IDC Awards
IDC CISO Excellence Awards 2026

    

Through the IDC CISO Excellence Awards 2026, IDC intends to honor those top 30 organizations and IT leaders who have conceptualized and successfully delivered cutting edge cyber defense technologies or services (with/ without AI) and equipped the cyber workforce with the necessary skills required to fight against emerging threats.

Open to IT leaders who have:

• Significantly improved the security posture, resilience, and regulatory compliance of their organization.
• Successfully delivered major initiatives that helped transform and position security as an enabler for digital transformation.
• Delivered cutting edge security systems and equipped the cyber workforce with the necessary skills required to fight against emerging threats.

Individuals who have achieved positive business outcomes through effective risk mitigation strategies have the opportunity to earn IDC CISO Excellence Award — the highest honour for the region's leading security professionals. Winners will be recognized at a dedicated ceremony during the IT Security Xchange & Awards 2026.

To be eligible for the IDC CISO Excellence Awards 2026, nominees must fulfil the following criteria:

• They must have held the position of CISO or business leader for at least 24 months.
• Company must be based in UAE or Qatar as per country listing eligible for Awards
• They must have led, within the last 24 months, the implementation of initiatives that must be thoroughly described in the nomination form.
• They must have demonstrated outstanding skills and efforts in the following fields: innovation, change management, IT governance, business enablement, and cost efficiency.
• Gone live between January 2025 and March 2026 (projects that are yet to go live will not be considered)

Please provide the necessary details through your official email ID only. Incomplete forms will not be considered.