By Simon King
The CISO is becoming a key figure in enterprise-wide cyber resilience. CISOs who master the balance between strategic planning, operational implementation, and technological innovation will manage to position cybersecurity not as a mere protective measure, but as a growth driver and competitive advantage for the entire company.
In 2026, the role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) will be widely expected to be a strategic one. CISOs are increasingly acting as bridge-builders between technical security, regulatory compliance, and broader corporate strategy. In light of new EU regulations – such as NIS2, DORA, and the EU AI Act – CISOs are taking central responsibility for key resilience areas such as risk management, security culture, incident response leadership, and often business continuity too.
CISOs face the dual challenge of navigating regulatory pressure while promoting proactive, innovative security architectures. Building a resilient security culture requires integrating cyber and business risk, fostering collaboration across IT, legal, and management teams, and securing sufficient resources and training. Only an integrated approach can sustain both cyber resilience and business momentum.
Technological trends such as AI, quantum computing, and zero-trust architectures are changing the threat landscape and operational requirements. AI improves efficiency through automation but also introduces new risks, such as deepfakes and personalised phishing campaigns. Zero trust is becoming the standard for hybrid working environments, while quantum computing is challenging the future of cryptography. CISOs must strategically and responsibly integrate these technologies to strengthen security measures and reduce attack surfaces.
The author
Simon King, Head of Information Security, Infinigate Group
