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Capacity Development

Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 by WEF

In an era defined by accelerating technological change, persistent geopolitical volatility and widening capability gaps, the cyber landscape has become both a catalyst for progress and a vector of profound risk. Cybersecurity risk in 2026 is accelerating, fuelled by advances in AI, deepening geopolitical fragmentation and the complexity of supply chains. These shifts are compounded by the enduring sovereignty dilemma and widespread cyber inequity, two factors that expose systemic vulnerabilities. The result is a threat environment where the speed and scale of attacks are testing the limits of traditional defences.

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Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 by WEF
Published: 31 January 2026

Cybersecurity in 2026 is accelerating amid growing threats, geopolitical fragmentation and a widening technological divide. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming cyber on both sides of the fight – strengthening defence while enabling more sophisticated attacks. Organizations are striving to balance innovation with security – embracing AI and automation at scale, even as governance frameworks and human expertise struggle to keep pace. The result is a fast-paced, metamorphic landscape where disruptions move swiftly across borders, even as technology offers new potential for resilience.

This year’s report examines the intersection of AI adoption and cyber readiness, and the emerging disparities that innovation creates. On the geopolitical front, fragmentation and sovereignty concerns are reshaping cooperation and trust among nations. Hybrid threats and escalating cyberattacks reflect the increasing volatility of the global environment. From an economic perspective, unequal access to resources and expertise continues to widen cyber inequity.

Ultimately, strengthening collective cyber resilience has become both an economic and a societal imperative. Cybersecurity is a frontier where collaboration remains not only possible, but powerful – a reminder that, even amid fragmentation, economic strain and uncertainty, collective action can drive progress for all.

These are three key trends that executives will need to navigate in cybersecurity in 2026:

1. AI is supercharging the cyber arms race 2. Geopolitics is a defining feature of cybersecurity 3. Cyber-enabled fraud is threatening CEOs and households alike

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