Boards ramp up investment in data privacy and security in rush to become GDPR compliant and avoid data breaches, says a Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey.

The survey found almost a quarter (23 percent) more respondents than in 2017 are prioritizing improvements in cyber security as cyber crime threats reach an all-time high, while managing operational risk and compliance has also become a significantly increased priority (up 12 percent). These two areas represent the fastest growing IT priorities of company boards.

IT leaders today face the challenging task of delivering rich, customer-centric data in an environment laden with risk, the survey said. Data trust and privacy threats continue to hold the attention of CIOs, but while measures to improve data security are underway within companies and through legislation such as GDPR, over a third (38 percent) of those surveyed in April expected they would not be GDPR compliant at the deadline. Additionally, 77 percent of IT leaders are ‘most concerned’ about the threat of organized cyber crime, up from 71 percent last year. Only one fifth (22 percent) state they are well-prepared for a cyber attack.

The survey also found that trust is the new battleground for IT, as organizations delicately balance the revenue-driving potential of utilizing customer data with the need for privacy and security. Those businesses managing this balance most effectively (customer-centric organizations) are 38 percent more likely to report greater profitability than their competitors. However, the drive towards protecting data has caused a huge demand for ‘security and resilience’ skills, which experienced the biggest jump in skills shortages, increasing 25 percent year-on-year.

A move towards digital platforms and solutions is proving a huge challenge for CIOs, the survey said. While organizations recognize an effective digital strategy is critical to successful data security, many report they still struggle - with 78 percent stating that their digital strategy is only moderately effective, or worse. More than a third of companies (35 percent) can’t hire and develop the people they need with digital skills. And almost one in ten (9 percent) think that there is no clear digital vision or strategy at all.

According to the survey, to help with digital success, chief digital officers (CDOs) are proving their worth. Organizations with a CDO, either in a dedicated or acting role, are over twice as likely to have a clear and pervasive digital strategy than those without one (44 percent versus 21 percent). The report also shows that the most influential and successful organizations are fanatical about delivering value both to and from their customers - ‘Customer centric’ organizations are 38 percent more likely to report greater profitability than ones that are not.

Female IT Leadership Inches Forward

• Female IT leadership continues on an exceptionally slow upward trend, this year reaching 12 percent - up from 10 percent last year.
• Women represent just one in five (21 percent) of technology teams.
• The industry appears to be significantly divided on the extent to which diversity matters to business success. Almost a quarter (24 percent) of IT executives say inclusion and diversity has no bearing on achieving business and technology objectives. Forty-seven (47) percent report it has some influence, and 30 percent say inclusion and diversity impacts business and technology objectives to a great extent.

Big Data and Analytics Remain the No. 1-needed Skill

• Two thirds (65 percent) say skills shortages are preventing them from keeping up with the pace of change.
• For the fourth year in a row, big data and analytics is the number one skill in short supply (46 percent).

https://www.hnkpmgciosurvey.com/press-release/