How digital transformation has made cybersecurity everyone’s responsibility

For years, cybersecurity had been viewed mainly as a concern for the Financial Services Industry (FSI) and Telecommunications (Telco) sectors.

These industries handle vast volumes of sensitive data, operate critical infrastructure, and are frequent targets of sophisticated cyberattacks. But that narrative no longer holds.

Cybersecurity is no longer a sectoral issue – it is a societal imperative. Every organisation, regardless of size or industry, sits on a digital fault line where a single breach can shake trust, disrupt operations, and erode reputations built over decades.

Digital transformation has blurred the lines between industries. Manufacturers now use connected supply chains. Hospitals run on cloud-based patient systems. Retailers rely on AI-driven analytics and e-commerce platforms. Even small businesses store customer data online or depend on third-party software.

In this hyper-connected world, every organisation has become part of a digital ecosystem. Every weak link is a potential entry point for threat actors.

The common thread among all sectors today is data dependency. Whether it is customer profiles, intellectual property, research and development data, or financial records, every organisation holds digital assets of value to cybercriminals.

Attackers are not discriminating by industry. They are opportunistic. A mid-sized logistics company or a government agency might be just as lucrative a target as a bank.

The recent rise in ransomware-as-a-service and AI-powered phishing has made it even easier for attackers to scale across industries, hitting anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Governments and regulators are increasingly acknowledging this reality. Malaysia’s Cybersecurity Act 2024, the recently amended Personal Data Protection Act, and similar laws globally are expanding accountability across all sectors.

No longer can a manufacturing firm, educational institution, or even a sports association claim that cybersecurity is “not their core business.”

Non-compliance now carries legal, financial, and reputational consequences regardless of industry classification.

Digital trust is fast becoming a brand differentiator. Customers, partners, and investors expect organisations to protect data, respect privacy, and ensure resilience.

A single breach can destroy that trust overnight. Whether you are a hospital protecting patient data, a logistics firm securing cargo manifests, or an SME safeguarding client records, cybersecurity is at the heart of your credibility.

At its core, cybersecurity is not about technology. It is about continuity and confidence – ensuring that an organisation can operate, recover, and grow despite evolving threats.

In an era where disruptions can come from anywhere – from nation-state attacks to insider threats – cyber resilience has become synonymous with business resilience. Those who fail to invest in it risk not only their data but their survival.

The notion that cybersecurity is only a pain point for FSI and Telco is outdated and dangerous. Every organisation that connects, collects, or communicates digitally is part of the cybersecurity ecosystem.

Cyber threat actors exploit human vulnerabilities. While technological defences are vital, attackers increasingly depend on manipulating human error through AI-driven social engineering. Continuous staff awareness and training are therefore essential across all industries to strengthen technical controls and minimise attack surfaces.

Modern cyberattacks frequently involve the misuse of legitimate credentials, allowing intrusions that evade traditional security systems. This highlights the importance of robust identity and access management (IAM) practices and the adoption of zero-trust architectures in every organisation.

Operational technology (OT) risks are also on the rise. Beyond IT, sectors such as manufacturing and utilities face mounting threats within their OT environments, where a single compromised controller can disrupt production or cause serious safety incidents. Securing OT networks is thus critical to safeguarding operations and ensuring business continuity.

Cybersecurity regulations are evolving to hold leadership accountable. Frameworks such as the EU’s NIS 2 Directive and Malaysia’s Cyber Security Act now impose broader responsibilities, including incident reporting and third-party risk management, with penalties for non-compliance that affect organisations of all sizes and sectors.

Cyber resilience has become a competitive edge. Organisations that maintain strong security postures inspire digital trust among customers, partners, and investors, making them more attractive in the marketplace. Conversely, breaches can inflict lasting damage on reputation and financial stability. Recent high-profile incidents across industries underscore the need for robust incident response, rapid threat detection, and continuous vulnerability management to contain risks and speed recovery.

The time has come for leaders across all sectors to move beyond viewing cybersecurity as a compliance requirement – and instead recognise it as a strategic driver of trust, growth, and long-term resilience.

The time has come for leaders across all industries to shift their mindset from viewing cybersecurity as a compliance checkbox to recognising it as a strategic enabler of trust, growth, and resilience.

Cybersecurity is not just about protecting systems. It is about protecting societies, economies, and the future itself.

Murugason R. Thangaratnam is a cybersecurity practitioner and Adjunct Professor at the University Malaysia of Computer Science & Engineering (UNIMY).

The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.