Cyber Resilience in Private Equity

In a world where high-profile cyberattacks dominate the headlines, private equity firms are continually reminded of the importance of proactively addressing cyber security within their portfolios. The pressure on investors is two-fold: not only must they mitigate the substantial downside risk of cyber vulnerabilities, but they must also drive and demonstrate value creation through cyber security initiatives. But many private equity professionals feel ill-equipped to navigate this complex and technical field, particularly if they invest in less mature companies or if they lack in-house cyber specialists.

In 2025, S-RM surveyed 100 respondents from private equity firms across EMEA and the US, all with knowledge of the cyber risks within their portfolios, to understand their approach to cyber security throughout the investment cycle. Our research shows that while there is widespread awareness of cyber risks, firms often struggle to translate this awareness into cost-effective, targeted programmes that deliver measurable improvements in cyber resilience.

The headlines prove that ignoring cyber security is an increasingly risky gamble. Yet, with the right support, private equity firms can build effective cyber risk management programmes which quickly enhance a portfolio’s resilience. And thanks to the knowledge-sharing opportunities and economies of scale provided by working across a portfolio, private equity firms and their portfolio companies have a head start even when budgets are tight.