Pavel Mishchenko

expert panel

Critical infrastructure is where cyber risk stops being abstract. When power grids, water systems, transportation networks, hospitals or financial systems are disrupted, the fallout isn’t limited to one company’s operations or balance sheet. It can affect public safety, economic stability and trust in the systems people rely on every day.That’s why a recent World Economic Forum survey should get leaders’ attention: 31% of global CEOs lack confidence that their country could respond effectively to a major cyberattack on critical infrastructure. But that lack of confidence may not reflect doubts about governments’ readiness alone. Many leaders may also be recognizing security gaps closer to home, from aging systems and complex vendor networks to crisis plans that haven’t been tested under real pressure. In a recent survey of senior leaders, 48% said the potential emergency they felt least prepared for was a cybersecurity crisis. Preparedness requires much more than policy statements, compliance checklists or well-intentioned plans stored in a shared drive. Leaders across industries and nations need a clearer understanding of how decisions will be made, who will act first and how organizations, sector partners and public agencies will coordinate when minutes matter.Members of the Senior Executive Cybersecurity Think Tank have deep expertise in enterprise cybersecurity strategies, risk management and modern security architecture. Below, seven of them share what’s driving leaders’ declining confidence in cyber resilience and what practical steps could strengthen preparedness at both organizational and national levels.