We’ve updated the CISO Security Mind Map for 2026, continuing in the yearly updates since 2023.

Here it is (click to magnify):

The top challenges and focus areas for 2026 (Why these top 5? These are areas that CISOs and security teams will likely be focusing on given the advances in AI, and the overall security industry & business):

Protect from ransomware: Protect, prepare and respond to the pervasive ransomware threat within the organization and at critical (third-party) partners.

• Why is this still on the list? Ransomware attacks are still occurring and they’re still successful at many organizations worldwide. The ransomware challenge isn’t yet contained. Note that ransomware attacks are not all the same, they can focus on down-time (lack of availability) and/or disclosing sensitive (personal) data, depending on the type of organization.
• There’s no single simple solution to defending against ransomware, it takes a coordinated approach that touches upon many parts of the CISO Security Mind Map.

Build resilience: Assume that attacks will occur and that mistakes will be made, how can the overall organization respond & recover and remain resilient.

• The security industry, and business is realizing (and accepting) that 100% protection is impossible to achieve, and that there will be successful attacks, or successful cyber security events. Therefore, it is better to be resilient and prepared for successful attack, yet still respond and recover to a state that the business can continue with minimum disruption.

Business alignment, cost optimization & adhering to (cyber security) regulations: How can CISO security align with current business pressures to cut costs while retaining protection & resilience levels and protect the business from regulatory issues (fines).

• Many businesses are under pressure to 1) cut costs, and 2) adhere to various regulatory requirements. CISO security must realize that they do not operate in a vacuum, and that it must contribute towards business pressures (and potentially help towards a better business environment), and to ensure that the business can focus without (too much) disruption from cyber security & privacy regulations.

Help to enable AI securely: How can CISO Security help the organization to safely & securely apply AI to meet evolving business goals (in the AI era).

• Business and industry is focusing on AI, to a point that it’s absolutely everywhere. In fact, many organizations can tie their success to providing & utilizing AI capabilities. CISO security has a role in helping to secure these AI efforts at all layers (think people, technology & processes).

Protect from AI threats: How should CISO Security protect from malicious AI usage and new AI threats.

• With more AI power comes more AI threats towards the organization. In many ways AI threats are actually existing threats (and nothing new), except that it makes the existing threats more accessible and more effective to use, leading to increased volume of overall threats. Some quick examples include better phishing by more elaborate & believable fake pages, that can be built very quickly using AI, or more identification of vulnerabilities using AI.

Other changes: there are many smaller tweaks & updates to all the topics covered by the mind map. For example, small changes to the security & privacy standards, adding security & budget as a main topic and some small additions to the governance topic.

About the CISO Security Mind Map 2026:

• First published in 2023, and has been updated yearly.
• The purpose of the mind map is to give a wide overview of all the topics a CISO or security team should be thinking about within their security program.
• It’s divided into Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond & Recover (the NIST CSF 2.0 Functions).

Want to see the older version: CISO Security Mind Map 2025.