The Global Cybersecurity Outlook (GCO) survey was the primary dataset used as the foundational research for this report, with 24 questions for all respondents (plus five questions specifically for CISO respondents) and an additional seven demographic questions. The survey was launched on 2 September 2024 and ran until 11 October 2024. The World Economic Forum received responses from 409 survey participants from 57 countries. Once the dataset was normalized using the seven demographic questions to determine the qualifications of participants, the dataset was left with 321 qualified participants. Each of the 321 participants fully completed the survey.

To provide additional qualitative data, 43 oneon- one interviews were conducted with C-suite executives, industry leaders and academics, asking adjacent or supplementary questions to probe further into the survey data collected. In July 2024, a 90-minute workshop was held with 10 members of the Global Future Council on Cybersecurity, thought leaders from academia, government, international organizations, business and civil society, focused on themes to be featured in the GCO survey. Additionally, in October 2024, a 90-minute workshop was held with 20 executives from the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity’s CISO Community, focused on themes identified within this report. Additional quantitative data was collected in the form of a two-question poll posed to the attendees.

The Forum’s Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity took place on 11–13 November 2024. Several sessions were held, and qualitative data was gathered from the 170-plus executives who attended the event. During the various sessions, quantitative data was gathered in a form of six poll questions for the audience.