Overview

Across Europe, senior cybersecurity leaders are under the spotlight to operate optimally amid rising business expectations, escalating threats, and developing technologies. A mature cybersecurity function is now defined by resilience, visibility, and agility, not just defence.  

As guardians of the organisation, CISOs are tasked with shaping cyber resilience strategies, and that starts with influencing cybersecurity investments. The questions are no longer if advanced capabilities like AI, automation, and zero trust should be adopted, but how effectively they can be scaled, optimised, and aligned with broader business objectives. 

This report, CISO Agenda 2026: Insights and Trends for Cybersecurity, consolidates insights from our cybersecurity studies published throughout 2025, enhanced by additional third-party research, to provide a comprehensive overview of CISO priorities and challenges across Europe. We hope you gain valuable insights on where the cybersecurity function stands today and tomorrow to help refine your strategies for 2026 and beyond.