On 19 June 2026, Cyber Ireland hosted its Business Growth Webinar, CISO Cybersecurity Investment Decisions 2026, bringing together members of Ireland’s cybersecurity community to explore the priorities, challenges and investment trends shaping cybersecurity strategies across large enterprises. The webinar provided valuable insights into the factors influencing cybersecurity decision-making and spending plans for the year ahead.
The session featured findings from Cyber Ireland’s annual CISO Forum Survey, presented by Colin Reid, COO at Threatscape, who also moderated a panel discussion with two experienced cybersecurity leaders:
- Andrea Manning, Group CISO, Acorn Life
- Paul Brady, CISO, Optum
Together, they shared practical perspectives on the evolving threat landscape, regulatory pressures, cybersecurity investment priorities and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on security strategies.
Understanding the Priorities of Irish CISOs
The webinar was designed to help Irish cybersecurity SMEs, start-ups and solution providers better understand the challenges facing CISOs, the technologies attracting investment, and the factors influencing purchasing decisions. Discussions highlighted how organisations are continuing to adapt to an increasingly complex threat landscape while balancing regulatory requirements, operational resilience and business objectives.
Key themes explored during the session included:
- Managing cybersecurity risk and organisational resilience
- The impact of regulatory requirements, including NIS2 and DORA
- Security automation and improving operational efficiency
- Cybersecurity budgets and investment trends for 2026
- Cloud security, data protection and identity management
- The opportunities and challenges associated with AI in cybersecurity
AI and Emerging Security Challenges
One of the strongest themes to emerge from both the survey findings and panel discussion was the growing role of AI in cybersecurity. Organisations are increasingly exploring AI-enabled security capabilities while also addressing concerns around governance, risk management, data security and responsible adoption. The discussion reflected the broader challenge facing CISOs as they seek to balance innovation with security and compliance obligations.
Looking Ahead: Cyber Solutions Day Ireland 2026
The webinar also marked the official launch of Cyber Solutions Day Ireland 2026, an initiative that connects cybersecurity companies with real-world challenges identified by members of the Cyber Ireland CISO Forum. The event provides an opportunity for innovative SMEs to showcase practical solutions to pressing cybersecurity issues facing organisations today.
For 2026, the CISO Forum identified two key challenge areas:
- Safely Adopting AI in Cybersecurity
- Operationalising Compliance for Business Value
Selected companies will have the opportunity to present their solutions at Cyber Ireland’s National Conference as part of Cyber Solutions Day Ireland 2026. Find Out More Here.