Chief Information Security Officers
Machines can already do 40% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 64%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Chief Information Security Officers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 40% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 64% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 74% for contact with people.
- Also called: CISO (Chief Information Security Officer), Chief Security Officer (CSO), Head of Cyber Security, VP of Information Security.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery | 8% | 35% to 65% | |
| Set cyber security strategy and risk appetite, and report cyber risk to the board | 6% | 25% to 50% | |
| Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs | 6% | 50% to 85% | |
| Perform risk assessments and execute tests of data processing system to ensure functioning of data processing activities and security measures | 6% | 25% to 65% | |
| Document computer security and emergency measures policies, procedures, and tests | 5% | 77% to 97% | |
| Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems | 5% | 30% to 54% | |
| Direct or participate in emergency management and contingency planning | 5% | 22% to 48% | |
| Lead the response to major cyber incidents and crises | 5% | 18% to 38% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills chief information security officers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Chief Information Officers59% of tasks by 2035
- Chief Innovation Officers63% of tasks by 2035
- Chief Technology Officers60% of tasks by 2035
- Chief Executives50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $213,990
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Chief Information Security Officers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of chief information security officers?
Machines can do 40% of the tasks of chief information security officers today and 64% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 311-C929 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Chief Information Security Officers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/chief-information-security-officers/