CISO Survey

The McLean Partnership conducted a survey of the cybersecurity market reaching out to 960 professionals with a Chief Information Security Officer remit.

This survey provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the cybersecurity landscape, capturing insights from professionals across various industries in the United Kingdom and Mainland Europe. With 271 responses received, this survey offers valuable perspectives on the role and remit of CISOs, encompassing pay and reward trends, wider observations, and overall market sentiment.

This is our first survey on this scale, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the time and effort of those who responded and provided meaningful data. The spirit of this survey is to share back and allow individuals to have live data on where they sit across their peer group, as well as to help prospective hiring managers and executives better understand the evolving state of cybersecurity as a discipline.

Key Findings:

  • The findings reveal a dynamic and evolving field, with high levels of attrition in permanent cyber roles and significant variability in pay across different sectors. Financial services offer the highest average pay, while operational and capital budget constraints remain a common frustration.
  • Despite these challenges, there is a growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity at the executive level, with an increasing demand for strategic advice and strong leadership in this area.
  • One of the key observations from the survey is the tension between organisations wanting effective cybersecurity measures and their ability to sufficiently back and resource the leaders to effectively deliver on this vision.

Future Outlook:

  • The survey highlights the critical skills needed for success in the cybersecurity field, including strong technical expertise and excellent stakeholder management. The economic climate continues to test companies’ commitment to investing in cybersecurity, but the demand for interim and consultative skills remains strong.
  • Additionally, there is a growing trend towards appointing cyber experts to non-executive roles, reflecting the increasing importance of cybersecurity governance. This trend is expected to grow in the future, paving a path for CISOs to naturally develop plural careers as they transition from executive to non-executive/advisory roles over time.

About The McLean Partnership:

  • At The McLean Partnership, we pride ourselves on being one of the few executive search providers operating within a regulated FCA environment, thanks to our sister business that provides macro-economic analysis to financial services clients. We are known for our wider sector coverage and our ability to lead and manage complex hires, often considering candidates across multiple geographical jurisdictions or leading on cross-border projects.

For a copy of the full results, please click here to download.

If you would like to discuss the findings of the survey or understand how McLean can help your organisation, please get in touch with one of our consultants

A snapshot of data and sentiment from the CISO market

  • 42.1% of respondents felt they earned a fair market rate.
  • 80.2% predicted a less than 10% change in salary at their next pay review.
  • Only a moderate sense of value from their organisation.
  • Key Frustrations for CISOs are a lack of financial budget and an inability to grow their team.
  • 75% would strongly recommend a career in information and cyber security to emerging talent.
  • CISM and CISSP are considered the most relevant qualifications to become a CISO.
  •  The UK-based CISOs are rewarded more than those based in Continental Europe

CISO Survey
2025

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