Are there cybersecurity perception gaps at your organization? The results of the Bitdefender 2025 Cybersecurity Assessment indicate the answer is likely “yes” and you may not even know it.
This disconnect matters because small gaps in perception today can widen into large blind spots tomorrow, since perception often shapes what to prioritize, where to invest, and how to respond in moments of crisis.
This year’s assessment surveyed 1,200 cybersecurity and IT professionals and at first glance, there is a rare glimmer of optimism when it comes to cyber readiness. A striking 93% say they are “somewhat confident” or “very confident” in their ability to manage risk as the attack surface expands. But beneath this statistic lies a concerning divide.
For instance, consider the confidence level based on the respondents' positions within their organization. Nearly half (45%) of C-level respondents—CISOs and CIOs—say they are “very confident” in their organization’s readiness. In contrast, less than one in five (19%) mid-level managers report being “very confident.”
C-level leaders are more than twice as sure about their cybersecurity posture compared to those who run day-to-day cybersecurity operations.
Unfortunately, when leadership overestimates readiness, it can result in underinvestment in people, process improvement, and technology. But can we really say that one of these perceptions is more valid than the other in today’s complicated cybersecurity landscape? Or could this be a case of looking at the same picture from two very different angles?
I recently sat down with a group of cybersecurity experts to explore the readiness perception gap, among other topics. You can watch the discussion here. We explored various reasons for the existence of the gap and identified numerous areas where it appears.
Team Lead for the Bitdefender Cyber Intelligence Fusion Cell, Sean Nikkel, says he understands why cybersecurity professionals on the front line may have lower confidence in their organization’s cyber readiness. It’s because of what they see firsthand. Consider, for example, what happens following a merger or acquisition.
“Whatever risk the acquired organization had, you just inherited. So you could be 100% green, and suddenly you're down to yellow. You have all this legacy infrastructure, their shadow IT, and the things they've forgotten about.” Adds Nikkel, “You have to get down to the nitty-gritty. And those at the C-level may not see that part, unlike cyber and IT people in the trenches.”
Bitdefender Technical Solutions Director Martin Zugec adds that he’s not surprised by the survey findings, given what he observes in his role. “In my experience, I go through a lot of investigations. If I look at the research that we are doing, which can be dozens of pages about an incident, and the same day, I look at LinkedIn, I see two completely different faces of cybersecurity,” he says. “The reality is so much different than what is being discussed, and I feel this problem is worsening.”
Nick Jackson, Bitdefender Director of Cybersecurity Services, says there are a couple of things at the core of the leader vs. frontline gap. “The disconnect is from a lack of reporting and a lack of communication. Mid-level managers and those below are handling a significant portion of operational tasks, whereas C-level executives, CISOs and others are focusing on more strategic thinking.” He adds that organizations should, and can, address this challenge.
Closing the perception gap between C-Level cybersecurity and IT Leaders and frontline teams is both important and strategic. Jackson helps organizations reach this point as part of the Bitdefender Security Advisory.
“There are numerous ways to approach this, to help the two sides meet in the middle, where both more closely align. Once they have a good understanding of each other's roles and perspectives, that is when they can truly make the best decision for the business,” says Jackson.
“There are many benefits if you get the mid-level managers to a better alignment with the C-level. Help these managers understand why the organization is not spending more money or why it does not put increased resources into a specific area. Maybe the business is happy with the current level of risk. Similarly, it's beneficial for the C-level to understand why mid-level managers are unhappy when they become aware of security gaps. It’s important for both sides to explore what the gaps are, why there's a gap, and the potential business impact.”
Cybersecurity success depends on shared visibility and alignment. The path forward requires closing the perception gap to build a culture where executives and practitioners row in the same direction, ensuring that decisions reflect both strategy and lived reality.
The perception gap noted in this year’s report extends well beyond readiness, revealing clashing 2025 cybersecurity priorities and differing views on the severity of the current cybersecurity skills shortage.
You can view the expert analysis around all of the key survey results in our discussion From AI to Attack Surface: What’s Shaping Cybersecurity Priorities in 2025.
Also, download your own copy of the Bitdefender 2025 Cybersecurity Assessment Report.