2026 Security Predictions

As cyber threats evolve at an unprecedented speed, 2026 promises to be a transformative year for cybersecurity. Traditional threats are giving way to more sophisticated strategies, driven by AI, regulatory pressures, and the need for zero trust.

In this webinar, CSO Corey Nachreiner, Director of Security Operations Marc Laliberte, and Field CTO for Managed Services Adam Winston discuss their six game-changing predictions for this upcoming year, including:

• Crypto-Ransomware Goes Extinct: Attackers will abandon encryption-based ransomware in favor of data theft and extortion tactics.
• AI-Powered Defense for Open Source: Open-source package repositories will deploy automated, AI-driven systems to combat supply chain attacks.
• CRA Reporting Requirements Incentivize Secure by Design Principals: EU CRA reporting requirements will incentivize building security into products from the start.
• First Autonomous, Agentic AI Breach: 2026 will see the first end-to-end cyberattack executed entirely by autonomous AI tools.
• Rise of Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA): Legacy VPNs will decline as SMBs adopt ZTNA to mitigate remote access vulnerabilities.
• AI Expertise Becomes a Required Skill for Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity professionals must master AI to defend against adaptive, automated threats.