Operational efficiency and optimisation top security priorities for 2023, Omdia reveals

New research from Omdia has found that operational efficiency and optimisation is the top security priority in 2023 for leading Chief Security Officers (CSOs). Author of the report and Principal Consultant at Omdia, Niall Jenkins, provides further insight.

The top security priorities identified in the research suggest CSOs are focusing on core security functions and value creation in 2023. 60% of survey respondents chose operational efficiency and optimisation in their top three security priorities.

Threat intelligence generation and analysis was a close second with 56% of respondents identifying it as one of their top three priorities. Further supporting this conclusion is the fact that improving risk assessments was ranked the third highest priority.

At the other end of the scale, sustainability risk scored poorly in the survey. Only 5% of respondents chose it as a security priority for 2023. While sustainability is an important topic for society, the physical security market may still be trying to define its role in the overall sustainability process.

The research comes from a Chief Security Officer Insights report, where Omdia partnered with the International Security Management Association (ISMA) to gain unique insight from 163 currently practising CSOs.

Business wide initiatives are important security strategy drivers

The report also explored what is driving the overall strategy decision process. The most common response was business wide transitions, such as digital transformation, which was identified as one of the three most important drivers by 64% of respondents.

This percentage increased to 80% when only including CSOs working for companies with $20 billion or more in revenues.

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Senior management and brand protection were the second and third most common responses from CSOs. Interestingly, both ranked above IT and cyber threats as a strategy decision driver.

Government legislation and data privacy, perhaps surprisingly given the regulation around data protection, were least likely to be identified as a driver of overall security strategy decisions.

The survey also collected open feedback on security strategy drivers.

Responses included building a culture that recognises risk, geopolitical drivers, return-on-investment, and responding to protests and activists. The range of security strategy drivers remains diverse.

CSOs are the most influential job role in new solution decisions  

85% of respondents stated that the CSO would be one of the top three most influential roles in the decision to move to a new security solution. This ranked the CSO as the most important job role. C-level executives were highlighted as the next most influential role.

Beyond the CSO and leadership, finance and CISO roles have the most influence.

At the other end of the influence scale, systems integrators and consultants were only identified as decision influencers by 2% and 6% of all respondents, respectively. This could be due to large organisations, such as those with revenues over $1 billion, having the internal resource and personnel to make security strategy decisions without having to rely on their channel partners.

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About the research, Omdia and ISMA

The research presented is part of an Omdia report titled Chief Security Officer (CSO) Insights. The second chapter of the report covering Physical Security Budgets is available to download for free from the Omdia hub, here.

Or download the full Chief Security Officer Insights report, here.

Part of Informa, Omdia formed out of legacy research brands Ovum, IHS Markit Technology, Tractica and Heavy Reading in early 2020. Bringing decades of industry experience, world-class research and consultancy, and actionable insights in over 200 markets, Omdia helps reveal risk, identify opportunities and reimagine possibilities. Its coverage includes AI, cyber security, physical security and critical communications, smart building and energy infrastructure, and more.

ISMA is a global not-for-profit organization that brings together senior security executives to share knowledge, best practices, and experiences in the field of corporate security management. All major industries are represented in the ISMA membership, including 25+ companies in the FTSE 100, DAX, and CAC40, together with more than half of the Fortune 100 and 25% of the Fortune 500.

Note, percentages are rounded to nearest whole number so do not always add to 100%.