Report

2026 SANS AI Survey Insights

Benchmark your AI strategy against the latest SANS research.

Find out why half of leaders and only a third of practitioners agree that a formal AI governance program exists.

Get practical steps to strengthen AI security and resilience.

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What's inside

AI has become a core part of cybersecurity operations. According to the 2026 SANS AI Survey, AI use in security strategy jumped from 50% to 78% in a single year—the largest year-over-year jump the survey has recorded. But governance hasn't kept up: the share of organizations with a formal AI risk program barely moved, and leaders and practitioners don't even agree on whether one exists. Meanwhile, 78% of organizations report confirmed or suspected AI-enabled attacks, so AI risk isn't hypothetical. It's already inside the perimeter.

2026 SANS AI Survey Insights brings together perspectives from more than 500 cybersecurity professionals and security leaders, including a dedicated module of CISOs and senior executives, to provide a data-driven view of today's AI security landscape. Inside this report:

AI adoption trends: See how organizations are deploying AI across cybersecurity and where adoption continues to grow.
Governance and risk: Learn where AI governance is succeeding, where gaps remain, and how leading organizations are responding.
AI-enabled threats: Explore the latest attack trends, defensive strategies, and the growing role of AI in offensive security.
Practical recommendations: Gain actionable guidance from SANS experts to strengthen AI governance, improve resilience, and build confidence in AI-driven security.

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