Why CISOs Are Turning to Crowdsourced Security to Protect AI and Data Privacy in 2025
The role of the Chief Information Security Officer has never been easy, but in 2025, it has fundamentally transformed. CISOs are being asked to secure a rapidly expanding digital ecosystem while managing tighter budgets, rising regulatory expectations, and an explosion of AI adoption across the enterprise.
HackerOne’s latest research captures this shift with striking clarity:
84% of CISOs are now responsible for AI security
82% are responsible for data privacy
This expanded mandate creates more pressure than ever, especially as AI evolves faster than traditional security programs can keep pace.
According to the Stanford 2025 AI Index, 78% of organizations used AI in 2024, a dramatic jump from 55% the year before. As AI tools are deployed independently by various business units, new and unpredictable attack surfaces are emerging almost overnight. Even the most talented internal security teams cannot be experts in every emerging AI risk, prompting CISOs to rethink their approach.
Why CISOs Don’t Need Bigger Teams—They Need the Right Partner
In conversations with CISOs across industries, a recurring theme emerges: today’s challenges cannot be solved with headcount alone. What leaders need is specialized, external expertise to uncover blind spots and validate emerging attack surfaces. This is where offensive security and crowdsourced expertise become essential.
HackerOne’s research shows:
88% of CISOs say crowdsourced security is effective in identifying data privacy vulnerabilities
81% say it helps detect AI-related threats
This is no longer a niche tactic. Crowdsourcing is becoming a core component of modern security strategies, accelerating the shift toward Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), a move from periodic testing to continuous, risk-based validation.
The “15% Advantage”: What High-Performing CISOs Do Differently
Among the CISOs surveyed, a standout group, the top 15%, has fully embraced a comprehensive crowdsourced security strategy. These leaders are: 2x more likely to report strong effectiveness from their programs
Leveraging multiple offensive security layers, including:
Bug bounty programs
Vulnerability disclosure programs (VDPs)
Red teaming
Pentesting
AI-assisted security workflows
By combining AI with the diverse expertise of global security researchers, this group uncovers vulnerabilities across the entire software development lifecycle including emerging AI risks and new privacy exposures. Bug bounty programs, in particular, offer a pay-for-results model, giving CISOs a cost-effective way to secure expanding attack surfaces without ballooning internal budgets.
Closing the Cyber Talent Gap At Scale
Another major obstacle facing today’s CISOs is the ongoing security talent shortage:
39% cite lack of skilled personnel as a key challenge
The global workforce is short four million cybersecurity professionals, according to the World Economic Forum
Crowdsourced security delivers a scalable solution to this talent gap. Instead of relying solely on limited internal expertise, organizations gain on-demand access to thousands of vetted, highly specialized researchers. This diversity across geographies, backgrounds, and skill sets provides coverage that is nearly impossible to replicate in-house. It allows organizations to match the speed and complexity of modern threats without being constrained by traditional hiring bottlenecks.
Future-Proofing Security Through Crowdsourced Expertise
HackerOne’s research found a striking insight:
100% of CISOs who fully embrace crowdsourced security see it as critical to their overall strategy. For boards and executive leaders, the message is clear. Crowdsourced security is no longer optional; it is becoming a strategic imperative. It transforms security from a reactive function into a proactive, resilient, and intelligence-driven advantage.
As AI adoption accelerates and data privacy expectations intensify, organizations that leverage the global security community will be better positioned to detect emerging threats, continuously validate risks, and build a security posture designed for the future.