Splunk Report: Agentic AI Takes Center Stage in CISOs' Path to Digital Resilience

Cisco (NYSE: CSCO) released Splunk's 2026 CISO Report, surveying 650 global CISOs and highlighting AI's central role in security and digital resilience.

Rhea-AI Summary

Cisco (NYSE: CSCO) released Splunk's 2026 CISO Report, surveying 650 global CISOs and highlighting AI's central role in security and digital resilience.

Key findings: 95% cite rising threat actor sophistication; 92% say AI enables reviewing more security events; 82% expect agentic AI to boost data review, correlation, and response speeds. The report stresses talent, shared accountability, and burnout as top operational challenges.

Positive

• 92% of CISOs say AI enables reviewing more security events
• 82% expect agentic AI to increase data review and response speeds
• 62% report joint accountability drives higher value for key initiatives

Negative

• Nearly two-thirds of security teams report moderate to significant burnout
• 95% of CISOs cite threat actor sophistication as their greatest risk
• 91% cite data privacy concerns limiting cross-departmental data sharing

Argus Feb 24 session

+0.51% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – CSCO

In the Feb 24 session, CSCO gained 0.51%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement reinforces Cisco’s AI and security positioning by tying Splunk’s CISO insights to ...

Analysis

This announcement reinforces Cisco’s AI and security positioning by tying Splunk’s CISO insights to broader trends. With 95% of CISOs citing sophisticated threat actors as their greatest risk and 92% using AI to review more security events, the report frames AI as both necessity and risk vector. Historically, AI-tagged news produced modest average moves of about 0.7%, suggesting investors may watch for concrete revenue or product impacts beyond thought-leadership studies.

Key Figures

Greatest risk: threat sophistication: 95% of CISOs Priority: threat detection/response: 92% of CISOs AI expands event review: 92% of CISOs +5 more

Greatest risk: threat sophistication

95% of CISOs

Cite growing sophistication of threat actor capabilities as greatest risk

Priority: threat detection/response

92% of CISOs

Rank improving threat detection and response as top priority

AI expands event review

92% of CISOs

Say AI enables their teams to review more security events

AI improves data correlation

89% of CISOs

Report improved data correlation with AI

Agentic AI boosts speed

39% vs 18%

Strongly agree reporting speed increased among adopters vs explorers

Agentic AI data uplift

82% of CISOs

Believe agentic AI will increase amount of data reviewed

Fear of social engineering

86% of CISOs

Fear agentic AI will increase sophistication of social engineering attacks

High alert volumes

98% of teams

Report high alert volumes as a leading stressor

Previous AI Reports

5 past events · Latest: Feb 23

Same Type 5 events

1. Feb 23

   AI infrastructure launch

   24h Move

   -1.8%

   Launch of Australia’s first Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA GPUs.

2. Feb 10

   AI security update

   24h Move

   -0.6%

   Broad security enhancements for enterprise agentic AI adoption and AI-aware SASE.

3. Feb 10

   AI silicon launch

   24h Move

   -0.6%

   Unveiling Silicon One G300 and systems to scale AI data centers.

4. Jan 26

   AI partner program

   24h Move

   +3.2%

   Launch of Cisco 360 Partner Program tailored for AI-era customer outcomes.

5. Jan 26

   AI governance study

   24h Move

   +3.2%

   Data and Privacy Benchmark Study on AI-driven privacy investment and governance.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

agentic ai, devsecops, mean time to detect (mttd), mean time to respond (mttr), +1 more

5 terms

agentic ai technical

"AI is recognized as a powerful business imperative and productivity powerhouse for security teams, including agentic AI."

Agentic AI refers to computer systems that can make their own decisions and take actions without needing someone to tell them what to do each time. It's like giving a robot a degree of independence to solve problems or achieve goals on its own, which matters because it could change how we work and interact with technology in everyday life.

devsecops technical

"more than four out of five also overseeing secure software development (DevSecOps)."

DevSecOps is the practice of building security checks into the whole software creation and delivery process instead of treating security as a separate step at the end. For investors, it matters because products that find and fix vulnerabilities earlier tend to ship faster, cost less to maintain, and carry lower risk of damaging breaches or regulatory fines — much like installing quality and safety checks on a car while it’s being assembled rather than after it leaves the factory.

mean time to detect (mttd) technical

"Incident reduction, improved Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR)"

Mean time to detect (MTTD) is the average time it takes an organization to become aware of a security incident or data breach after it begins. Investors watch MTTD because faster detection limits financial losses, legal exposure and reputational damage; it’s like noticing a leak in a boat sooner so you can patch it before the cabin floods, and shorter MTTD generally indicates stronger operational risk control.

mean time to respond (mttr) technical

"Incident reduction, improved Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR)"

Mean time to respond (MTTR) is the average time it takes an organization to begin addressing a problem after it is detected, such as a system outage, product defect, or safety issue. Investors care because a shorter MTTR means the company can limit downtime, reduce costs and reputational damage, and restore revenue faster—similar to how a fast-acting repair crew keeps a factory running and minimizes lost sales.

social engineering attacks technical

"86% fear agentic AI will increase the sophistication of social engineering attacks"

Social engineering attacks are deliberate tricks that manipulate people into giving up sensitive information, access, or performing actions they otherwise wouldn’t—think of a con artist convincing someone to hand over a key or password. For investors this matters because successful attacks can lead to direct financial losses, theft of customer or corporate data, operational disruption and reputational or regulatory damage, any of which can hurt a company’s earnings and share price.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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• Nearly all CISOs Report They Are Now Responsible for AI Governance and Risk Management, Cite the Growing Sophistication of Threat Actor Capabilities as Their Greatest Risk
• Vast Majority Say AI Enables More Security Events to be Reviewed 

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco today announced the release of Splunk's annual report, The CISO Report: From Risk to Resilience in the AI Era, surveying 650 global Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). The report highlights CISOs' rapidly expanding role, their strategic approach to AI adoption, and a steadfast commitment to human talent as they confront an increasingly complex landscape.

"CISOs operate in the eye of the storm, at the center of constant transformation. Role responsibilities expand, threats evolve, and AI accelerates everything," said Michael Fanning, CISO, Splunk, a Cisco Company. "This expanded mandate brings an exceptional level of pressure and personal accountability. We are not just managing technology. We are managing risk, talent, and the digital resilience that drives critical business outcomes."

The AI Imperative
AI is recognized as a powerful business imperative and productivity powerhouse for security teams, including agentic AI. The survey highlights:

• 95% of CISOs cite the growing sophistication of threat actor capabilities as their greatest risk. Ninety-two percent of CISOs say that improving threat detection and response capabilities is a top priority, followed by strengthening identity and access management (78%), and investing in AI cybersecurity capabilities (68%).
• 92% of CISOs say AI enables their teams to review more security events.
• 89% report improved data correlation with AI.
• 39% of CISOs who have partially or fully adopted agentic AI strongly agree it has increased their teams' reporting speed by more than double the rate of those who are still exploring (18%).
• 82% of CISOs believe agentic AI will increase the amount of data reviewed and 82% say it will increase correlation and response speeds.

While CISOs' approach AI with cautious optimism, 86% fear agentic AI will increase the sophistication of social engineering attacks, and 82% worry it will increase deployment speed and complexity of persistence mechanisms. Ultimately, AI is seen as essential for combating advanced threats and delivering significant business advantages.

Expanded Mandate and Personal Stakes
CISOs are operating at the leading edge of digital transformation, with nearly four out of five reporting their role has become significantly more complex. More than three quarters of CISOs are now worried about personal liability for security incidents, a sharp jump from last year, when just over half expressed similar fears, underscoring the high stakes involved. Nearly all respondents now report that CISOs responsibilities include AI governance and risk management, with more than four out of five also overseeing secure software development (DevSecOps).

Talent Over Tech in Closing Gaps
Despite the rise of AI, CISOs are prioritizing human capital to address critical skills gaps. Their main strategies include upskilling current workforces, hiring new full-time employees, and engaging contractors. This reflects a belief that human intelligence and creativity remain security's most powerful tools, especially for nuanced tasks like threat hunting.

Security is a Team Sport
Shared ownership is proving critical for stronger cybersecurity outcomes. Joint accountability drives the most value for key security initiatives (62%), security budget and funding (55%), and access to security-relevant data (49%), indicating that collaboration across the C-suite is a force multiplier for resilience.

Burnout and the Quest for Clarity
The report reveals a significant challenge in workforce retention, with nearly two-thirds of security teams experiencing moderate to significant burnout. Leading stressors include:

• High alert volumes (98%)
• False alerts (94%)
• Tool fatigue (79%)

To address these issues, CISOs are consolidating security data into a single view and using data-driven narratives to translate technical nuances into clear business imperatives for non-technical leadership. However, challenges to improving cross-departmental data sharing persist, such as:

• Data privacy concerns (91%)
• High storage costs (76%)
• Lack of shared data views (70%)

Reframing Security as a Business Enabler
CISOs are increasingly focused on translating cybersecurity's value into clear business outcomes. Incident reduction, improved Mean Time to Detect (MTTD), and Mean Time to Respond (MTTR) are the top metrics used to communicate ROI to leadership. Collaboration with C-suite peers, especially on budgeting and key initiatives, is crucial for success.

The CISO Report highlights the transformation of the CISO role into a strategic leader. The report demonstrates how these executives are effectively navigating complex challenges by championing data-driven strategies, fostering human-centric leadership, and thoughtfully integrating AI. Through these approaches, CISOs are strengthening digital resilience and empowering their organizations to thrive in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

To download the 2026 CISO Report, please visit the Splunk website.

Methodology
Oxford Economics researchers surveyed 650 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in July and August of 2025. Respondents resided in Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They represented nine industry groups: manufacturing, telecommunications, media and communications, financial services, public sector, energy and utilities, transportation and logistics, retail and consumer goods, healthcare and life sciences, and information services and technology. 

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

About Splunk LLC
Splunk, a Cisco company, helps build a safer and more resilient digital world. Organizations trust Splunk to prevent security, infrastructure and application issues from becoming major incidents, absorb shocks from digital disruptions, and accelerate digital transformation.

Splunk and the Splunk> logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word "'partner"' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco or its affiliates and any other company.

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SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did Cisco report about CISOs' responsibility for AI governance in Feb 2026 (CSCO)?

Nearly all CISOs now include AI governance and risk management in their role. According to Cisco, the Splunk survey of 650 CISOs found responsibilities expanded to cover agentic AI oversight alongside DevSecOps and other security domains.

How widespread is AI adoption among CISOs and what effect does it have on review speeds (CSCO)?

Most CISOs say AI speeds security event review significantly. According to Cisco, 92% report AI enables more event review and 39% of partial/full agentic AI adopters report reporting speed gains more than double those still exploring.

What are the top risks CISOs identified in the Feb 24, 2026 Splunk CISO Report (CSCO)?

The leading risk is more sophisticated threat actors. According to Cisco, 95% of surveyed CISOs ranked threat actor capability growth highest, with major concerns about agentic AI enabling social engineering and persistence mechanisms.

How are CISOs addressing skills gaps despite rising AI use, per the Splunk report (CSCO)?

CISOs prioritize human capital strategies over tech-only fixes. According to Cisco, top actions include upskilling staff, hiring full-time employees, and engaging contractors to tackle nuanced tasks like threat hunting.

What workforce and operational challenges did the Feb 2026 CISO survey highlight (CSCO)?

Burnout and alert overload are acute problems across security teams. According to Cisco, nearly two-thirds report moderate to significant burnout, driven by high alert volumes (98%), false alerts (94%), and tool fatigue (79%).