Why More CEOs and Boards Are Worrying About Security: “The Risk Is Everywhere”

Why More CEOs and Boards Are Worrying About Security: “The Risk Is Everywhere”

Executive security is no longer viewed as a luxury or a personal perk.

Across the U.S., more CEOs and corporate boards are treating security as a business-critical function tied directly to continuity, reputation, and leadership stability. That shift is happening because today’s threats are more visible, more connected, and more difficult to predict. Physical threats, cyber threats, online harassment, AI-enabled impersonation, and public-facing brand pressure now overlap in ways that can impact an entire organization—not just one executive.

## Executive Security Spending Is Rising for a Reason

Companies are increasing executive protection budgets, and the trend is no longer limited to a few high-profile industries. Reuters reported that many large U.S. companies expanded executive security spending following high-profile attacks, with proxy filings showing broader concern over threats to leadership and public-facing personnel. Reuters also noted rising demand for executive protection services and more companies extending protection considerations beyond the CEO. (Reuters)

This reflects a larger reality: when a CEO or key executive is targeted, the business can be disrupted immediately.

The risk can affect:

- Operations and decision-making

- Investor and client confidence

- Public appearances and travel

- Internal morale

- Crisis communications

- Brand trust

## The Risk Is No Longer “Physical vs. Cyber”

One of the biggest changes in executive protection is that threats no longer stay in one lane.

A social media post can turn into targeted harassment. Doxxing can create home-address exposure. A cyber breach can lead to impersonation attempts, extortion, or reputational attacks. What starts online can quickly become a real-world security issue.

ASIS coverage of a 2026 executive targeting study reported that documented incidents targeting corporate executives surged in 2025, with incident volume doubling from 2024 levels by late October. The same report highlighted a heavy concentration of physical incidents, while cyber and hybrid threats continue to rise. (ASIS International)

That is exactly why boards are paying more attention: executive risk is now an enterprise-wide issue, not a stand-alone security concern.

## Boards Are Under More Pressure to Oversee Security Risk

Security is now firmly in the boardroom conversation.

The SEC’s cybersecurity disclosure rules require public companies to disclose material cybersecurity incidents and provide annual disclosures around cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance—including board oversight responsibilities. This reinforces the expectation that boards must understand how security risks are identified, managed, and escalated. (SEC)

At the same time, Deloitte’s recent research on board and C-suite collaboration found that nearly three-quarters of respondents said boards spent more time in 2025 on strategy development and scenario planning—both essential for resilience in a volatile risk environment. (Deloitte)

In plain terms: boards are not just asking, “Do we have security?”

They are asking, “Do we have the right security strategy for the risks we face now?”

## Cyber Threats Are Accelerating Executive Exposure

The cyber side of the threat landscape is a major driver of board-level concern.

The FBI’s 2024 IC3 report documented 859,532 complaints and reported losses exceeding $16 billion, with losses up 33% year over year. The FBI’s release also called out persistent threats such as phishing, extortion, and data breaches. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

PwC’s 2025 Global Digital Trust Insights also shows how seriously organizations are taking cyber risk, based on a survey of more than 4,000 business and technology executives. The report underscores how digital exposure, AI adoption, and expanding attack surfaces are raising risk for leadership teams and enterprises alike. (PwC)

For executives, this means protection can’t stop at bodyguard coverage or on-site security. A strong security posture now includes:

- Threat monitoring

- Secure travel planning

- Digital identity protection

- Access control and screening

- Incident escalation procedures

- Coordination between physical security and cyber teams

## Why This Matters for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses

This is not just a Fortune 500 issue.

Small and mid-sized companies are often more vulnerable because they may not have:

- A formal executive protection plan

- Security protocols for travel or public events

- A threat reporting process

- Trained front-desk or admin staff

- Integrated cyber and physical security support

If your business relies heavily on a founder, owner, or a small leadership team, protecting those people is a business continuity issue. A threat, disruption, or incident involving leadership can slow operations, impact revenue, and damage client trust.

## What CEOs and Boards Should Do Now

The best security programs are proactive, not reactive.

### 1) Treat executive security as enterprise risk

Shift the mindset from “executive perk” to “business continuity and risk management.”

### 2) Conduct a leadership risk assessment

Review office exposure, travel routines, event participation, online visibility, and known vulnerabilities.

### 3) Integrate physical and cyber security

Make sure your security provider, IT/cyber team, and leadership support staff are aligned.

### 4) Build travel and event security protocols

Executives are often most exposed during travel, arrivals/departures, and public events.

### 5) Establish escalation and incident response procedures

Your team should know what to do if there is a threat, suspicious contact, or online targeting event.

### 6) Train support staff

Executive assistants, reception, dispatch, and operations teams are often the first line of defense.

### 7) Reassess regularly

Threat levels change after layoffs, litigation, media coverage, public disputes, or high-visibility announcements.

## Final Thought

Why are more CEOs and boards worrying about security?

Because the threat environment has changed.

The modern risk landscape is faster, more public, and more interconnected than ever. And when leadership is exposed, the business is exposed. Companies that take security seriously today are not overreacting—they’re protecting continuity, people, and long-term stability.

## Exec Security™ Can Help

At Exec Security™, we help businesses across Florida strengthen their security posture with professional, dependable protection services tailored to real-world operational risk.

We support:

- Executive and leadership protection planning

- Corporate site security

- Event security and access control

- Protective presence for meetings and high-visibility events

- Security staffing during elevated-risk periods

- Ongoing security support for businesses, properties, and organizations

If your company is reassessing risk at the leadership level, now is the time to put the right security strategy in place.

What used to be seen as an “executive perk” is now a real business continuity issue.

Today’s risk environment is different:

• Physical threats

• Cyber threats

• Online targeting / impersonation

• Public-facing brand pressure

• Hybrid threats that move from online to real-world exposure

When leadership is exposed, the entire company can feel it:

operations, client confidence, team morale, and reputation.

Boards are paying closer attention because security now sits at the intersection of:

✅ risk management

✅ governance

✅ resilience

✅ brand protection

✅ leadership continuity

This is not just a Fortune 500 issue either.

Small and mid-sized businesses are often more vulnerable because they rely heavily on a founder or small leadership team and may not have formal protection protocols in place.

The bottom line: leadership security is business security.

At Exec Security™, we help businesses across Florida build practical, professional security support for executives, sites, and events — with a focus on prevention, preparedness, and protection.

If your company is reassessing risk right now, this is the time to strengthen your plan.

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