Investment in artificial intelligence-driven cybersecurity solutions is poised to dominate 2026 budgets for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), according to a new survey of senior security executives. The shift reflects a growing sense of vulnerability and a demand for more effective defenses in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
The survey, conducted by cybersecurity investment firm Glilot Capital, polled dozens of security leaders from international companies including Blackstone, Virgin, NTT, Carolina University, Emigrant Bank, Rakuten, AppLovin, Forter, and Nebius. Nearly 80% indicated that AI-related solutions would be a priority for new funding in 2026, with 77.8% specifically targeting AI-powered cybersecurity tools and 41.3% focusing on AI systems for automating security tasks.
Although AI is taking precedence, other areas of cybersecurity remain important. Cloud data protection and identity threat detection were selected by 33% of respondents each, while 22% prioritized exposure management and attack-surface solutions. The findings suggest a layered approach to security, with AI serving as a central component.
The surge in interest in AI-powered security coincides with significant funding rounds for companies pioneering the technology. Sola Security recently raised $35 million in a Series A round to develop AI-based cybersecurity solutions, and Noma Security secured $100 million in funding, according to recent reports. The Glilot Capital survey revealed that 65% of security executives believe companies receiving substantial funding gain increased visibility, and over half (50.8%) acknowledge being influenced by these funding rounds, though not necessarily decisively.
Though, the survey also indicates a degree of skepticism regarding the impact of funding. Approximately 30% of CISOs stated they actively attempt to disregard funding size to avoid bias in their evaluations, and nearly 5% expressed concern that inflated funding rounds could negatively impact decision-making.
The role of experienced entrepreneurs in building successful cybersecurity companies also received mixed reviews. Just over 38% of CISOs believe products from repeat founders are more mature, while nearly 62% believe product quality is independent of the founder’s background. The backing of venture capital firms, particularly those with a cybersecurity focus, was seen as a positive indicator, with 63.5% of respondents considering the investor’s identity important. Nearly 20% viewed the absence of cybersecurity-focused investors as a potential red flag.
Despite ongoing concerns about “tool sprawl” – the proliferation of disparate security products – a significant portion of CISOs (34.9%) still prefer to select the best product in each security category. A similar percentage (33.3%) aim to consolidate the number of vendors they use, while only a small minority (6.3%) favor relying on a few broad security platforms.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2026, a majority of respondents (58.7%) anticipate the operational use of AI for defense will become standard practice. More than half (55.6%) highlighted the require to secure AI-generated code, and roughly half (50.8% and 47.6% respectively) emphasized the importance of tools for detecting AI-driven attacks and governance/monitoring of organizational AI usage. A further 30.2% expect increased demand for technologies that validate the robustness and integrity of AI models.
“Almost all corporate security budgets are now being directed toward AI products across multiple categories,” said Arik Kleinstein, co-founder and managing partner of Glilot Capital. “There is no board or management team of a public company that isn’t demanding rapid AI adoption to improve profitability and ensure survival. Organizations feel completely exposed, as if they have no protective wall, so they are rushing to build a new one. For the cybersecurity industry, this shift will enable the creation of a new generation of giant companies.”
