Security spending is growing — except for the typical CISO
IANS/Artico survey of 500+ CISOs finds median security budget growth of 0% despite a 5% average, with AI the top spending priority.
The IANS and Artico Search 2026 Security Budget report, based on responses from over 500 security executives between April and August 2026, found average security budget growth of 5% but median growth of 0%. 64% of CISOs requested increases, yet only 45% received one. AI was the top net-new priority for 69% of CISOs, though only 24% track AI as a separate security budget line, with 38% embedding it in the security budget and 38% funding it through IT, data, or innovation. A major breach was cited by just 3% of CISOs whose budgets grew.
- Median 2026 security budget growth was 0% despite a 5% average increase.
- 69% of CISOs named AI their top net-new security spending priority.
- Only 24% track AI as a separate security budget line.
- 81% expect AI to create demand for new security roles and skills.
- Companies exceeding revenue targets were far more likely to see double-digit budget increases.
From the original article
3 min read at csoonline.com
Security budgets may be growing on paper, but for a majority of CISOs, the money isn’t moving in quite the same direction. The budgets grew by 5% on average in 2026, up from 4% last year. But that average hides a much weaker picture: median budget growth remained at 0%.
csoonline.com
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