Aon survey reveals major gap in business risk readiness
Aon has shared polling conducted during its Airmic Live Webinar that revealed just nine percent of organisations believe they are fully optimised to manage their most significant risks.
The poll of more than 200 webinar attendees identified cyber as the leading organisational concern for 2026, followed by geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain fragility. However, the findings predated the conflict in the Middle East, highlighting how quickly the risk landscape can shift. The conflict has heightened geopolitical risk and its impact across energy markets, supply chains, global trade and cyber exposure.
According to Aon the poll findings suggest that while many businesses recognise individual threats, far fewer are prepared to manage how these risks interact and create potential vulnerabilities – a point particularly pertinent given recent macro-economic volatility. Organisations that have a better understanding of the interconnected nature of risk are likely to gain a competitive advantage.
Key insights include:
• Geopolitical uncertainty was ranked as a top organisational concern for 2026 cited by 23 percent of organisations whereas 44 percent identified cyber risk as their primary concern. Other concerns included business interruption, regulatory change and supply chain disruption.
• Only nine percent of respondents stated that their organisations were fully optimised against the risks identified.
• Just 30 percent reported having risk management capabilities that are regularly tested.
• Only two of the top five risks identified are fully insurable, highlighting a growing gap between the risks businesses face and those traditional insurance markets can cover.
Rob Kemp, chief executive of commercial risk in the UK for Aon said: “The results of this webinar polling and of our recent Global Risk Management Survey underline how overlapping pressures can compound and elevate risks for businesses. Spotting this early gives organisations a clear advantage. By mapping risks effectively and considering how disruptions may interact, businesses will be better positioned to mitigate issues when they arise.
“While market volatility cannot be predicted precisely, having the right systems in place can reduce the impact by shortening the critical window between an event and an organisation’s response.”
Amy Froude, chief commercial officer of commercial risk in the UK for Aon added: “With a number of the leading risks identified sitting outside of traditional insurance markets, the polling results also highlight the need for a greater adoption of analytics tools that can help businesses identify, test and quantify the potential impacts of risk events. Without these capabilities, organisations risk being caught unprepared and unable to respond effectively.
“Recent geopolitical events have highlighted concerns, reinforcing that these threats do not occur in isolation. By recognising the interconnected nature of risks, businesses can better prepare for and respond to future disruptions.
“As the insurability gap for some risks widens, the need for comprehensive risk management tools and analytics platforms is greater than ever. Without them, it becomes far harder for organisations to judge where to retain risk, where to transfer it, and where alternative solutions can deliver the most value. As geopolitical dynamics and cyber capabilities rapidly evolve, preparation for disruptions across business lines is paramount.”
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