Risk in Focus
Risk in Focus is an annual thought leadership research project analysing the top risks faced by organisations across Europe currently in its 9th year of publication. It is a tool for internal auditors and audit committees and an indicator of what Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) and others perceive as their organisations’ risk priorities for 2025 and beyond.
Risk in Focus 2025 explores how organisations across Europe seek a competitive advantage in an age of digital transformation and AI, which also brings with it, an unpredictable and fast-moving risk landscape.
We hope this year’s Risk in Focus provides you with the ideas and insights to navigate these challenging times.
Key Findings
- Digital disruption, new technology and artificial intelligence (AI) was the survey’s fastest riser – going from 6th place in 2024, to 4th place in 2025 and expected to rise to 2nd position by 2028.
- 83% of respondents indicated that cybersecurity and data security was a top 5 risk and the top risk yet again in this year's survey.
- Human capital, diversity, talent management and retention held its 2nd place ranking with 52% of CAEs placing it as a top 5 risk.
Risk in Focus 2025 Board Briefing
This year we’ve produced a Board Briefing in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. This is summarised version of the report aimed at Boards and senior management. Boards must continue to collaborate and work closely with their internal audit function to ensure the success of their organisations in the face of a rapidly changing risk-landscape.
For a summary of Risk in Focus 2025, tailored to senior management teams and boards, download the Risk in Focus 2025 Board Briefing.
About the report
For the past nine years, Risk in Focus has sought to highlight key risk areas to help internal auditors prepare their independent risk assessment work, annual planning and audit scoping. It helps Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) and other risk professionals understand how their peers view today’s risk landscape as they prepare their forthcoming audit plans for the year ahead.
This year, Risk in Focus 2025 involved a collaboration between 19 European Institutes of Internal Auditors, spanning 20 countries which included Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The highest number of European countries involved so far.
The survey elicited 985 responses from CAEs across Europe, the highest number of responses to the survey so far. Simultaneously, five roundtable discussions were organised with 48 CAEs on the five risk areas covered in the report. In addition, we also conducted 11 one-to-one interviews with subject matter experts that included CAEs, Audit Committee Chairs and industry experts to provide deeper insights into how these risks.
Previous reports
Risk in Focus 2024 | Risk in Focus 2023
