Smart Cybersecurity Spending And How CISOs Can Invest Where It Matters
HelpNet Security, Tuesday, March 11th, 2025
CISOs face mounting pressure to spend wisely on security. Yet, many organizations remain vulnerable due to misplaced priorities and inefficient budgeting. This article explores common pitfalls and offers strategies to strengthen cybersecurity.
Recent data highlights a paradox: while cybersecurity budgets rise, security incidents continue unabated. A survey by the Ponemon Institute revealed a 59% increase in cyber budgets year-over-year, yet 61% of organizations experienced a data breach or cybersecurity incident in the past two years. This discrepancy suggests that increased spending doesn't necessarily translate to improved security.
'The most pervasive waste in cybersecurity isn't from insufficient tools - it's from investments that aren't tied to validated risk models. When security spending isn't part of a closed-loop system that connects real-world threats to measurable outcomes, you're essentially paying for digital theater rather than actual protection,' Alex Rice, CTO at HackerOne, told Help Net Security.