Top 10 CISO Priorities for 2025

Discover the top 10 priorities for Australian CISOs in 2025, from AI risk to data governance, resilience, and evolving regulatory demands.

Cyber security leaders are combating sophisticated threats, AI is being rolled out at a rapid pace, and regulatory demands are increasing.

For many CISOs, the challenge is no longer just stopping attacks.

It’s about building systems that are secure by design and resilient by default.

ADAPT’s latest survey of over 130 Australian CISOs reveals where the focus is shifting.

It’s not just about responding to incidents.

It’s about tightening governance, securing data, and preparing for a future where security must scale with innovation.

Here are the ten top initiatives on their radar this year:

1. Governance and Compliance

Security leaders are being held accountable for more than just controls.

They are now expected to prove resilience to boards, regulators, and the public.

Governance isn’t paperwork anymore. It’s strategy.

2. Identity and Access Management

With credentials still the most common entry point for attackers, controlling who can access what is non-negotiable.

Many CISOs are doubling down on identity management as a core defence layer.

3. Vulnerability Management

This has jumped in priority.

Patching systems and tightening configurations sounds basic, but it’s often neglected.

Now it’s becoming a strategic risk if left unchecked.

4. Data Loss Prevention

As sensitive data moves across more tools and teams, the risks multiply.

Data loss prevention has become a priority not just for compliance, but for protecting customer trust.

5. Threat Detection and Response

Real-time visibility remains critical. But today it’s not just about speed.

It’s about aligning responses with business risk and using automation to improve decision-making.

6. Network Security

Perimeters are dissolving as organisations embrace cloud and hybrid work.

Network security is evolving to focus on segmentation, monitoring, and traffic control across every environment.

7. Data Governance

This has climbed rapidly up the list.

With AI models training on business data, security teams are getting more involved in defining who can use what, and how it’s protected.

8. Application Security

Security is moving into the development process.

CISOs are working with engineering teams to identify vulnerabilities earlier and reduce risk at the source.

9. Cloud and SaaS Security

Cloud workloads and SaaS apps now dominate.

CISOs are focused on managing this sprawl and ensuring configurations, access, and usage are continuously monitored.

10. Security Operations Centre (SOC)

Organisations are revisiting their SOC strategy.

Whether building internally or partnering with providers, the goal is the same: respond faster, with better intelligence.

Want the Full Report?

ADAPT’s State of Security 2025 goes beyond trends.

It includes national breach data, Essential Eight maturity benchmarks, and deep insights from Australian CISOs on how to build resilient security programs.

If you’re leading security, advising the board, or building a roadmap, this is essential reading.

Request your copy of the report and get a clearer view of what resilience really looks like in 2025.