New research published in the IANS and Artico Search 2026 Cyber Security Talent Report highlights the increasing issue of retention of cyber security professionals.
Based on a survey of more than 500 security professionals, the report finds that only 34% of cyber security professionals plan to stay with their current employer, highlighting declining job satisfaction across the field. The issue creates a risk for organizations, with cyber teams losing key employees, their skills and knowledge, and finding it difficult to replace them.
The findings point to a shift in how leaders must think about talent. Compensation remains important, but it is not the primary driver of retention as Nick Kakolowski, Senior Research Director at IANS, explains: “Security leaders are being asked to do much more with the same or fewer resources than they had previously, and that fundamentally changes how they need to think about talent. As pressure on cyber teams skyrockets, CISOs who double down on mentorship, coaching, and career development can create a sense of purpose and progression that helps their employees avoid burnout.”
Other key findings from the report include:
- Wage growth plays a bigger role in retention than absolute pay levels: employees receiving even modest pay increases report significantly higher satisfaction and are more likely to stay than those with flat compensation, regardless of their pay level.
- CISOs need a multi-pronged approach to manage satisfaction and attrition. Flexible work models correlate strongly with satisfaction and retention: hybrid work arrangements, particularly one to two days on-site per week, deliver the strongest work-life balance outcomes.
- Leadership emphasis on security drives staff commitment. 73% of security staff who see security as a core organizational priority report being satisfied with their careers, versus just 19% among those who perceive little or no organizational backing for security.
