8 must-know cybersecurity trends for 2026

Cybercriminals keep developing new, more sophisticated techniques. Over the past year, the pace of change has accelerated even further. As companies use more AI to simplify processes, make better decisions, and improve customer experiences, new AI-related risks are also rising. Thus, the cost of cybercrime is expected to reach $13.82 trillion by 2028. This puts additional pressure on businesses to strengthen their defenses against data breaches, fraud, and system disruptions.

In this article, we'll look at key cybersecurity trends for 2026 and discuss ways organizations can tackle these security challenges to protect their sensitive data and systems.

Key takeaways

• Ransomware attacks continue to grow—attacks increased by 45% in 2025 compared to 2024.
• Cybercriminals are currently using harvest now, decrypt later tactics while waiting for the moment quantum technology makes it readable.
• The shift from basic tools to autonomous AI agents allows attackers to launch so-called hands-off campaigns that continuously probe your network for weaknesses in real-time.
• Attackers are pivoting to infostealers, leading to an 84% uptick in malware designed to harvest credentials so they can simply log in to your accounts.
• To mitigate liability and ROI gaps, 30% of large enterprises are now mandating training to boost their team's AI literacy.
• As the average breach cost hits $4.44 million, businesses are moving away from reactive patching toward continuous configuration monitoring and stricter access controls.
• With billions of new connected devices entering the market, insecure IoT sensors and smart tech are becoming the most frequent entry points for automated cloud breaches.
• Cybersecurity regulation is now a board-level priority.

1. Growing ransomware attacks

Ransomware isn't a new cybersecurity trend. It has been around for two decades, but its frequency and sophistication have continued to grow. Most alarmingly, NordStellar research shows that ransomware attacks jumped by 45% in 2025 compared to 2024. Last year, 9,251 cases were recorded on the dark web, up from 6,395 in 2024. Additionally, the number of active ransomware groups rose by 30%, with 134 different groups identified in 2025.

These threats aren't slowing down; instead, they are transforming into double-extortion—a predatory strategy where malicious actors prioritize data theft by exfiltrating sensitive information before the encryption even begins. This leaves companies facing financial loss, legal trouble, and a ruined reputation—if a victim refuses to pay, attackers simply threaten to leak or sell the stolen information.

2. Quantum computing security challenges

As we witness a dramatic escalation in the global quantum race, most notably with Chinese scientists unveiling the Zuchongzhi-3, the quantum future is no longer a distant hypothetical—it’s a present-day reality. This 105-qubit superconducting quantum processor reportedly operates 10^15 times faster than the world’s most powerful classical supercomputer.

While today’s most powerful classical computers would take centuries to crack current encryption, a quantum computer could theoretically do it in seconds. This leap in processing power is set to transform science, healthcare, and finance, but it simultaneously creates a massive security gap. Cybercriminals are currently practicing the harvest now, decrypt later tactics—stealing and storing vast quantities of encrypted data today, waiting for the moment quantum technology makes it readable.

3. AI-driven cyber-attacks

While AI tools are increasingly used as an effective and cost-effective first line of defense against cyber threats, companies aren’t alone in harnessing this technology—malicious actors are right there with them. By democratizing cybercrime, AI has made sophisticated tactics accessible to almost anyone, allowing even low-skilled attackers to launch highly personalized, error-free social engineering campaigns at scale.

However, the trend is shifting from simple tools to AI agents. Unlike basic chatbots, these agents are capable of acting autonomously and interfacing directly with third-party services. They represent the new frontline of the cybercrime battlefield, allowing attackers to carry out hands-off attacks that constantly probe defenses to find a single weakness. Because these agents can evolve their social engineering attempts in real-time based on a target's response, they expand a company's hidden attack surface significantly.

4. The new era of phishing

Phishing is one of the oldest tricks in the book, but it’s becoming increasingly sophisticated. Perhaps the most telling trend is the shift in what happens after a user clicks.

According to the IBM X-Force threat intelligence report, while the overall success rate of traditional phishing compromises has dropped by nearly 50% since 2022, the nature of the payload has evolved into a shadow infection vector. We are now seeing an 84% uptick in phishing emails delivering infostealers each week. Instead of immediate disruption, these attacks focus on silently harvesting credentials and session tokens, allowing hackers to simply log in to your business accounts rather than having to break in.

5. AI literacy training for employees

In 2026, the focus of the AI revolution is shifting from rapid investment to human readiness, as organizations realize that technology is only as effective as the people using it. With many enterprises delaying significant AI spend due to a disconnect between high costs and measurable ROI, the priority has turned toward improving AI literacy to unlock actual bottom-line impact.

According to Forrester, to bridge this gap and mitigate emerging risks, 30% of large enterprises are now mandating enterprise-wide training to boost their Artificial Intelligence Quotient (AIQ). This movement isn’t just about adoption; it’s a strategic effort to protect companies from liability and shadow AI risks by ensuring every team member understands how to interact with these tools safely and responsibly, while maintaining the necessary human oversight to catch AI-generated errors or ethical lapses.

6. Cloud security

In 2026, cloud vulnerability remains a top priority as the cloud-first shift has matured from a rapid necessity into a permanent business foundation. While cloud services deliver undeniable scalability and efficiency, they have also become a high-stakes playground for attackers who use AI to automate the discovery of misconfigured settings, insecure APIs, and account hijacking opportunities.

With the average cost of a data breach hovering around $4,4 million, according to the Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025 by IBM , businesses are shifting their strategy from reactive patching to a proactive, prevent-first model. This means that staying safe in the cloud now requires a multi-layered defense—combining continuous configuration monitoring with robust encryption and strictly enforced access controls.

7. Internet of things (IoT) and cloud security challenges

The rise of IoT devices and the shift to cloud platforms are increasing cyber risks. The number of connected IoT devices is said to reach 39 billion in 2030 and >50 billion by 2035.

While cloud providers offer strong security, managing multiple platforms creates vulnerabilities, especially due to misconfigurations or poor monitoring. Many IoT devices, like smart home tech and sensors, lack proper security, making them easy targets for malicious actors.

The growth of IoT will increase the need for secure cloud storage, real-time processing, and cost-effective scalability. Misconfigurations and insecure APIs will remain top targets, making system security a major challenge in 2026.

8. Taking regulatory compliance seriously

In recent years, the global regulatory environment has shifted from mere guidelines to a high-stakes arena where cybersecurity is a non-negotiable obligation for any entity handling sensitive data. This is a cybersecurity trend that is ramping up pressure on companies to act as responsible stewards of customer information, moving beyond the goal of punishing threat actors to enforcing a baseline of data hygiene.

The cost of falling behind is staggering—both in terms of legal penalties and operational restrictions. For instance, international companies remain particularly vulnerable; just last year, TikTok was hit with a landmark $600 million (€530 million) GDPR fine after a major investigation revealed unlawful transfers of user data to China, proving regulators’ willingness to impose heavy financial sanctions to protect digital borders.

Strategies for business safety in 2026

Keeping your business safe in 2026 means using a layered defense. Focus on the right tools, clear plans, and regular training. As cyber threats get smarter, here are practical steps to protect your systems, data, and networks.

1. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) and access management to control who can reach what.
2. Reduce ransomware risk with a mix of firewalls, threat protection, and network segmentation.
3. Assign minimal user privileges in line with Zero Trust principles (grant users only the access they need).
4. Encrypt data in transit and at rest where possible.
5. Use Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools to prevent sensitive data from leaving your environment.
6. Deploy intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to spot and block suspicious activity.
7. Back up critical data regularly (and keep at least one backup isolated or immutable).
8. Test backups and incident response steps to ensure quick disaster recovery.
9. Regularly test and patch your key systems and security controls.
10. Run risk assessments and keep response playbooks up to date.
11. Train employees to recognize phishing attacks and report them quickly.

To sum up, 2026 will bring new and complex cybersecurity challenges. Quantum computing, AI-driven attacks, and more advanced phishing techniques will demand stronger defenses. Businesses need a clear strategy built on multi-factor authentication, encryption, and continuous threat detection. Additionally, regular testing, training, and a well-defined response strategy will be essential to manage these evolving risks and protect systems and operations.