The latest Sophos Cybersecurity Trust Reality 2026 report reveals a critical challenge facing CISOs – trust in cybersecurity vendors is fragile, difficult to measure, and increasingly shaping risk posture at both operational and board levels.
At a time of relentless cyberthreats, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and accelerating AI adoption trust has become a defining factor in cybersecurity decision-making. Yet the new research – conducted among 5 000 organisations across 17 countries – reveals that nearly all of them lack full confidence in their cybersecurity vendors, and many struggle to assess vendor trustworthiness in the first place.
The independent study found that:
- 95% of respondents said they do not have full trust in their cybersecurity vendors.
- 79% struggle to assess the trustworthiness of new cybersecurity partners, and over six in 10 (62%) even find it challenging for their existing vendors.
- More than half (51%) report increased anxiety about the likelihood of a significant cyber incident as a direct result of lack of trust.
These findings underscore a critical reality: cybersecurity effectiveness cannot be measured by technological performance alone, but also by the confidence that organisations have in the partners defending their business.
For CISOs, trust gaps create operational friction, slower decision-making, and higher vendor turnover. Trusted cybersecurity partners reduce risk and build more resilient organisations.
“Trust is not an abstract concept in cybersecurity, it’s a measurable risk factor,” says Ross McKerchar, CISO at Sophos. “When organisations can’t independently verify a vendor’s security maturity, transparency, and incident handling practices that uncertainty flows directly into boardrooms and security strategies.”
The survey identifies verifiable security artifacts including independent assessments, certifications, and demonstrated operational maturity as the single greatest driver of vendor trust. CISOs prioritise transparency during incidents and consistent technical performance, while boards and senior leadership place greater weight on independent validation, certifications, and analyst performance.
The common thread is clear. Organisations want transparency backed by evidence, not blanket assurances.
“With regulatory pressure increasing globally, organisations must be able to demonstrate due diligence in vendor selection – especially where AI is involved,” says Phil Harris, research director, Governance, Risk and Compliance Solutions at IDC. “Trust is shifting from a marketing message to a defensible compliance requirement.”
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes embedded in cybersecurity tools, services, and workflows organisations are not only evaluating whether security solutions are effective, but whether AI is deployed responsibly, transparently, and with appropriate governance. Trust is no longer optional. It is foundational.
“CISOs are being asked to prove trust, not assume it,” adds McKerchar. “Cybersecurity providers must do the same. Respondents to the survey cited a lack of accessible, sufficiently detailed information as the primary barrier to making confident trust assessments. Trust must be earned continuously through transparency, accountability, and independent validation.”
These findings elevate trust from a brand attribute to a strategic imperative.