Security Spending Is Growing - Except for the Typical CISO
CSO Online, Thursday, September 17th, 2026
Average budgets rose 5% but median growth was 0%, and 55% of CISOs saw budgets flat or cut.
The IANS and Artico Search 2026 Security Budget report, based on over 500 security executives surveyed between April and August 2026, found average budget growth of 5%, up from 4%, but median growth of 0%.
While 64% of CISOs asked for an increase, only 45% received one. Business health drove outcomes: companies beating revenue targets by more than 5% were more than twice as likely to get a double-digit increase as those merely hitting targets, 41% versus 15%, and 71% of VC-backed companies increased budgets against 52% of public companies.
Business or operational risk was the most common justification at 48%, while new regulations and board focus produced the largest average increases.