“Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it.”
I often come back to this old wisdom when thinking about cybersecurity. Technology continues to advance, but the real challenge is knowing which decisions to make and when to make them. Cybersecurity today is no longer just an IT problem. It affects trust, revenue and the ability of an organization to keep operating. As digital systems become more connected and more automated, cyber risk is becoming more business-driven. Looking ahead to 2026, these are the five cybersecurity trends I believe leaders should be watching closely.
1. AI Will Strengthen Security and Attacks at the Same Time
Artificial intelligence is changing cybersecurity faster than any technology before it. Attackers are already using AI to automate phishing, generate realistic fraud messages and scan systems for weaknesses at scale. At the same time, security teams are using AI to improve threat detection and response.
The risk is not AI itself, but using it without control. Organizations will need clear rules on how AI tools access data, how decisions are reviewed by people and how AI systems are tested before being trusted in live environments.
2. Cyber Fraud Will Remain a Top Business Risk
Cyber-enabled fraud is now one of the most damaging threats facing organizations. It leads to direct financial loss and quickly erodes customer confidence. Digital onboarding, instant payments and online platforms have expanded the attack surface.
Managing this risk requires cybersecurity teams to work closely with finance, operations and customer-facing teams. Strong identity controls, real-time monitoring and practical fraud analytics are becoming basic requirements for safe digital operations.
3. Third-Party and Software Provider Risk Will Increase
As AI evolves, the temptation to adopt cheaper and faster software solutions will grow. It will often appear that everyone has a solution to every problem. This is exactly where the risk lies.
Many external software providers rely on similar AI models, shared components and common infrastructure. Without proper due diligence, organizations may introduce hidden vulnerabilities through these tools. Managing third-party risk will require continuous assessment, clear visibility into access rights and strong security standards for all vendors, not just strategic ones.
4. Cyber Inequity Will Create Wider Security Gaps
Cybersecurity capability is not evenly distributed. Some organizations have strong tools, skilled teams and mature processes, while others struggle with limited skills and budgets. Attackers actively target these weaker points, especially across shared platforms and interconnected systems.
Reducing this risk requires investment in skills, automation and shared security capabilities. Improving security in isolation is no longer enough. Resilience must improve across entire ecosystems and supply chains.
5. From Compliance to Real Cyber Resilience
Compliance remains important, but it does not guarantee security. Real cyber resilience means detecting incidents early, responding quickly, recovering systems and continuing operations.
Leaders will need to focus more on tested incident response plans, recovery readiness and clear executive ownership of cyber risk, rather than relying only on compliance checklists.
Foresight builds resilience, those who prepare today control tomorrow!!!
