Key Insights & Trends for the Year Ahead from CISOs

ClubCISO hosted its first event of 2025 in March, setting the stage for a year of thought leadership and collaboration within the cybersecurity community. The event marked the formal introduction of the new Advisory Board Members and featured an insightful panel discussion on cybersecurity trends and predictions for the year ahead.

While predicting the future of cybersecurity with absolute certainty is impossible, industry shifts offer valuable insights. Interestingly, the discussion revealed a disconnect between public perception and industry reality—cybersecurity professionals are not as alarmed by the threat landscape as media narratives and fear-based marketing might suggest. Rather than operating in a state of crisis, cybersecurity experts are adapting to evolving challenges with measured, strategic responses.

Introducing the New ClubCISO Chair: Erhan Temurkan

Late last year, ClubCISO appointed Erhan Temurkan, CISO at Fleet Mortgages, as the new community Chair. Erhan is deeply passionate about cybersecurity—not just as a profession, but as a shared responsibility. His primary objective is to cultivate an environment of open discussion, shared knowledge, and fresh ideas that propel the community forward.

“Security isn’t just about technology, but about people, collaboration, and working together to stay ahead of security threats.” – Erhan Temurkan

Under his leadership, ClubCISO aims to strengthen its community, ensuring cybersecurity professionals don’t just react to changes but actively drive them.

2025 Predictions: What’s Keeping CISOs Up at Night?

The changing role of the CISO

The role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is evolving rapidly, shifting from a primarily technical function to a strategic business leadership position. Cybersecurity is no longer just a support function—it is a core enabler of business growth. More organizations recognize the value of integrating CISOs into boardroom discussions, moving beyond tactical security operations toward broader risk management and business strategy.

However, concerns about the sustainability of the role persist. Market trends indicate a growing number of CISO redundancies. With high-stress levels and a limited role lifespan, questions around long-term career sustainability remain pressing. Recent data suggests that the average tenure of a CISO is just 26 months, with burnout cited as a primary reason for turnover (Gartner, 2023).

Historically, CISOs often reported to the CIO, reflecting the traditional IT-centric view of security. But as cybersecurity is becoming more integrated, CISOs find their role increasingly reporting to the CTO or directly to the CEO to ensure security concerns are constantly addressed at the highest level. Some organizations may even see CISOs transition into CTO roles, recognizing the importance of security in technology development and architecture. 

CISOs as business enablers

CISOs must evolve alongside business priorities. Traditionally rooted in technical expertise, the modern CISO must bridge cybersecurity with business objectives, articulating the link between cyber risks, operational disruptions, and revenue impact. The ClubCISO Annual Security Maturity Reports highlight year-on-year improvements in security culture, but CISOs must continue refining their ability to communicate security’s business value effectively.

Beyond compliance and security concerns, CISOs have access to every department and system in an organization. This unique vantage point allows them to align technology and processes with business objectives, enhancing overall organizational resilience.

Strategic risk management must shift toward opportunity management. For instance, obtaining certifications such as ISO 27001 can serve as a business enabler, building trust with customers and opening new revenue streams.

The workforce challenge: scarcity of cybersecurity talent or lack of ‘creativity hiring’?

Recruitment remains a top priority for CISOs, especially in light of new regulations such as the SEC’s revised disclosure rules, which increase personal liability for security leaders. However, the cybersecurity skills shortage continues to be a significant challenge. According to (ISC)², the global cybersecurity workforce shortage currently stands at 4.8 million professionals, with demand outpacing supply (ISC, Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 2024).

Adding to this challenge, AI-driven automation is reshaping the job landscape. Many routine security tasks traditionally handled by junior professionals are now being automated, raising concerns about career pathways for newcomers. Simultaneously, CISOs nearing retirement age create an additional gap in leadership succession.

A key debate within the community revolves around whether the skills gap is truly a talent shortage or an issue of salary expectations and budget constraints. The high cost of living in major cities like London, coupled with unrealistic starting salary expectations, and scarcity of entry-level roles, often pushes these professionals into different industries. 

In addition, the ‘lack of creativity’ in hiring is a major leading fact. With less and less entry-level roles, as many companies are running so lean they cannot afford the overhead associated with bringing in entry-level roles. Businesses’ expectations target ready-made professionals, with a certain amount of years experienced teams out of the box.

At the senior level, experienced CISOs who have invested years in certifications, training, and stress-heavy roles are reluctant to accept salaries lower than their expectations.

A recent survey found that 67% of cybersecurity professionals believe the skills gap is a direct result of budget limitations rather than a lack of available talent (ISACA State of Cybersecurity Report, 2024).

Our collective belief is that today’s junior professionals are tomorrow’s CISOs. Investing in mentorship and structured career pathways is critical for ensuring the next generation of cybersecurity leaders is well-prepared.

The uneven process of recruitment

AI-driven resume screening tools are changing the hiring landscape, often rejecting qualified candidates based on keyword mismatches rather than actual skills and potential. This underscores the need for a more refined approach to cybersecurity recruitment that prioritizes human judgment over automated assessments.

CISO role is being re-badged

The emergence of the Business Information Security Officer (BISO) role highlights the growing need to align cybersecurity with business strategies. A well-structured collaboration— with the CISO overarching business focus and BISOs providing operational and technical business support – could strengthen an organization’s overall security posture.

Despite these shifts, CISOs still struggle to gain executive buy-in. Surveys indicate that 66% of CISOs believe their boards do not fully understand cybersecurity risks, while 59% report misalignment with CIOs and CEOs (Ponemon Institute, 2024). This highlights the ongoing challenge of positioning CISOs as business enablers rather than just security enforcers.

AI and Compliance: emerging challenges for CISOs

AI is no longer an experimental concept—it is actively shaping business operations and security processes. As Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI-driven security tools evolve, compliance risks are escalating. Regulatory frameworks are adapting, particularly in the U.S., to address AI-driven security concerns. Alongside the opportunities that the use of Generative AI brings, there are also new threats that need to be considered as part of systems design and architecture.

CISOs must now navigate complex legal landscapes, ensuring AI-driven security practices align with evolving compliance requirements. Non-compliance could introduce significant legal and financial risks, making proactive governance essential. On a more bright side, CISOs do understand the importance of using Gen AI tools to both genuinely understand and counter new AI threats.

Final Thoughts

As cybersecurity evolves, so must the professionals leading the charge. The role of the CISO is undergoing a profound transformation, shifting from a technical focus to a broader business leadership function. While workforce shortages, compliance complexities, and executive alignment challenges persist, proactive adaptation will define the success of cybersecurity leaders in 2025.