Cybersecurity Budgets Hold Up as AI Costs Force IT Spending Cuts
Security Boulevard, Friday, September 11th, 2026
ETR data projects security software spending growing 7.8 percent while AI costs squeeze other IT budget lines.
ETR data indicates security software spending is projected to grow 7.8 percent even as AI costs force reductions elsewhere in enterprise IT budgets.
The finding is useful context for security leaders in planning conversations: security is holding its position relative to other lines rather than benefiting from growth, and the pressure is coming from AI reallocation rather than reduced threat concern.
The article breaks down which security categories are growing and which are flat, which matters for anyone timing a renewal or proposing a new capability.