7 cybersecurity trends for 2026: Focus on NHIs, AI agents, and supply chain security:
Experts from SHI, Stratascale, and Omdia break down 2026’s emerging risks and the strategies CISOs need in the year ahead
AI may not be changing everything, but it’s certainly making its presence known in terms of cybersecurity trends — and at a pace most teams are still trying to reconcile.
But AI is just one of several forces pushing CISOs to rethink long-standing practices and recalibrate their strategies for the year ahead.
The forces shaping 2026 are redefining cybersecurity priorities
Today, security leaders are navigating a mix of emerging pressures and shifting industry dynamics.
Our new report, 7 cybersecurity trends for 2026, explores these shifts in depth and identifies several key developments.
On the risk side, we’re seeing threats like:
- AI systems emerging as a top attack target.
- Non-human identities (NHIs) outnumbering human identities by a ratio of 17:1.
- Software supply chain attacks rising by as much as 30%.
Within the industry, we’re seeing shifts like:
- Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) adoption outpacing Data Loss Prevention (DLP), especially for new deployments.
- Increased platformization and tool consolidation changing the vendor ecosystem.
- A growing focus on quantum readiness and encryption agility.
How CISOs can apply these insights
In 7 cybersecurity trends for 2026, we distill seven major cybersecurity trends into actionable strategies, culminating in five practical takeaways CISOs can use to guide planning and investment priorities.
What you’ll learn:
- Why governing NHIs, including AI agents and machine identities is now mission critical.
- How to leverage AI for automated data discovery, classification, and real-time policy enforcement.
- Proven approaches for managing the growing risks of open-source and AI-driven software supply chains.
- When unified security platforms make sense — and how to prepare your organization for successful integration.
- What the next generation of resilient, AI-powered security teams look like, and how to build one.
7_cybersecurity_trends_for_2026NEXT STEPS
Download the full report for detailed insights and recommendations. Then, connect with an SHI cybersecurity expert to discuss how to future-proof your security strategy for the year ahead.
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