The Saïd Business School at Oxford University is launching its first cyber resilience elective in the MBA program. Teaming up with Sygnia, a specialist in security readiness and response, the course aims to address the critical security skills gap and prepare future business leaders to tackle cyber issues effectively.
With the rapid pace of digital change, the rise of artificial intelligence, shifting geopolitics, and a bustling cybercriminal landscape, this elective will focus on the heightened threat from sophisticated cyber attacks. Business leaders need to step up their involvement in enhancing their organizations’ resilience.
This initiative builds on research by Michael Smets and Manuel Hepfer, who examined how CEOs approach security. Their findings revealed that many top executives feel unequipped to handle security decisions, especially in crises. Smets emphasized that Oxford’s strong academic foundation combined with Sygnia’s practical experience provides MBA students with the tools to turn cyber resilience into a strategic asset.
The partnership with Sygnia, founded by experts in cyber intelligence, will introduce unique elements to the course, like live cyber attack simulations. These scenarios will challenge students to navigate the complexities and pressures of incident response in a controlled setting, offering valuable hands-on experience.
Chris Crummey from Sygnia highlighted the importance of embedding cyber resilience into business strategy. As cyber threats escalate—from nation-state actors to organized criminals—this MBA course is a crucial step toward enhancing global cyber defense. The immersive simulations will push students to lead decisively during chaotic incidents.
Tomer Amir from Google Cloud noted that courses like this are essential for developing cyber resilience skills early in one’s career. He stressed that understanding cyber issues is vital for future leaders and expressed enthusiasm for supporting the course.
Meanwhile, at the CyberUK conference in Manchester, Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, urged UK organizations to take security seriously. Pointing to recent attacks on notable companies like Marks and Spencer and Co-op, he remarked that these incidents should serve as a wake-up call for businesses and government alike. Cybersecurity, he declared, is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
