CISOs grapple with AI demands within flat budgets

The RH-ISAC CISO Benchmark reports measured growth in IT and security spending for 2025–2026, with budgets rising modestly and most organizations planning small increases or steady funding; spending remains concentrated on personnel and off‑premises software. AI is emerging as a primary operational pressure and investment focus—deployed across threat detection, reporting, and incident response—while organizations implement governance policies and express concerns about data leakage, insider misuse, and model accuracy. Staffing increases are gradual, with CISOs taking broader roles and many AI initiatives funded via reallocation rather than large budget expansions.