CISOS must be “aggressive” and “innovative” in how they retain talent in a volatile jobs market, a new report from IANS and Artico Search has revealed. The 2026 Cybersecurity Talent Report draws on interviews with over 500 US cybersecurity professionals and finds that just 34% plan to stay in their current role next year, while 43% are considering a change—rising to 46% among senior professionals.
Career progression, compensation satisfaction and a healthy work‑life balance all correlate with job satisfaction, the report notes, with compensation progression remaining a weaker driver. Regardless of pay, even small increases appear to improve retention chances compared with flat salaries, according to IANS.
The analysis also suggests that hybrid work delivering one or two days on‑site per week yields the strongest work‑life balance outcomes, and that 73% of security professionals who view security as a core priority report higher job satisfaction versus 19% with little senior backing. “Security leaders are navigating a complex talent environment,” according to Nick Kakolowski of IANS, with mentorship and career development highlighted as key to preventing burnout.