Sometimes, speaking your mind openly brings hidden realities to light—and that is exactly what has emerged from the recently released 2026 CISO Survey conducted by Sygnia. The findings reveal a concerning gap between perceived preparedness and actual readiness among cybersecurity leaders. Based on responses from around 600 participants, the report highlights that a majority of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) do not feel confident in their ability to handle a cyberattack if it were to strike their organization in the immediate future.
At first glance, this may come as a surprise. After all, CISOs are expected to be at the forefront of defending organizations against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. However, the survey—titled Sygnia 2026 CISO Survey: The State of Incident Response Readiness—paints a different picture. It reveals that nearly 73 percent of cybersecurity leaders admit they are not adequately prepared to deal with the pressure and complexity that accompany real-world cyber incidents. This lack of readiness is not just technical but also psychological, as handling cyber crises often involves high-stakes decision-making under intense stress.
Digging deeper, the reasons behind this unpreparedness are multifaceted. One of the most critical issues identified is a lack of confidence at the senior executive level. Many C-level leaders are not fully convinced that their organization’s incident response plans are robust or reliable enough to withstand a serious cyberattack. This lack of trust can hinder swift decision-making during crises, potentially exacerbating the damage.
In addition to leadership concerns, organizational challenges also play a significant role. Complex corporate structures, siloed teams, and poor communication channels can slow down response times and create confusion during critical moments. Furthermore, many organizations operate across multiple environments—such as on-premises systems, cloud platforms, and hybrid infrastructures—which often lack seamless integration. These cross-environment incompatibilities make it difficult to implement unified and effective incident response strategies.
Another growing concern is the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. While AI offers powerful tools for enhancing cybersecurity, it also introduces new vulnerabilities and threat vectors. Cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging AI to launch more sophisticated and harder-to-detect attacks, leaving many organizations struggling to keep pace.
Overall, the survey underscores a pressing need for organizations to reassess and strengthen their incident response capabilities. Building confidence in response plans, improving organizational coordination, and adapting to emerging technologies like AI will be essential steps in ensuring that businesses are better prepared to face the evolving cyber threat landscape.
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