Exabeam, a global leader in intelligence and automation for security operations, has released a new multinational report revealing a pivotal shift in cybersecurity economics. The study, titled From Adoption to Accountability: The New Economics of AI in Cybersecurity, underscores a growing disconnect between accelerating AI-driven security investments and organizations’ ability to measure and justify their impact.
Based on a survey of 750 IT decision-makers responsible for security across organizations with more than 500 employees in 12 countries, the findings point to a critical paradox: while cybersecurity budgets are experiencing unprecedented growth, many security leaders are struggling to align AI transformation efforts with measurable business outcomes.
Saudi Arabia: High Confidence, High Investment
The research shows that 95% of organizations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are confident their cybersecurity investments are delivering tangible business value. Additionally, 97% believe their current cybersecurity budgets are aligned with the threats they expect to face in 2026.
AI occupies a complex position in Saudi cybersecurity planning. It is:
The leading driver of budget increases (39%)
The second category likely to face cuts if budgets tighten (42%)
The most challenging investment to justify to business stakeholders (22%)
At the same time, 75% of Saudi organizations report that AI is already enhancing the speed and accuracy of security operations. Looking ahead to 2026, 38% expect AI to have the greatest impact on data enrichment and contextualization processes.
The Measurement Dilemma: Proving AI’s Value
Despite widespread confidence in cybersecurity spending, Saudi security leaders face mounting pressure to articulate clear value to executive boards. While 65% report using quantified ROI metrics and 58% rely on outcome-based measurements, 20% cite limited board-level understanding of how cybersecurity investment strengthens business resilience as a primary challenge in defending budgets.
Another 23% identify an overemphasis on regulatory compliance over risk reduction as a key obstacle. The core issue is not a lack of data but a disconnect between technical security metrics and the business language required for executive decision-making.
Steve Wilson, Chief AI and Product Officer at Exabeam, emphasized that traditional measurement frameworks are insufficient in the AI era. He noted that security teams often track legacy metrics that fail to demonstrate transformation impact in terms boards and CFOs understand, creating vulnerability when budgets come under scrutiny.
AI-Driven Budget Expansion in 2026
In Saudi Arabia, AI and automation are the primary catalysts behind cybersecurity budget growth in 2026, cited by 39% of respondents. Other major contributors include:
Talent acquisition and workforce development (35%)
Cloud infrastructure modernization (32%)
Mainstream business use of AI (32%)
Replacement of legacy security tools (32%)
These figures reflect a comprehensive approach, with organizations integrating AI and cybersecurity investments across technology channels, infrastructure, and workforce strategies.
Regional Contrasts in AI Adoption
The report highlights notable regional variations in AI adoption within security operations. Saudi Arabia leads with 75% of organizations reporting operational improvements from AI implementation. This figure significantly surpasses Japan (27%) and the Netherlands (30%).
These disparities reflect differing national strategies and organizational priorities. In Saudi Arabia, AI adoption aligns closely with broader digital transformation ambitions, including initiatives such as Saudi Vision 2030. In contrast, European and Asian markets appear to be prioritizing phased evaluation and workforce considerations before large-scale AI deployment.
Mazen Adnan Dohaji, Senior Vice President and General Manager, IMETA at Exabeam, stated that Saudi Arabia is leveraging AI as a strategic advantage. He noted that while operational improvements are already evident, future investment sustainability will depend on bridging the gap between technical performance gains and clearly articulated financial or risk-reduction outcomes at the executive level.
The Sustainability Challenge: From Deployment to Justification
The cybersecurity sector is currently experiencing a rare phase of budget abundance. However, this environment also raises expectations. Organizations investing heavily in AI-driven transformation must now demonstrate sustainable value creation.
According to the report, deployment alone is no longer sufficient. Long-term success will require:
Developing new frameworks to measure AI impact
Establishing outcome-based metrics tied directly to business resilience
Creating executive-ready communication strategies that translate technical performance into business risk and financial impact terms
Without these measures, organizations risk facing budget retractions if economic conditions tighten and AI investments cannot be clearly justified.
Research Methodology
The findings are based on research conducted by Sapio Research on behalf of Exabeam in December 2025. The survey included 750 IT security decision-makers from organizations with more than 500 employees across 12 countries in Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands), North America (USA, Canada), and Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions (India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan, Australia).
Respondents represented key sectors including technology, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, telecommunications, and government.
About Exabeam
Exabeam is a global cybersecurity innovator delivering intelligence and automation solutions that power security operations for leading enterprises worldwide. The company provides advanced threat detection, investigation, and response (TDIR) capabilities, along with security information and event management (SIEM) and user behavior analytics solutions. By enhancing security operations center performance and accelerating time to resolution, Exabeam enables organizations to combat cyber threats, mitigate risk, and streamline operations.
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