Report by ISC2

ISC2 Research: Cybersecurity Professionals Want Leaders Who Have Been Through a Major Incident

20 FINDINGSPublished May 28, 2026
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Key Findings

41% of people working in cybersecurity roles somewhat agree that previous leadership experience during a high-profile cybersecurity incident bolsters a leader's credibility.

Leadership ExperienceCredibility

31% of people working in cybersecurity roles express moderate confidence in current cybersecurity upper leadership.

Cybersecurity LeadershipConfidence

15% of people working in cybersecurity roles are only slightly confident in current cybersecurity upper leadership.

Cybersecurity LeadershipConfidence

86% of people working in cybersecurity roles mark being transparent about decisions and actions as very important in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership TraitsTransparency

75% of people working in cybersecurity roles mark technical cybersecurity expertise as very important in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership TraitsTechnical Expertise

18% of people working in cybersecurity roles prefer strategic and executive leadership experience over hands-on technical incident experience in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership ExperienceHiring Preferences

11% of people working in cybersecurity roles prefer hands-on technical incident experience over strategic and executive leadership experience in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership ExperienceHiring Preferences

6% of people working in cybersecurity roles have no confidence in current cybersecurity upper leadership.

Cybersecurity LeadershipConfidence

95% of people working in cybersecurity roles mark the ability to communicate risk to senior leadership and boards as very important in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership TraitsCommunication

88% of people working in cybersecurity roles mark the ability to effectively work with senior leadership and boards to secure budget as very important in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership TraitsBudgeting

People working in cybersecurity roles disagreethat previous leadership experience during a high-profile cybersecurity incident bolsters a leader's credibility total 9%.

Leadership ExperienceCredibility

85% of people working in cybersecurity roles mark decision-making under pressure as very important in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership TraitsCrisis Management

76% of people working in cybersecurity roles agree that previous leadership experience during a high-profile cybersecurity incident bolsters a leader's credibility (41% somewhat agree + 35% strongly agree).

Leadership ExperienceCredibility

82% of people working in cybersecurity roles mark building and leading high-performing teams as very important in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership TraitsTeam Leadership

71% of people working in cybersecurity roles want a balance of both technical hands-on experience and strategic/executive leadership experience in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership ExperienceHiring Preferences

35% of people working in cybersecurity roles strongly agree that previous leadership experience during a high-profile cybersecurity incident bolsters a leader's credibility.

Leadership ExperienceCredibility

34% of people working in cybersecurity roles are very confident in current cybersecurity upper leadership.

Cybersecurity LeadershipConfidence

15% of people working in cybersecurity roles are extremely confident in current cybersecurity upper leadership.

Cybersecurity LeadershipConfidence

People working in cybersecurity roles are very or extremely confident in current cybersecurity upper leadership at 49%.

Cybersecurity LeadershipConfidence

91% of people working in cybersecurity roles mark having a strategic and long-term cybersecurity vision as very important in a cybersecurity leader.

Leadership TraitsStrategy