What a decade of entries tells us.
Every year, defenders enter the Cyber Security Awards and an independent panel judges them on merit. That record is a rare view of the field. These reports read it carefully and point the spotlight back at the people who do the work.
Four reads, drawn from real entries
Each report stands on verifiable people and organisations, with external figures attributed to their published sources. Read whichever speaks to your work.
The State of Cyber Defence 2026
What the year of entries reveals about how teams are defending organisations now, read alongside published findings from the Verizon DBIR, ENISA and the NCSC.
Skills and Careers 2026
How defenders are entering the field, building careers and closing the skills gap, drawn from the people the panel recognised across every category.
Who Defends the World 2026
A look at where this year’s recognised defenders work and the regions they protect, from APAC incident response to UK and European security teams.
A Decade of Recognition
Ten editions of the programme, the people honoured along the way and how independent judging has stayed consistent throughout.
How these reports are built: they draw only on real winners and finalists of the Cyber Security Awards, a programme judged by an independent panel. External statistics are attributed to their original sources, and we invent no figures. See how winners are chosen.
About the reports
Where does the data in these reports come from?
It comes from a decade of entries to the Cyber Security Awards, read alongside published findings from established sources such as the Verizon DBIR, ENISA, IBM and the NCSC. Every external statistic is attributed to its original source.
Do sponsors influence what the reports say?
No. The awards are judged on merit and cannot be bought, and the same holds for the reports. Sponsorship has no bearing on who is recognised or on the findings we publish.
How often are the reports updated?
The dated reports reflect the most recent edition and are refreshed each year as a new cohort is recognised. The 2026 reports are the current set.
Can I cite these reports?
Yes. They are written to be quoted and linked, with external figures attributed so you can trace them to source. For the judging process behind the data, see the methodology page.