86% of CISOs claim their biggest responsibility is to ensure their governing body or board sees value in security investments.
THE CISO ROLE
CISOs are officially in the C-suite
Almost half (47%) of CISOs report directly to the chief executive officer (CEO). How do they feel about the evolution of their role?
- 82% would consider becoming a whistleblower if their organization was willfully ignoring security best practices and compliance mandates that put the business at risk.
- 84% fear being personally liable for cybersecurity incidents.
- 84% say boards equate strong security with regulatory compliance rather than security best practices and success metrics.
AI
Generative AI will transform cyber defense
Although 70% of CISOs fear generative AI will give cyberattackers the upper hand, they are also excited about its potential to bolster cyber defense.
- 35% of CISOs are already using AI for security applications.
- 61% will likely use it in the next 12 months.
- 86% believe generative AI will alleviate security skills gaps and talent shortages.
39% of CISOs plan to train teams to better understand threats posed by generative AI.
One in 11 paid $1 million or more in ransom.
RANSOMWARE
Ransomware continues to fell many
Ninety-six percent of respondents fell victim to a ransomware attack in the past year. And most of them paid up.
- 83% paid the ransom in the wake of an attack, either directly or through a third party.
- More than half of respondents paid more than $100,000 in ransom.
- 52% experienced a ransomware attack that significantly impacted business systems and operations.
BUDGET
Budgets are increasing — but not quickly enough
While 93% of organizations expect to increase cybersecurity spending over the next year, CISOs worry it won’t be enough.
- 85% are worried about macroeconomic uncertainty and its potential impact on their teams.
- 31% reveal that projects have been delayed or eliminated due to lack of funding.
- 80% saw an increase in the number of threats as the economy declined.
