Board briefing: Risk in Focus 2021

Hot topics for internal auditors: the 2021 report

Risk in Focus is an annual report analysing the top business risks which organisations across Europe are facing.

Download the board briefing (pdf)

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Key findings

1. The top three risks currently facing businesses in 10 European countries are: cybersecurity and data security (79%), regulatory change and compliance (59%) and digitalisation, new technology and AI (50%).
2. For the first time ever, disasters and crisis response has been included in our survey, with 34% of Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) voting for it as a top 5 risk priority for their organisation.
3. Climate change and environmental sustainability is becoming an increasingly pressing issue for businesses, with 22% of CAEs citing it as a top 5 risk - an annual increase of 50% on the year before.