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2026 State of the CISO Snapshot Report
Get objective insights, cross-industry survey data and market trends from over 600 CISOs on how their role is evolving in 2026. Download this snapshot report to:
- Benchmark how the CISO role is structured today including scope, reporting models, and executive visibility.
- Understand how CISOs are managing expanding responsibilities and where resourcing gaps are creating risk.
- Explore career outlook, job satisfaction, and what CISOs say they need to be successful in the role.
Download the snapshot report to benchmark against your organization and spark internal conversations around security ownership, resourcing, and risk alignment.
2026 State of the CISO: A Role Divided Webinar Replay
We’ve hit a tipping point in how the CISO role is regarded by most businesses. Organizations are increasingly either elevating the CISO into an executive-level role or limiting the CISO to a director-level tactical function.
In this webinar, IANS Faculty Steve Martano and Senior Research Director Nick Kakolowski provide a deep dive into this data to discuss how the CISO role is evolving.
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 table—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.
2026 CISO-Board Engagement
CISOs face growing pressure to clearly articulate cyber risk and influence board-level decisions. This report shows how security leaders can strengthen board relationships through sharper reporting, clearer risk alignment, and more effective collaboration.
Our data shows the VP-level CISO is becoming less common, as an organization either views security as important enough to merit executive-level titling and compensation at the SVP/EVP level, or it views security as a back-office function with a director-level security program leader.
The Retail CISO Reality: Broad Scope, Limited Slack
Across industries, the CISO role continues to expand, but the pressure is acute in retail. Our 2026 State of the CISO Snapshot Report shows that retail CISOs are among those most likely to report that their scope is no longer fully manageable, and that is a clear signal that CISO responsibility has outpaced resources.
The Business Enabler Every CISO Needs to Succeed
CISOs and security leaders can elevate their impact by linking cybersecurity initiatives directly to the company’s mission, vision, and values.
Additional Resources
Understand the Different CISO Roles and Skill Sets
2026 State of the CISO: A Role Divided Webinar Recording
2025 Cybersecurity Staff Compensation Summary Report