The CISO Agenda Just Shifted: What AI Governance Means for Your 2027 Pitch
Analyst Market Briefings
The CISO Agenda Just Shifted: What AI Governance Means for Your 2027 Pitch
Friday, 23 October, 2026 @11:00am
Date
Friday, 23 October, 2026
Time
11:00am -12:00pm AEDT
Location
Zoom link will be available upon registration.
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ADAPT’s latest Security Edge research reveals a security agenda being reshaped by AI. AI governance has jumped from fifth place in May to become the number one security initiative for Australian CISOs, while governing AI, agents and autonomous workflows is now their biggest security constraint for the next 12 to 24 months.
The investment signal is equally strong. 75% of CISOs are looking to materially change or expand AI security, governance and model protection, ahead of every other security capability assessed. Yet the organisational mandate has not caught up. CIOs overwhelmingly place AI governance with technology leadership, with only 2% assigning ownership to the CISO.
At the same time, AI is exposing a broader readiness gap. As threats and systems become more autonomous, CISOs are placing greater importance on real time visibility, automated containment and resilience. Around a quarter still cannot say how quickly their organisation detects or responds to a security incident, while funding and competing priorities remain the leading barriers to execution.
For tech providers, this changes the security conversation. More tools are not necessarily the answer. Tool sprawl ranks last among current CISO security constraints, while relevance, practical expertise and understanding the client environment matter more in vendor engagement.
In this 55-minute virtual briefing, we’ll unpack where the CISO agenda is moving and translate the latest research into practical implications for positioning, campaigns and sales engagement with Australian security leaders.
Key Takeaways Where the next security opportunity is emerging: the capabilities CISOs are preparing to change, expand or invest in as AI becomes part of the enterprise security mandate How to position AI security when the CISO does not own AI governance: where responsibility sits today and the organisational gaps providers need to understand before entering the conversation What CISOs need in a machine speed threat environment: why visibility, automated containment and resilience are becoming more important measures of security capability Which security narratives are losing traction: including why leading with more tools or broad consolidation may miss what CISOs now consider most urgent How to earn CISO attention: what the latest research says about relevant outreach, practical expertise and the conversations security leaders are more likely to engage with
Gabby’s primary role is managing analysis to produce ADAPT’s actionable insights. He has extensive experience in using data to identify technology trends... More
Gabby’s primary role is managing analysis to produce ADAPT’s actionable insights. He has extensive experience in using data to identify technology trends to support Australian organisations.
Using modern data science techniques, he provides ADAPT and its customers with confidence in the accuracy and validity of the information used for ADAPT’s research, advisory and events.
With a passion for creating stories with data, Gabby is consistently rated as one of the top speakers at ADAPT’s events. In roundtable discussions, he specialises in using statistics to initiate thought-provoking discussions.
Gabby is effective in translating information into insights, enabling ADAPT’s customers to become more data-driven.
Gabby’s primary areas of expertise are:
- Advanced AI and ML practices, including AI ethics.
- Building models to benchmark and predict IT performance.
- End-user behaviour and human-centred design.
- Cross-functional team design and value, such as DevSecOps.
Anthony leads the growth, strategy, and delivery of ADAPT’s Transformation Services and Go-to-Market Services Business Units. He is driven by a core... More
Anthony leads the growth, strategy, and delivery of ADAPT’s Transformation Services and Go-to-Market Services Business Units.
He is driven by a core belief that we are experiencing a modern industrial revolution, one that will fundamentally reshape how business is done and pose serious challenges to the future of many Australian organisations and industries.
In this environment, success will not necessarily favour incumbents, or those with the deepest pockets or broadest resources, but rather organisations who are most able to ADAPT quickly and effectively to the evolving needs of their customers, employees and ecosystems.
With this belief, ADAPT is evolving into a critical platform that Australia’s enterprise leaders, local solution providers, and trusted advisors can rely on to succeed over the next decade.
By removing barriers, democratising access to proven expertise, promoting local ANZ innovation, and enabling rapid, meaningful connections between leaders and experts, ADAPT is committed to helping Australia not just survive, but thrive in the complex and uncertain times ahead.