The Evolving Landscape of Infrastructure Security for CISOs in 2026
As organizations set their sights on 2026, the realm of infrastructure security is emerging as a paramount challenge for cybersecurity leaders. The shift toward increased cloud adoption, the complexity of hybrid IT environments, and a growing reliance on APIs complicate the ability to identify and secure assets exposed to the internet. With these challenges in mind, gaining visibility into the attack surface is becoming a critical focus for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) as they lay down their long-term cybersecurity strategies.
Insights from a Recent LinkedIn Poll
To gauge how security professionals are prioritizing these pressing issues, The Cyber Express (TCE) conducted a poll on LinkedIn, asking participants to identify the top infrastructure security priority for CISOs in 2026.
The results were telling, indicating a clear consensus among respondents: before organizations can effectively defend against cyber threats, they must first secure visibility into their growing digital attack surface.
Poll Results Breakdown
The poll, which garnered significant engagement from cybersecurity experts across various sectors, revealed the following:
- Attack Surface Visibility: 40%
- Cloud and Hybrid Security: 25%
- Identity and Access Security: 25%
- Ransomware Resilience: 10%
A striking 40% of the respondents highlighted attack surface visibility as the foremost priority, reflecting an increased awareness of the necessity to secure what is unseen—particularly as assets evolve across cloud platforms, Software as a Service (SaaS) tools, APIs, and various endpoints.
While cloud security and identity management shared the second spot with 25% each, it’s insightful to note that ransomware resilience, although crucial, took a backseat at 10%. This suggests a strategic pivot among security leaders toward foundational controls that proactively minimize exposure to threats.
Why Attack Surface Visibility Is Key
The prominence of attack surface visibility emphasizes current realities that organizations face. Today’s infrastructure is not limited to on-premises servers or traditional networks; it encompasses a dynamic mix of cloud workloads, remote endpoints, APIs, and various externally facing services.
Without real-time visibility into these assets, even the most advanced cybersecurity strategies may falter, drastically limiting the ability to consistently apply controls or detect threats in a timely manner.
Marcos S., a cybersecurity specialist in email infrastructure, voiced this shift, noting, “Organizations are adapting their focus toward infrastructure security as digital transformation accelerates. Robust API security solutions will play an important role in navigating this evolving threat landscape.”
The Interconnectivity of Security Priorities
The rankings in the TCE poll also hint at a deeper interrelationship among security priorities. The close competition between attack surface visibility, cloud security, and identity/access security illustrates how intertwined these aspects of infrastructure security truly are.
Mary Teisserenc, an expert in Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and access security, remarked, “It’s difficult to isolate these issues; they are so interconnected. How can you have effective hybrid security without robust Identity Access Management (IAM)?”
This observation indicates a shared challenge for CISOs: enhancing visibility is not enough if the foundational identity controls are weak or if cloud setups are misconfigured. Each layer of infrastructure security must synergize to maintain effectiveness.
Leadership and AI’s Role in Security
The insights from the poll align closely with the expectations of seasoned cybersecurity leaders. Adam Palmer, CISO at First Hawaiian Bank, shares three predictions for 2026:
- AI will form the backbone of security operations, although governance may lag behind its adoption.
- Boards will increasingly seek CISOs who can translate cyber risks into business terms.
- Identity management will evolve into the predominant control strategy, spanning Privileged Access Management (PAM), Zero Trust, and Single Sign-On (SSO) practices.
Palmer emphasizes that the cornerstone of these predictions is not merely technology, but strong leadership.
The Impending Impact of AI on Cybersecurity
Matthew Rosenquist, founder of Cybersecurity Insights, also highlights artificial intelligence as an influential factor shaping the cybersecurity landscape. He warns that cybercriminals will leverage AI for rapid execution of established attack strategies, leaving cybersecurity defenders struggling to keep pace.
He cautions, “In 2026, we will witness significant issues, uncomfortable conversations at the Board level, and public failures resulting from the speed of attacks.” As the digital attack surface expands, continuous visibility becomes crucial to mitigating risks effectively.
Conclusion: A Shift Toward Foundational Security Practices
The data from the TCE poll, along with industry perspectives, signals a transformative shift in the approach CISOs are taking toward infrastructure security. It’s no longer about isolating specific threat areas, but rather enhancing foundational capabilities that support every layer of defense. The strong emphasis on attack surface visibility underscores the importance of knowing what needs protection in a digitally complex landscape.
As priorities evolve in the lead-up to 2026, a focus on leadership, visibility, identity management, and effective execution will likely define the next phase of infrastructure security strategies.
