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CISOs are feeling the security burden of accelerated AI use
Proofpoint's Voice of the CISO survey finds 85% of CISOs prioritizing AI security, with 80% managing AI risks without proportional resources.
Proofpoint's annual Voice of the CISO report, a Censuswide survey of 1,600 CISOs across 16 countries, found 85% rank securing AI assistants, copilots and automation among top priorities for the next two years. Eight in ten say they must manage AI-related security risk without a proportional increase in resources or expertise, and 78% now consider generative AI a major security risk, up 18% year over year. Board alignment improved to 85%, though nearly 80% still report excessive board pressure; 80% cite human behavior as the biggest cyber vulnerability.
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Proofpoint 2026 Voice of the CISO Report Finds Cyber Resilience Improving, While AI Expands the CISO Mandate
Proofpoint's 2026 survey of 1,600 CISOs finds improving cyber resilience, rising human risk, and expanding AI responsibilities without added resources.
Proofpoint released its 2026 Voice of the CISO report, a Censuswide-conducted survey of 1,600 CISOs across 16 countries fielded in May 2026. Expected material cyberattacks fell from 76% to 61% year over year and material data loss declined from 66% to 53%, but 79% of CISOs now identify human risk as their biggest vulnerability and GenAI security concerns jumped 18 points to 78%. The report also finds 79% of CISOs expect to manage AI-related risks without proportional resources, and 85% say boards are evaluating cyber risk through a commercial lens.
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