart Security Starts With Smart Prioritization
Cybersecurity regulations increasingly demand that companies demonstrate not just that they patched vulnerabilities, but also that they prioritized the right ones. That shift is why executives need to rethink how they evaluate risk, says Eoin Keary, CEO of Edgescan Inc.
“Organizations need to adopt risk-based vulnerability management,” Keary says. “Move beyond ‘patch everything’ to a risk-based approach that considers exploitability, asset criticality and business impact—not just CVSS scores.”
As more companies rely on cloud services, niche apps and external development partners, vulnerability—and the need for accountability—is expanding up and down the supply chain. A single weak vendor can create outsized regulatory exposure.
“Supply chain security is an important consideration—executives must follow the mantra that suppliers should not introduce additional risk to the core business,” Keary says.
To manage that risk, Keary advises insisting on transparency.
“Consumers of supplied services should demand a document of attestation regarding data protection from their third-party suppliers.”
What to Do Now to Stay Ahead of Regulators
- Prioritize data protection as an integral part of your operations. Map where sensitive data lives, how it moves and who touches it so blind spots don’t become compliance liabilities.
- Understand which regulations apply to your business before you build. Identify your industry’s governing rules early so you can design products and processes that meet requirements from the start.
- Adopt a risk-based approach to vulnerability management. Focus on the issues with the greatest potential impact, considering exploitability, asset criticality and business implications rather than patching everything at once.
- Hold your vendors to the same security standards you expect from yourself. Demand transparency and ask suppliers for documentation that attests to their data protection practices to reduce supply chain exposure.
Looking Ahead: Compliance Demands Are Only Rising
Compliance isn’t a one-time checklist process but an ongoing discipline that starts with visibility, clarity and prioritization. As regulatory scrutiny increases and data ecosystems grow more complex, leaders who understand their risks—and can prove they’re managing them—will be far better positioned than those reacting under pressure.
The next wave of regulation will likely demand even more documentation, deeper supply chain accountability and stronger evidence that cybersecurity decisions are rooted in risk, not convenience. Executives who invest now in data mapping, regulatory awareness and risk-based security strategies will not only sidestep costly compliance pitfalls, but also build a more resilient foundation for the future.
