The Invisible CEO of Crisis: Breaking the Cycle of CISO Burnout
Palo Alto Networks, Thursday, June 18th, 2026
The piece tackles CISO burnout and proposes structural support and strategic diplomacy for sustainable leadership.
Written by Andy Schneider, this article addresses the cycle of CISO burnout, noting that average CISO tenure has fallen to between 18 and 26 months. It argues CISOs bear excessive pressure during crises while losing strategic influence afterward, undermining organizational resilience.
The author recommends two approaches: building structural support systems such as shared responsibility models and stronger leadership development, and adopting strategic diplomacy to align security with broader business objectives rather than treating it as purely technical.