The cybersecurity landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and the pressure on cyber leaders has never been greater. With the global average cost of a breach now standing at $4.88 million, executives are demanding more than assurances—they want proof that their organizations are prepared to withstand cyberattacks. A new Cyber Readiness Survey, commissioned by Immersive and conducted by Sapio Research, sheds light on how security leaders are responding to this demand while navigating an increasingly complex threat environment.
The Growing Need to Demonstrate Cyber Readiness
According to the survey, 96% of cyber leaders believe that effectively communicating cyber readiness to senior leadership and boards will be crucial in 2025. This urgency is largely driven by new regulatory requirements and a rising number of attacks. With almost half (49%) of respondents reporting a cyberattack in the past year, boards are more involved than ever, seeking tangible evidence of their organizations’ preparedness.
Cyber drills have emerged as a leading method for organizations to prove and improve their readiness. The survey found that 94% of respondents have either implemented cyber drills or plan to within the next three years. These drills simulate real-world cyberattacks, pressure-testing teams to refine their response capabilities before facing actual threats.
Cyber Drills: A Strategic Shift in Readiness
More than half (57%) of cyber leaders have already integrated cyber drills into their security programs, with an additional 38% planning to do so within the next three years. This strategic shift highlights the recognition that proactive readiness exercises are crucial for mitigating cyber risk. These drills not only expose vulnerabilities but also provide teams with hands-on experience in managing high-stress cyber incidents.
“Cyber drills exemplify this new focus, ensuring organizations can continuously prove and improve their readiness. I envision a future where cyber drills are as routine as fire drills, helping businesses worldwide maintain resilience in the face of evolving threats,” said James Hadley, CEO and Founder of Immersive.
Barriers to Cyber Readiness—and a Silver Lining
Despite the growing adoption of cyber drills, 76% of cyber leaders report facing barriers to achieving full readiness. The most significant challenge? Competing business priorities that demand immediate, demonstrable ROI (31%). Interestingly, board-level leadership is not seen as a major obstacle—55% of cyber leaders state that their boards have a strong understanding of cyber readiness.
The survey also reveals a significant opportunity: cyber decision-makers currently dedicate only 39% of their time to assessing and improving cyber readiness. This suggests that a more structured approach to measuring and demonstrating security capabilities could help organizations justify additional investment and prioritize cybersecurity initiatives.
The Biggest Cyber Threats Facing Organizations
The survey highlights the threats that most concern cyber leaders, with software and cloud vulnerabilities (51%) ranking as the top risk. Ransomware remains a major concern, cited by 46% of respondents, while threats from generative AI (GenAI) and phishing attacks each registered at 44%.
Given that nearly half of surveyed businesses have experienced a cyberattack in the past year, the need for ongoing training, drills, and assessments is clear. Organizations that fail to implement these strategies risk being caught unprepared in the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Immersive’s Rebrand Reflects a New Era in Cyber Readiness
In alignment with its evolving mission, Immersive Labs has officially rebranded as “Immersive,” with a new tagline: Be Ready. The company’s newly named platform, Immersive One, serves as a unified cyber resilience solution that extends beyond traditional training to encompass real-world, dynamic exercises tailored to different roles within an organization.
“Our new brand identity signifies what we can offer that other more traditional cyber training models can’t—a truly immersive approach to proving and improving cyber skills,” said Will Bloor, Vice President of Brand at Immersive.
Immersive One is designed to provide enterprise-wide coverage, ensuring that everyone—from developers to cloud engineers—can enhance their cybersecurity capabilities. By leveraging hands-on labs, simulations, and cyber drills, organizations can continuously assess their teams’ readiness while demonstrating measurable improvements in security posture.
The Future of Cyber Readiness
The findings from Immersive’s Cyber Readiness Survey underscore the urgency for organizations to adopt proactive measures against evolving threats. With cyberattacks growing in frequency and sophistication, businesses must invest in continuous readiness programs that not only improve response times but also offer measurable proof of resilience to leadership and stakeholders.
As cyber drills become an industry standard, the next frontier will be refining methods to evaluate and benchmark organizational readiness. By leveraging advanced simulations, data-driven assessments, and immersive training, businesses can ensure they remain one step ahead in the ever-changing cyber threat landscape.
The question is no longer if an attack will happen—but when. And when it does, will your organization be ready?