Six Cyber Security Trends That Will Define 2026 Huntsman

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 27, 2025, 6:19 PM

six cyber security trends that will define 2026 huntsman

Our cyber security products span from our next gen SIEM used in the most secure government and critical infrastructure environments, to automated cyber risk reporting applications for commercial and government organisations of all sizes. Any organisation can be the target of cyber attackers or find itself exposed through the actions of malicious insiders. Leverage our industry specific cyber security capabilities to help reduce risk. Access our industry-leading resources to improve your cyber resilience Since 1999, Huntsman Security has been on the cutting-edge of cyber security software development, serving some of the most sensitive and secure intelligence, defence and criminal justice environments in the world. Each year, as Huntsman Security sets out to forecast what lies ahead, we are reminded of just how difficult it is to predict the course of technology, cyber security, and the world at large.

The pace of change is relentless, and the stakes for organisations continue to rise. As we look toward 2026, the cybersecurity landscape is entering a pivotal phase. Rapid technological advances, more sophisticated cyber adversaries, and expanding digital attack surfaces mean that cybersecurity can no longer be an IT afterthought — it must be a strategic business priority. Forbes Below are six essential forecasts that every leader should understand and act upon: Artificial Intelligence in 2026 won’t simply assist defenders — it will define the core of both offense and defense.

Autonomous AI systems, capable of operating with minimal human oversight, will be used by threat actors to conduct reconnaissance, adapt attacks rapidly, and exploit vulnerabilities at machine speed. Likewise, defenders must use the same class of AI to detect, contain, and respond faster than ever before. Forbes Action Step: Simulate “agents in the wild” and embed accountability, provenance, and guardrails into every autonomous system. Quantum computing has long been seen as a future risk — but 2026 may be the year that its implications become unavoidable for cybersecurity. Data stolen now could be decrypted later with quantum systems, undermining legacy encryption like RSA and ECC.

Forbes You bought the platform hoping it would cover everything. Eighteen months later, you’re still waiting for that feature update while your developers ship AI-generated code faster than your security tools can detect it. In 2025, the speed of AI development has outpaced vendor roadmaps while CFOs are targeting the waste in your security stack and regulators want operational proof instead of policy documents. The 2026 predictions below came from conversations across our team at Sola, and feedback we’ve been getting from users, colleagues, and members of the cybersecurity community. Each person calls out the shift they see coming based on what security teams are dealing with right now.

Six cybersecurity predictions for 2026, six different perspectives on why the operating model is changing from buying rigid platforms to building flexible workflows that adapt instantly. CISOs are sitting on millions of dollars in unused licenses. The dirty secret of enterprise security is shelf-ware, those tools you bought two years ago that now collect dust in your tech stack. Industry benchmarks show that roughly half of all SaaS licenses go unused, costing the average organization over $135,000 annually in completely dead spend. For larger enterprises, that number jumps into the millions. Your CFO already knows about the problem.

Finance teams report that 44% of organizations now face direct pressure to cut SaaS spending. The bloated stack era is ending because renewal committees won’t tolerate carrying that much waste anymore. Enterprises Will Start Treating AI Systems as Insider Threats. Josh Taylor, Lead Security Analyst, Fortra As agents gain system-level permissions to act across email, file storage, and identity platforms, companies will need to monitor machine behavior for privilege misuse, data leakage, etc. The shift happens when organizations realize their AI assistants have broader access than most employees and operate outside traditional user behavior analytics.

The first time an AI agent gets compromised through prompt injection or a supply chain attack and starts quietly exfiltrating customer data under the guise of “helping users,” organizations will realize they built privileged... John Wilson, Senior Fellow, Threat Research, Fortra Cybersecurity is poised for significant changes in 2026. With the rise of AI adoption, the explosion of IoT devices and the growing complexity of cloud environments, security leaders must innovate their strategies to stay ahead of emerging threats. Global cybercrime damages are set to exceed $23 trillion in 2027, meaning failure to transform is not an option. Informa TechTarget's 2026 Threatscape Summit brought together cybersecurity leaders to explore future challenges companies can anticipate and share actionable insights on how to stay secure in the year ahead.

AI is revolutionizing cybersecurity by enhancing threat detection, response automation and security operations. However, it also presents significant risks, as cybercriminals are taking advantage of AI to launch phishing campaigns, create deepfakes and execute automated exploits. Managing AI risks is a key cybersecurity theme for 2026. Security leaders across industries should begin implementing AI governance and usage controls as a foundation to help manage the risk effectively. Cybersecurity has become a strategic necessity for businesses, governments, and individuals in today’s hyper-connected world. As digital transformation accelerates, organizations face increasingly sophisticated threats, from ransomware and phishing to AI-powered attacks, that exploit vulnerabilities across industries.

Staying resilient requires advanced technology, skilled professionals, and adaptive strategies to protect critical data and operations. IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025 shows the global average breach cost at $4.4 million, with 97% of organizations experiencing AI-related incidents lacking proper access controls. Organizations using AI in security reported $1.9 million in cost savings, highlighting the growing importance of AI-driven defenses. In this blog, we explore key cybersecurity trends, their applications, and why they matter, along with other key emerging threats shaping 2026. 1. Agentic AI Attacks and Autonomous Defenses

Artificial Intelligence is transforming cybersecurity for attackers and defenders alike. AI agents can independently scan networks, develop adaptive phishing campaigns, and execute sophisticated attacks. On the defensive side, AI-enabled systems can identify anomalies, quarantine threats, and patch, in real time, vulnerabilities with limited or no human intervention. “According to the RSA Conference, agentic AI introduces new attack vectors like prompt injection and model hijacking, making AI-driven monitoring and layered defenses critical.” As organizations accelerate toward 2026, the cybersecurity landscape is becoming more complex, more unpredictable, and more heavily influenced by fast-evolving technologies like generative AI. Threat actors are moving with unprecedented speed, regulatory demands are increasing, and the tools and techniques needed to defend modern environments are shifting just as rapidly.

To help security leaders navigate what’s ahead, WatchGuard’s Threat Lab has released its annual Cybersecurity Predictions for 2026, a forward-looking analysis of the key trends, threat evolutions, and industry shifts expected to define the... Below is a snapshot of several major insights identified in this year’s report. Traditional encryption-based ransomware is expected to decline as threat actors turn their focus toward pure extortion and data theft. Open-source package repositories may begin implementing automated, AI-driven defenses to help identify and mitigate malicious activity in software supply chains. Emerging regulations, including the EU Cyber Resilience Act, are accelerating the industry’s adoption of secure-by-design development principles—making proactive security a requirement rather than an option. How Veterans Can Bridge the Cybersecurity Skill Gap

If you’re a veteran reading this, chances are you would 10 Hidden VA (GI Bill®) Education Benefits Every Service Member Should Know What Are VA (GI Bill®) Education Benefits and Why Do Master’s in Cybersecurity vs Master’s in Information Security: What’s the Difference? As we approach 2026, cybersecurity has transformed from a back-office IT concern into a boardroom priority that directly impacts business survival, customer trust, and regulatory compliance. Cybercrime damages are projected to exceed $10 trillion annually by 2025, making it one of the world's largest economies if it were a country.

Meanwhile, the average cost of a data breach has climbed to unprecedented levels, with organizations facing not just financial losses but reputational damage that can take years to recover from. What makes 2026 particularly critical is the convergence of several transformative forces: artificial intelligence is reshaping both attack and defense strategies, quantum computing threatens to upend traditional encryption methods, and remote work has permanently... At the same time, regulatory frameworks are becoming more stringent, with governments worldwide implementing stricter data protection laws and hefty penalties for non-compliance. This article explores the top cybersecurity trends that will define 2026, examining how they'll impact businesses, what compliance challenges they'll create, and most importantly, how organizations can prepare today for tomorrow's threats. Whether you're a CISO, IT professional, business owner, or simply someone concerned about digital security, understanding these trends is essential for survival in an increasingly connected world. Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, programs, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, damage, or theft.

It is the digital equivalent of a comprehensive security system for your home, but infinitely more complex because the threats are constantly evolving and can come from anywhere in the world at any time. Cybersecurity encompasses several key dimensions. First, there's network security, which involves protecting the infrastructure that connects devices and enables communication. Then there's application security, focused on keeping software and devices free from vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. Information security protects the integrity and privacy of data both in storage and in transit, while operational security covers the processes and decisions for handling and protecting data assets.

Six Cyber Security Trends That Will Define 2026 Huntsman

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