We’ve spent the last couple of years watching organisations race to adopt AI, Cloud & Automation. The Message from Leadership has been consistent: Move Faster, Ship More, Innovate Relentlessly!

But here’s what nobody talks about openly: We’re Building Debt Faster Than We Can Pay It Back!

In 2025, we saw the consequences. Organisations deployed AI Tools without governance. Employees used shadow IT to get their jobs done faster. Developers shipped code at machine speed. Security Teams fell further behind….not because they weren’t trying, but because the “Pace of Change Exceeded the Pace of Control”!

2026 won’t be about catching up. It will be about accepting that speed and security are in permanent tension….& learning to live in that discomfort!

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CYBERSECURITY PREDICTIONS:

• Ransomware Victims Increase 40%: But Encryption Is No Longer the Goal: Victims rising from 5,010 (2024) to 7,000+ (2026). The Shift: Attackers steal data first, then use Extortion, Deepfake Blackmail & Operational Paralysis to force payment. Detection becomes exponentially harder.
• Third-Party Breaches Account for 30% of All Incidents: Supply Chain Attacks have doubled. Jaguar Land Rover lost £1.7B. Marks & Spencer lost £300M. Organisations can’t adequately vet suppliers because the supply chain itself is too complex.
• Deepfakes Will Drive 62% of Impersonation Attacks: The $25M Arup Deepfake CFO scam showed what’s possible. AI-Generated Voices & Videos are now indistinguishable from reality. With Machine Identities Outnumbering Humans @ around 82 to 1, a Single Forged Identity can trigger cascades of Automated Attacks.
• Cloud Misconfigurations Will Drive 80% of Data Breaches: Insecure APIs, IAM Failures, Forgotten Access Keys. A 154% Increase in Cloud Incidents in 2024. Multi-Cloud Fragmentation means visibility collapses when you need it most.
• Identity Has Become the Easiest Entry Point for Attackers: 75% of Breaches involve compromised identities using valid credentials. New Attack Surfaces emerging through Deepfakes, Voice Spoofing, Model Manipulation. Identity needs to be treated as Critical Infrastructure!

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FURTHER TECHNOLOGY PREDICTIONS:

• AI Adoption Will Outpace Governance: Creating a Shadow Layer Nobody Understands: 62% of organisations prioritise AI. Only a small minority feel “very prepared” to manage AI risk. 13% reported AI-Related Incidents in 2025. 97% acknowledged lack of Proper AI Access Controls. Shadow AI Systems Operate Outside Sanctioned Workflows.
• Wearable Technology Will Become the New Data Exfiltration Vector: AI-Wearables grew 158% throughout 2025. Smart Glasses, Ray-Ban Meta, Xiaomi Devices can see what you see, hear what you hear, record continuously. Sony already Patented Contact Lens Recording Technology. Traditional Privacy Screens become useless.
• IDE Security Will Become Critical: The “IDEsaster” Is Here: AI Co-Pilots, One-Click Integrations, Automatic Refactoring. The faster teams move, the more trust gets pushed into the Toolchain. If an IDE Extension is compromised, the “Blast Radius” includes every line of code shipped.
• Augmented Exfiltration Will Drive Data Loss Faster Than Detection Can Keep Pace: Attackers Abuse Automation, Integrations, AI Workflows to move data without touching it directly. OAuth Tokens. Prompt Injection in Documents. Wearables capturing sensitive information. Exfiltration without Malware, Credentials or even Network Access.
• Agentic AI Without Guardrails Will Cause Widely Reported “Rogue Agent” Incidents: Autonomous Agents with Broad Permissions, Long-Lived Secrets in Context. A Prompt Injection or Logic Flaw Triggers actions violating intent without Human Checkpoint. Organisations will face Incidents where Agents go wrong at Machine Scale.
• Cloud Evolves from Public Cloud to Hybrid, Multi-Cloud & Sovereign Architectures: Public Cloud alone insufficient for AI-Scale Workloads. Organisations Deploying Hybrid, Private & Sovereign Models. This Fragmentation creates New Attack Surfaces & Governance Challenges.
• Zero Trust Adoption Hits 81%: But Most Implementations Will Fail: 81% of organisations plan Zero Trust by 2026. US. Government mandated it by FY2024. The Problem? Many implementations will be “Surface-Level”. Checkboxes marked, but Security Posture barely improves….because Cultural Change never happened.

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MORE CYBERSECURITY PREDICTIONS:

• AI-Driven Phishing Becomes Nearly Impossible to Distinguish From Legitimate Communication: AI-Powered Phishing became the Leading Initial Attack Vector in 2025 (a 60% Increase in Info Stealers). In 2026, Attackers Analysed Communication Styles, Scraped Profiles, Crafted Contextually Perfect Messages. 70% of Organisations are expecting Phishing Attacks in 2026.
• Prompt Injection Becomes the New Vulnerability Class: Bypassing Everything: A Single Well-Crafted Prompt Injection can coerce an organisation’s most trusted AI Agents into an Autonomous Insider Conducting Silent Trades, Deleting Backups or Exfiltrating Databases. This is the “AI Insider Threat” Security Teams simply haven’t prepared for!
• Compliance Shifts From Checkbox Exercises to Strategic Business Imperatives: EU’s DORA, Updated NIS2, Full EU AI Act (August 2026) can Create Complex Compliance Challenges. Regulators demand “Proof of Resilience” – Tested Recovery, Verified Data Integrity….Not Just Policies. The Average US. Breach Cost has hit $10.22 Million (an All-Time High!).
• Help Desk Social Engineering Will Exploit Identity Recovery as the Primary Attack Vector: Systems Designed for Convenience….Not Resilience. Impersonating Employees for Password Resets remains the “Preferred Tactic”. Phone-Based Impersonation Defeats Identity Checks. Scattered Spider showed how convincingly this works.
• Hacker Group Consolidation Will Create Compound Attacks: Scattered Spider + LAPSUS$ + Shiny Hunters (SLH) Convergence Creates Capability Stacking: Identity Access → Rapid Data Theft → Extortion → Reputational Coercion. Attacks Blur Cybercrime, Insider Threat & Nation-State Activity.
• Cyber-Physical Attacks Will Cross from Theoretical to Real-World Disruption: IoT Devices as Flying Computers. OT (Operational Technology) Disruption from Ransomware Targeting ERP Systems. Cybercrime remains the Foremost Disruptive Threat to Industrial Control Systems (ICS). Detection Alone Won’t Be Enough…..Resilience Is Required!

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EMERGING TECH & SOCIETAL PREDICTIONS:

• Accountability Models Will Break When Autonomous Agents Delegate Authority Without Clear Oversight: Traditional Security Models assume Predictable Actors Accessing Known Resources. Agentic Systems work Independently, Spawn Sub-Agents, Cross Organisational Boundaries. Audit Trails Become Unclear. You’ll know an action occurred but not if it was permitted.
• Identity Systems Will Become the Next National Security Priority: 75% of Breaches involve Compromised Identities using Valid Credentials. New Attack Surfaces Emerging through Deepfakes, Voice Spoofing, Model Manipulation. Identity needs to be treated as Critical National Infrastructure with Specialised Threat-Hunting.
• Shadow Agents Will Accelerate Data Exposure Faster Than We Can Detect It: Autonomous AI Agents Operate Independently Across Enterprise Environments & Outside Sanctioned Workflows. They replicate and evolve without leaving clear Audit Trails. Businesses won’t know which Agents moved data, where it went, or why.
• Physical Data Breach Vectors Through Wearables Will Require Rethinking Workplace Security Culture: With AI-Wearables becoming Mainstream, Traditional Workplace Security becomes obsolete. Privacy Screens won’t stop Smart Glasses. Classified Discussions can be Recorded & Transmitted in Real-Time. Sensitive information can now captured through the Human Eye.
• Cyber Security Talent Shortage Will Hit Critical Levels with around 4.8 Million Roles Unfilled: Cloud Security Engineers: $85K+ Entry Level, $107K-$130K Mid-Level, $150K+ Senior Level. Candidate-Driven Market. 58% of Hiring Managers concerned about Entry-Level Attrition…..& Pipeline Collapsing at the Bottom!
• AI Governance & Machine Learning Security Expertise Will Become Most Sought-After Specialisation: Few Security Professionals have deep expertise in both AI & Security. Those that do, command “Premium Compensation”. Demand Exceeds Supply by a huge margin. This is where Growth Opportunities exist for Upskilling Professionals.
• Entry-Level Talent Pipeline Will Collapse: Creating Crisis When Major Incidents Strike: AI Eliminates Entry-Level Defender Roles whilst Threat Escalation Accelerates. Shortage of Junior Talent means organisations lack Cyber Defenders when major incidents strike. The “Defender Gap” will become a crisis around Mid-2026.
• Cyber Recruiters Who Understand AI & Security & Governance Will Become Invaluable: While AI continues to eliminate Entry-Level Roles, it creates demand for professionals who bridge AI Security, Governance & Compliance. Recruiters Who Understand This Landscape Become Invaluable…..Your Competitive Advantage Is Them!

CREDIT: This analysis synthesises insights from Jason Lau, CISO (CISO, ISACA Board), Rod Trent (Cyber Security Practitioner), IBM Security Research, CyberSecurityNews, Gartner, Google Threat Intelligence & Palo Alto Networks. And of course, the hours of Reading, Research & Conversations that the Team at SECURE | CYBER CONNECT have been putting in over the holiday period 😉

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THE BOTTOM LINE:

2026 Represents An Inflection Point! Organisations have made incredible progress adopting AI & Cloud. They’ve also Created Layers of Risk with Shadow Systems, Governance Gaps & Threat Surfaces that nobody fully understands.

• For Security Leaders: Measure success by Mean Time to Clean Recovery (MTCR), Not Prevention Metrics. Accept that Speed & Security are in Permanent Tension.
• For Technology Innovators: Your Next Competitive Advantage comes from Shipping With Governance….Not Just Shipping Fast!
• For People Executives: Entry-Level Jobs are disappearing! Specialised Roles are exploding in demand. Invest in Both Apprenticeships & Internal Development.
• For Cyber Recruiters: Professionals Who Understand AI Security, Governance & the Emerging Threat Landscapes Command Significant Value. Your Role in Identifying & Placing that Talent is More Strategic Than Ever!!

The year ahead will be challenging. It will also be transformative for those prepared to lead through it.

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Quantum Security vs. Hackers: The Keyless Blockchain Solution Is Here

Join the Live Stream and Q&A Monday 5th January at 12:00pm. Register here.

Hamid Pishdadian | CEO, Founder & Chief Architect, SQE.io : is an Award-Winning Design Engineer, Inventor & Technology Executive with over 35 years of experience and more than 20 US. & International Patents across Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, AI & Advanced Algorithm Design. His career includes Developing the Genetic Algorithm behind the Industry-Leading Taco 0013 Circulator, Inventing a Breakthrough 3D Camera System Referenced by Fortune 100 Companies & Serving as CTO for Multiple Technology Organisations whilst Earning Additional Patents in High-Energy Power Switching & Energy-Reduction Systems. He is the long time President of General Sensors Inc. , CTO of Growgenics & Mechanical Engineering Graduate of the University of Rhode Island.

Michael Goodwin | COO & CFO, SQE.io : is an Accomplished Finance & Operations Professional with experience in Emerging Technologies at EMC & within Global Financial Analysis at Boston Consulting Group, Specialising in Financial Planning, Detailed Analysis & Competitor Intelligence. Most recently, as General Manager of Cultivation & Processing at Sanctuary Medicinals, he led a team of 100+, Developing Effective Structures, Standard Operating Procedures & Streamlined Production Strategies. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with a Minor in Information Technology from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

SQE.io is a Next-Generation, Secure-By-Design Internet Infrastructure Platform that Rebuilds Cybersecurity from the ground up, moving beyond Legacy Public-Key Cryptography & Fragmented Tools to Introduce a Patented, Quantum-Secure Architecture. Powered by Patent-Pending Simulated Quantum Entanglement Technology, SQE.io Unifies Encryption, Identity, Data Protection & Zero Trust into a Single Platform – Designed to Protect Digital Ecosystems from AI & Quantum Computing Threats. What makes SQE different is its Founder’s Background Outside Traditional Cybersecurity: Approaching Security as a Pure Engineering Challenge using First Principles, Ignoring Industry Assumptions & Solving Root Issues rather than Compensating for Limitations. Learn More: Home – SQE

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CHECK OUT OUR OUR PREVIOUS EPISODE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Uncomfortable Truths About Cyber Security, Innovation, Culture & Careers:

Watch Here on YouTube, Listen on Spotify & Stream on LinkedIn.

Thomas Ballin is an Experienced Security Leader with Deep Expertise Spanning Cyber Security Operations, Management & Strategy. He began his career as a Penetration Tester…. & over the past 12 Years, he has evolved into a Security Champion known for Building Innovative Products, Services & High-Performing Teams that Address Real Customer Needs. Learn More: https://www.cytix.io/

Bertilla Sinka is a CISO & Director of Quality & Digitisation Leader at ATG Europe with over 15 years within the Space Sector. She has Led Programs in Security, Quality & Digital Transformation, bringing a Uniquely Integrative Perspective that Connects Technology, People & Process. Learn More: https://www.atg-europe.com/

We were Delighted to Welcome Back Bennet Morka CITP MBCS CISSP CISM, an Information Security Strategy & Governance Leader for Mott MacDonald & Global Council for Responsible AI. Dedicated to helping Early-Career Professionals actually survive this industry. His take on AI Adoption Risks is hitting different right now. What does mentorship look like when the field is under this much pressure? Learn More: https://www.mottmac.com/en-gb/

We were also Honoured to once again get the chance to speak further with Charmaine Tumalad, Global Information Security Risk & Compliance Manager at Bridgestone EMEA, who’s been Redefining Cyber Leadership through 25+ years across Financial & Industrial Sectors. With 15 years in Senior Roles Leading Cross-Regional Programmes across Europe, America & Asia. Charmaine is Certified in ISO27001, NIS2, CFE & Business Continuity. Born in the Philippines, based in Brussels for 20+ Years, this Proud Mother of Two Combines Catholic Faith with Professional Rigour, Passionately Empowering Women in STEM whilst Balancing Creativity, Resilience & Unwavering Integrity. Learn More: https://www.bridgestone-emea.com/

Ifeanyi Molokwu, MBCS, MSc is an Experienced Senior Information Security & Risk Management Professional with Expertise in Governance, Compliance & Enterprise Security Risk. He focuses on Strengthening Organisational Security Maturity through Effective Risk-Based Decision making and a Culture of Security Awareness.

Short-Form: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0GvHIXjPToZR4al8B0jmf8oWaLikU