The Growing Case for Deputy CISOs in the Enterprise
TechTarget, Thursday, September 10th, 2026
Burnout and growing workloads are driving more organizations to consider a deputy CISO, though the role varies widely.
Mounting CISO burdens and burnout are spurring interest in the deputy CISO role, which has no standard definition and may support risk management, board engagement or succession planning.
IANS found 31% of Fortune 500-sized companies employ a dedicated deputy, with another 13% combining the role with another position, and compensation can range from $240,000 to $419,000.
Mike Buratowski, The Home Depot's first deputy CISO, says the role ensures someone can make emergency and tactical decisions and acts as a force multiplier. At Home Depot, the CISO leads strategy while deputies focus on operations and compliance.