Only 5% Of Orgs Trust Their Cybersecurity Vendors

A new global study by Sophos has revealed a growing crisis of confidence in the cybersecurity industry, with just 5% of organizations reporting full trust in their cybersecurity vendors.

The findings come from the Cybersecurity Trust Reality 2026 report, a vendor-agnostic study based on responses from 5,000 organizations across 17 countries. The report highlights trust as one of the most critical—and often overlooked, factors shaping cybersecurity effectiveness, operational risk, and board-level decision-making.

At a time when organizations are grappling with escalating cyber threats, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), trust is emerging as a defining factor in how cybersecurity strategies are developed and executed.

Widespread Trust Deficit

The research paints a concerning picture of the current cybersecurity landscape, revealing that 95% of organizations do not have full trust in their cybersecurity vendors, while 79% struggle to assess the trustworthiness of new vendors and 62% find it difficult to evaluate even their existing providers; as a result, more than half (51%) report increased anxiety about the likelihood of a major cyber incident due to this lack of trust.

These findings suggest that cybersecurity effectiveness is no longer judged solely by technological capability, but also by the confidence organizations have in their security partners. For Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), this trust gap translates into operational inefficiencies, slower decision-making, and increased vendor turnover.

“Trust is not an abstract concept in cybersecurity, it’s a measurable risk factor,” said Ross McKerchar, CISO at Sophos. “When organizations can’t independently verify a vendor’s security maturity, transparency, and incident handling practices, that uncertainty flows directly into boardrooms and security strategies.”

Transparency and Verification Take Center Stage

According to the report, the most important drivers of trust are verifiable security credentials such as independent assessments, certifications, and demonstrated operational maturity. While CISOs prioritize transparency during incidents and consistent technical performance, boards and senior leadership are more focused on independent validation and analyst ratings.

“With regulatory pressure increasing globally, organizations must be able to demonstrate due diligence in vendor selection especially where AI is involved,” said Phil Harris, Research Director, Governance, Risk and Compliance Solutions at IDC. “Trust is shifting from a marketing message to a defensible compliance requirement.”

AI Adds a New Layer of Complexity

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in cybersecurity tools and workflows, organizations are not only evaluating performance but also how responsibly and transparently these technologies are deployed. Governance, accountability, and ethical use of AI are now central to trust considerations.

“CISOs are being asked to prove trust, not assume it,” added 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.”

Trust as a Strategic Imperative

The Sophos report ultimately elevates trust from a soft brand attribute to a core strategic requirement. Organizations that fail to establish trust with their cybersecurity vendors risk increased exposure to threats, regulatory challenges, and operational disruptions.

To address this, Sophos is investing in initiatives such as its Trust Center, aimed at providing greater transparency and enabling security leaders to make faster, more informed decisions in an increasingly complex threat environment.

As cyber risks continue to evolve, the report underscores a fundamental shift: trust is no longer optional, it is foundational to effective cybersecurity.