The CISO Paradox: Rising Status, Growing Strain
The 2026 State of the CISO Research surveyed more than 600 security leaders and uncovered a critical paradox: CISOs have more influence than ever at the executive level—yet their scope is becoming harder to control.
Explore the data and key insights in the infographic, then download the Snapshot Report for a deeper look at what this means for today's security leaders.
The CISO Paradox: Rising Status, Growing Strain
Download: 2026 State of the CISO Snapshot Report
How the 2026 State of the CISO Benefits You
This report helps you benchmark how the CISO role is structured today, including scope of responsibility, reporting models, and executive visibility. It also sheds light on how CISOs are managing expanding responsibilities and where resourcing gaps may be creating added risk.
You'll gain insight into career outlook and job satisfaction data, along with what CISOs say they need to be successful in the role. Download the Snapshot Report to compare your organization against industry peers and spark internal conversations around security ownership, resourcing, and risk alignment.
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