The cybersecurity landscape is poised for significant transformation in 2026 as geopolitical tensions, the weaponization of supply chains, and the proliferation of generative AI converge to redefine risk management. Organizations are expected to transition from reactive security measures to proactive, intelligence-driven resilience, with cyber strategy, operational continuity, and geopolitical awareness becoming increasingly intertwined.
Geopolitical friction is likely to remain a major multiplier of cyber risk. Recent events, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and escalating tensions in the Middle East and East Asia, demonstrate how physical conflicts can translate into heightened cyber threats for both corporations and governments. This dynamic is anticipated to persist into 2026, evolving into new areas of concern. For instance, state-backed cyber campaigns in East Asia have become a well-documented reality, while countries in the Americas face increased friction due to strategic vulnerabilities linked to supply chains and rare-earth materials.
The semiconductor industry is at the heart of these geopolitical dynamics. Key regions like Taiwan and the South China Sea have become critical fault lines as China strives for self-sufficiency in advanced chip manufacturing. Any escalation in this area could have far-reaching implications across the technology supply chain, affecting everything from chip fabrication to AI model development. Such developments underscore an essential truth: geopolitical volatility now constitutes a core aspect of cyber risk. Organizations must integrate geopolitical intelligence into their cyber-resilience strategies, continuously mapping dependencies, reassessing vendor footprints, and anticipating how shifting alliances or sanctions may trigger new threat vectors.
The maritime industry, a linchpin of international trade, is expected to become a prime target for cyberattacks in 2026. Recent incidents, such as the August 2024 cyberattack on the Port of Seattle, highlight the vulnerabilities within shipping networks that combine legacy systems and operational technology. The Coast Guard Cyber Command reported unprecedented numbers of missions addressing incidents across critical shipping infrastructure, illuminating the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
With changing global trade routes due to sanctions and regional conflicts, threat actors are likely to ramp up their efforts to exploit vulnerabilities in logistics visibility, port operations, and vessel communications. Consequently, achieving cyber resilience in the maritime sector will depend on real-time monitoring, network segmentation, and intelligence-driven exposure management that effectively links physical and digital risks.
As organizations increasingly adopt generative AI tools, they face a new layer of risk emerging from unmanaged internal use, often termed “shadow AI.” Employees frequently utilize personal or unvetted AI tools for efficiency, which creates potential vulnerabilities if not properly managed. A recent survey by KPMG found that many organizations lack defined processes for handling AI vulnerabilities, incident-response protocols, or resilience plans. As generative models become embedded in various productivity platforms, this unmanaged risk surface is expected to expand significantly.
Existing corporate policies have largely focused on integrating approved technologies, yet the volume of unmonitored AI interactions poses significant visibility challenges. In response, forward-thinking organizations will need to incorporate AI governance controls into their broader cyber and data protection strategies. This includes prioritizing model access, prompt integrity, and data lineage to mitigate exposure risks.
As geopolitical tensions, threats to global shipping routes, and the unchecked growth of shadow AI reshape the cybersecurity landscape, the common thread is a heightened focus on exposure management. Organizations that successfully integrate geopolitical, operational, and digital intelligence into a cohesive resilience strategy will be better positioned to navigate the uncertainties of 2026. This shift underscores the importance of understanding and responding to the complex web of risks that define the modern security environment.
Authored by Yuval Wollman, President – CyberProof, UST
For additional insights, visit KPMG and explore their AI Security Benchmark Survey, or learn more about geopolitical risks at The White House.
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