ISMG Editors: How AI Is Reshaping Cybersecurity Strategy

Also: Leadership Decisions Shaping Cybersecurity in 2026 Anna Delaney (annamadeline) • January 2, 2026

Security leaders are heading into 2026 facing growing pressure from artificial intelligence-driven risks, limited resources and an increasingly complex threat landscape. Sean D. Mack, who leads ISMG's CXO Advisor practice, joined ISMG editors to discuss how these forces are reshaping cybersecurity priorities for mid-sized organizations and enterprise leaders.

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"Every security tool now is an AI security tool, like it or not," Mack said. "A lot of these mid-sized businesses don't have their AI policies in place, don't have the governance in place that the larger companies have."

Mack warned that without clear strategy and leadership, organizations risk reactive incident response and overlapping tools - rather than addressing foundational gaps in security. Security leaders, Mack said, need to prioritize fundamentals, culture and alignment between security and the ...