Should ROI be the criteria for implementing External Threat Management in an enterprise?

In boardrooms, every investment is often weighed against its Return on Investment (ROI). But when it comes to cybersecurity—especially External Threat Management—is ROI the right lens?

External threats don’t just damage systems. They erode trust, brand value, and customer confidence. The impact of a breach often goes far beyond what’s measurable in dollars—reputation loss, regulatory fines, operational downtime, and shaken stakeholder trust.

Yes, ROI can help justify tools and technologies, but risk management isn’t always about immediate returns. It’s about resilience, continuity, and staying ahead of adversaries.

Maybe the better question is:

What’s the cost of inaction?

Let’s reframe cybersecurity not as a cost center, but as a strategic enabler that safeguards growth.

What do you think—should ROI still be the deciding factor in cybersecurity investments, or should risk mitigation take precedence?