Managing cybersecurity and other technology risks will be top of mind for CIOs in 2025 across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), with 82% of 109 respondents saying it is a key priority for next year, according to Gartner. Increased executive and board scrutiny on technology investments due to economic uncertainties is playing a role in IT leaders’ growing emphasis on risk management.

“Cybersecurity is becoming more and more of an issue in Australia. Audit and risk committees are not going away, regulators are not going away, and investors are not going away,” Andy Rowsell-Jones, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner, told CSO. “Cybersecurity has become one of those things you just have to do, and therefore, cybersecurity risk is becoming more of a priority for anybody who invests in it and anybody who manages it.”

Other focus areas for CIOs in ANZ include managing technology financials (59%); demonstrating the business value of IT (52%); and innovating and modernising enterprise applications and software (51%).