A survey by Kiteworks revealed that energy and utilities sector organizations—identified as the highest-risk group—face severe blind spots in breach tracking, third-party visibility, and AI governance. 24% of firms with 1,001–5,000 third parties experience at least seven breaches annually, with 46% reporting the highest supply chain risk and 42% taking 31–90 days to detect breaches. Slow detection correlates with litigation costs exceeding $3 million for over 75% of entities with 10+ hacks yearly. The sector’s lack of AI governance (only 17% with full frameworks) and 36% of uncertain AI users deploying no privacy-enhancing technologies exacerbate risks. Regional disparities (e.g., Middle East’s zero 24-hour detection, APAC’s 35% inability to assess AI risks) compound the crisis. The cumulative effect includes missed compliance demonstrations, cascading financial/reputational damage, and operational disruptions—threatening critical infrastructure reliability and public safety. The survey underscores how visibility gaps directly enable high-impact breaches, with energy/utilities facing systemic vulnerabilities due to unmonitored third-party ecosystems and AI exposures.