Portnox Survey

2026 CISO Perspectives Report Data

To access a full analysis of the results, click here.

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Key Data Insights

Stay tuned to this page for more data from the CISO Perspectives for 2026 survey over the next couple of weeks.

CISO Perspectives for 2026
92%
of CISOs are implementing passwordless authentication.
Up from 70% in 2024.
CISO Perspectives for 2026
96%
of CISOs believe that MFA can’t keep up with today’s threat landscape.
MFA fatigue and phishing bypasses top the list of concerns.
CISO Perspectives for 2026
52%
of CISOs cite reduced risk of password phishing & reuse as the #1 benefit.
Followed by productivity (41%) and user experience (39%).

Survey Data

Questions included in the CISO Perspectives survey (see methodological notes below).

Which of the following describes where your organization currently stands with the implementation of Passwordless Authentication?
14%
We have completed our implementation
27%
We have begun implementing
52%
We are planning to implement
7%
We are open to but have not begun planning
2%
We haven’t considered this
0%
We considered it and are not planning on it
When you hear of a high-profile security breach or hack, how likely do you think it is due to a compromised password or authentication?
13%
Extremely likely
45%
Very likely
41%
Somewhat likely
2%
Not too likely
0%
Not likely at all
What complaints do employees have about your organization's security measures?
50%
It interferes with or slows their work
46%
They use tedious processes
43%
It takes too long to get a resolution to issues
42%
Password changes are too frequent
36%
They’re not adequately trained on how to use them
36%
They are difficult to understand
Which of the following do you consider the top three benefits of using Passwordless Authentication?
52%
Reduced risk of password reuse, phishing, and other exploits
39%
Enhanced security
39%
Improved employee experience
33%
Stronger access control
41%
Improved employee productivity
32%
Lowered IT support costs
29%
Reduction in compliance issues
How concerned are you that security provided by Multi-Factor Authentication does not do enough to protect employees?
11%
Extremely concerned
41%
Very concerned
47%
Somewhat concerned
2%
Not very concerned
0%
Not at all concerned
How concerned are you that security provided by Multi-Factor Authentication does not do enough to protect employees?
11%
Extremely concerned
41%
Very concerned
47%
Somewhat concerned
2%
Not very concerned
0%
Not at all concerned
Methodological Notes:

The Portnox Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (https://www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 200 US CISOs at companies with a minimum annual revenue of $500m with representative quotas set for company size, between August 29th and September 9th, 2024, using an email invitation and an online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 6.9 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.