Traditional metrics like MTTR fall short for proving risk reduction; there is a push for new outcomes-based metrics that tie security improvements directly to business impact.

The article provides access to the full report along with contact and source details for readers seeking deeper insights.

Budget sustainability hinges on measurable AI value, or budgets may be trimmed as economic conditions evolve if value remains unclear.

Exabeam’s report, From Adoption to Accountability: The New Economics of AI in Cybersecurity, frames these findings as a shift from adoption to accountability in AI security investments.

Experts advocate new frameworks that measure AI impact through business outcomes, emphasizing executive-ready communication that translates technical gains into tangible value for resilience.

Budgets are shifting from headcount to AI and automation, signaling a move toward technology-driven efficiency and demonstrable risk reduction in security operations.

The multinational study, conducted in December 2025 by Sapio Research for Exabeam, surveyed 750 IT security decision-makers across sectors in 12 countries."

Sustainable AI adoption requires clear ROI frameworks and alignment with broader security strategy to avoid budget retrenchment amid economic shifts.

There is a pronounced shift from staffing to technology, making clear risk reduction and measurable outcomes essential to justify investments.

A 2026 survey finds AI-driven increases in cybersecurity budgets, with the majority planning higher spend and a sizable portion predicting double-digit growth across 12 countries.

AI investment in security is rising, but executives and boards struggle to see the link between spending and business resilience, with most leaders tracking ROI or outcome metrics yet still facing a clarity gap.

Revenue for security budgets is increasingly tech-focused, with AI and automation driving the largest growth (about half of increases), followed by cloud infrastructure, underscoring a fundamental resourcing shift.