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As 2025 draws to a close, the MENA region stands at a cybersecurity crossroads. The threat landscape has evolved, not merely due to new vulnerabilities, but because adversaries have become more sophisticated.
According to PwC’s 2025 Global Digital Trust Insights Report, 40 per cent of tech leaders in the Middle East have made data protection their top investment priority.
Identity breaches have become the path of least resistance, operational technology (OT) systems are increasingly exposed, and artificial intelligence (AI) has transitioned from a theoretical risk to a tangible threat.
In 2026, these trends are set to accelerate. Here are five pivotal shifts that have shaped this year and will define the next.
1. Identity: The new frontline
Attackers now prefer to log in rather than break in; the front door is the easiest access point. This year, breaches have increasingly relied on stolen credentials, trusted access, and activities timed to blend seamlessly with normal business operations. Techniques such as multi-factor authentication fatigue, SIM-swapping, and AI-powered social engineering have made identity compromise alarmingly straightforward.
Identity will remain at the forefront of enterprise security. Privileged accounts, machine identities, and supplier access will be prime targets, allowing attackers to move stealthily within networks. Organisations must treat identity as a critical risk surface, necessitating constant monitoring, phishing-resistant authentication, stringent privilege controls, and analytics capable of early threat detection.
2. Ransomware will prioritise disruption over encryption
Ransomware has evolved strategically. Many groups have shifted focus from encrypting data to disrupting operations, triggering costly downtime, and weaponising reputational damage. Double extortion and repeat attacks have become common, especially in sectors that cannot afford service interruptions.
In the coming year, disruption-first tactics will proliferate. Industries with low tolerance for outages will face relentless pressure from attackers who know that operational paralysis often inflicts more damage than data loss.
Recovery readiness will be as crucial as early detection. Segmented backups, tested restoration plans, and executive-level incident drills will go from nice-to-have to non-negotiable.
3. OT will become a primary target as connectivity expands
OT underwent a rapid digital transformation this year, exposing significant security gaps. OT systems were not designed for frequent patching or aggressive scanning. Applying IT-style controls to them often results in downtime, equipment failures, or loss of operator trust – outcomes far more damaging than a missed update.
In 2026, OT environments will face growing risks as connectivity deepens. A one-size-fits-all security approach will not suffice. Cybersecurity teams, engineers, integrators, and vendors must collaborate.
Forward-thinking organisations will integrate security into the engineering and procurement process from the outset, aligning with frameworks like IEC 62443 and validating controls before systems go live.
4. AI will change the speed and scale of attacks
AI officially entered the cyber arena this year. Attackers used it to automate reconnaissance, craft persuasive phishing lures, and speed up exploitation. AI-driven attacks are no longer theoretical –they are operational.
In 2026, modular, agent-driven attack methods are expected to expand, shrinking the window between initial access and operational impact. This will strain Security Operations Center (SOC) teams already managing high alert volumes.
However, defenders can leverage the same tools. AI-powered detection, log analysis, and anomaly spotting can surface early warnings that might otherwise be lost in the noise. Successful organisations will pair advanced technology with strong governance, continuous auditing, and clear rules around internal AI use.
Cybersecurity is a relentless pursuit. Threat actors continuously adapt and innovate to bypass defences, creating an ongoing cycle of challenge and response. The game never ends – neither should our defence.
5. Cyber fundamentals will become the new strategic edge
Despite the complexity, 2025 reinforced a fundamental truth: the basics still win. Misconfigurations, unmonitored access, and improper tool use have driven most major incidents. The problem is rarely strategy, but execution at scale.
The last year has shown that governance, discipline, and shared responsibility matter more than any single technology. In 2026, cybersecurity will resemble how we approach workplace safety – a culture of consistent habits and clear responsibilities, not reactive firefighting. Public-private partnerships, timely threat sharing, and workforce training will become key to reducing risk across industries.
Overall, the thread connecting all five shifts is trust. Identity security, OT protection, recovery readiness, AI governance, and workforce behaviour all depend on it. Yet, the human factor remains the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain, making cyber awareness critically important to all organisations and governments alike. Attackers continue to succeed through phishing and misconfigurations – largely preventable issues.
The coming year will not reward organisations that merely invest in more tools. It will reward those who embed trust into their processes, technology, and people.
Attackers are becoming more efficient and professional. As a result, defenders need to match that rigour. The choices leaders make now will determine whether 2026 brings preventable crises or predictable, proven resilience.
Hadi Anwar is the CEO of CPX.
