Proofpoint’s 2025 Voice of the CISO Report Reveals AI Governance and Addressing Insider Threats are Top Cybersecurity Priorities for CISOs in KSA

90% of CISOs in KSA link data loss to departing employees, making insider risk a critical  vulnerability.

67% of CISOs in the Kingdom worry customer data is at risk via public GenAI tools.

52% of CISOs in KSA prioritize safe GenAI use, with 67% enforcing guidelines and 61% exploring AI defenses.

Proofpoint, Inc., a leading cybersecurity and compliance company today released its fifth annual Voice of the CISO report, exploring key challenges, expectations and priorities of chief information security officers (CISOs) worldwide.

The 2025 report, which surveyed 1,600 global CISOs across 16 countries, spotlights two critical trends: the surge in cyberattacks is fueling heightened anxiety among CISOs—along with a growing willingness to pay ransoms when incidents occur—and the rapid rise of GenAI is forcing security leaders to balance innovation with risk, despite mounting concerns around data exposure and misuse.

As cyber threats become more frequent and multifaceted, CISOs are increasingly concerned about their organization’s ability to withstand a material attack. 81% of Saudi CISOs feel at risk of experiencing a material cyberattack in the next 12 months, yet 56% say they are unprepared to respond. 61% of CISOs in KSA experienced material data loss in the past year, with insider threats, cloud account takeover, ransomware and email fraud topping the list of causes.

With 90% attributing at least some data loss to departing employees according to survey data, human behavior remains a critical vulnerability. Reflecting the pressure, 65% of CISOs say they would consider paying a ransom to prevent data leaks or restore systems, based on survey responses.

AI has quickly emerged as both a top priority and a top concern for CISOs: 52% of global CISOs say enabling GenAI tool use is a strategic priority over the next two years, even as security worries persist. In Saudi Arabia, 67% of CISOs express concern over potential customer data loss via public GenAI platforms. As adoption accelerates, organizations are shifting from restriction to governance, with 67% implementing usage guidelines and 61% exploring AI-powered defenses—though enthusiasm has dipped from last year’s high of 96%.

“This year’s findings reveal a growing disconnect between confidence and capability among CISOs,” said Patrick Joyce, global resident CISO at Proofpoint. “While many security leaders express optimism about their organization’s cyber posture, the reality tells a different story—rising data loss, readiness gaps, and persistent human risk continue to undermine resilience.

As GenAI adoption accelerates both opportunity and threat, CISOs are being asked to do more with less, navigate unprecedented complexity, and still safeguard what matters most. It’s clear that the role of the CISO has never been more pivotal—or more pressured.”

Key global findings from Proofpoint’s 2025 Voice of the CISO report include:

● Confidence vs. Reality: CISOs Brace for Attacks Amid Rising Data Loss and Readiness Gaps. In 2025, 81% of CISOs in Saudi Arabia surveyed feel at risk of experiencing a material cyber-attack in the next 12 months, up from 67% last year. Yet 56% admit their organization is unprepared to respond. 61% experienced a material data loss in the past year (up from 31% in 2024) despite the majority of CISOs expressing confidence in their cybersecurity culture.
 
● Attacks from All Angles, Same Consequence. CISOs in Saudi Arabia face an increasingly fragmented threat landscape with no single dominant risk—insider threats, cloud account takeover, ransomware, and email fraud are all top concerns. Despite the varied tactics, most attacks lead to the same outcome: data loss. Reflecting the high stakes, 65% of CISOs say they would consider paying a ransom to restore systems or prevent data leaks—rising to 84% in Canada and Mexico.
 
● Data Doesn’t Walk Itself Out the Door. 90% of CISOs in Saudi Arabia who experienced data loss say departing employees played a role—up from 52% last year. Despite near-universal adoption of Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools, 39% say their data remains inadequately protected. As GenAI accelerates, 58% now rank information protection and governance as a top priority, prompting a shift to dynamic, context-aware security.
 
● The People Problem Persists. Human error remains the top cybersecurity vulnerability in 2025, with 57% of CISOs in Saudi Arabia citing people as their greatest risk, despite 69% believing employees understand cybersecurity best practices. This disconnect highlights a critical gap: awareness alone is not enough. Nearly two in five (39%) organizations still lack dedicated insider risk resources to help bridge the gap between knowledge and behavior.
 
● Friend or Foe? AI’s Double-Edged Sword. The rapid rise of GenAI is amplifying concerns around human risk. 67% of CISOs in Saudi Arabia worry about customer data loss via public GenAI tools, with collaboration platforms and GenAI chatbots seen as top security threats. Despite this, 52% say enabling safe GenAI use is a top priority—highlighting a shift from restriction to governance. Most are responding with guardrails: 67% have implemented usage guidelines, and 61% are exploring AI-powered defenses, though enthusiasm has cooled from 96% last year. More than half (51%) restrict employee use of GenAI tools altogether. 
 
● Boardroom Alignment Slips as CISO Pressure Mounts. Boardroom alignment with CISOs in Saudi Arabia has declined from a high of 95% in 2024 to 60% this year. Still, disruption to operations has emerged as boards’ top concern following a cyber attack, signaling that cyber risk is gaining traction as a strategic priority.
 
● Different Year, Same Pressures. CISOs in Saudi Arabia continue to face mounting pressure in the face of rising threats and limited resources: 54% report facing excessive expectations, and 58% say they have experienced or witnessed burnout within the past year. While 65% now say their organizations have taken steps to protect them from personal liability, two in five (40%) still feel they lack the resources to meet their cybersecurity goals.
 
“Artificial intelligence has moved from concept to core, transforming how both defenders and adversaries operate,” commented Ryan Kalember, chief strategy officer at Proofpoint. “CISOs now face a dual responsibility: harnessing AI to strengthen their security posture while ensuring its ethical and responsible use. This balancing act places them at the center of strategic decision-making.

But AI is just one of many forces reshaping the CISO role. As threats intensify and environments grow more complex, organizations are reevaluating what cybersecurity leadership really looks like in today’s enterprise.”