Each year, Gartner C-level Communities’ Leadership Perspective Survey captures the key priorities and planned investments of thousands of C-level executives. As a sponsor, you receive privileged access to this exclusive data, equipping you with the knowledge needed to tailor your strategies and communications for impactful engagement with CISOs and other C-level decision makers.
In 2026, CISOs are facing a landscape characterized by increasing complexity and risk. Cybersecurity is evolving quickly, driven by accelerated AI integration, emerging and advanced threats, and growing regulatory demands.
More than 1,300 CISOs across Gartner C-level Communities have responded to our survey in 2026 – here are some key findings from security leaders.
Security Budgets Remain Steady and Grow
Forty-four percent of CISOs say that their operating budget remained the same this year as in 2025, while 40% report that their budget increased. Only 16% of CISOs experienced a decrease in their budget from last year. These are similar results to last year’s survey question on operating budgets for security leaders.
Planned Investments Set to Increase
Similar to their operating budgets, 44% of CISOs report that their planned spending is increasing, and 41% are investing the same amount as last year. Only 15% anticipate that they will spend less this year on technology products and services.
CISOs Prioritize Investments in AI
Forty-four percent of CISOs plan to invest in AI in 2026 – up from 35% who reported that last year – and half of those executives estimate they will invest in AI technology and services in the next six months. Forty percent of security leaders plan to spend in the areas of Identity and Access Management (IAM), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Zero Trust and Data Loss Prevention. Rounding out the top five investment areas for CISOs are Governance, Risk and Compliance (34% of CISOs) and Cloud Security/CASB (28% of CISOs).
The #1 Priority for CISOs is Enabling and Protecting AI
In 2026, CISOs have elevated “Enabling and Protecting AI” to their top priority. Added as a survey option for the first time this year, this focus area rapidly became central for security leaders.
CISO priorities have undergone some notable changes this year. AI, absent from last year’s top five, now leads the list, underscoring its swift ascent in strategic importance. The previous top priority, “Cyber Resilience,” has been separated into two categories: “Assess and Manage Cyber Risk,” now ranked third, and “Increase Organizational Resilience,” which is fifth. These revised survey options illustrate the evolving landscape for CISOs, as their attention shifts from operational issues to strengthening and optimizing their overall security posture.
Topics of Interest for CISOs
In addition to their investment plans and top functional priorities, CISOs share what they most want to discuss with their C-level peers and solution providers at upcoming community events. These are the trending topics for CISOs in our 2026 survey:
- Securing Artificial Intelligence Adoption
- Cybersecurity Leadership & Influence
- CISO Role Evolution
- Innovating for the Future
- Shaping a Secure Culture
To learn more about the benefits of sponsoring Gartner C-level Communities and events – and how our exclusive survey insights can support your engagement with C-level decision makers – contact us.
Based on 1,300+ CISO responses to Gartner C-level Communities’ proprietary Leadership Perspective Survey, March 2026.
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