Our annual security predictions report is designed to help organizations navigate an ever-changing threat landscape with confidence so they can face the challenges and seize the opportunities that the coming year has in store. Drawing on insights from Trend Micro’s global team of researchers and security experts, this year’s edition highlights the trends we believe will shape 2026 and beyond.
The cybersecurity landscape is entering a new era, one shaped by automation and constant connection. Businesses are embracing AI tools to boost efficiency, sharpen decision-making, and unlock new opportunities. However, cybercriminals are also using these tools to automate reconnaissance, launch phishing campaigns, and carry out attacks at scale. What once required deep expertise can now be done with minimal effort, as AI-driven automation levels the playing field between skilled attackers and opportunistic threat actors.
Today’s organizations rely on sprawling networks of cloud platforms, third-party vendors, and interconnected systems, many of which lie outside their direct control. In such environments, even a single weak point, such as a misconfigured setting, a compromised supplier, or an exposed credential, can trigger a ripple effect. As companies continue to weave AI and automation into their operations, striking the right balance between innovation and security will be one of the defining challenges of the years ahead.
Our report, “The AI-fication of Cyberthreats: Trend Micro Security Predictions for 2026,” explores how these forces are reshaping the threat landscape and where the most significant risks are likely to emerge. For 2026, we’ve identified six key focus areas: AI threats, advanced persistent threats (APTs), enterprise threats, cloud threats, ransomware, and vulnerabilities. Across every front, one trend is clear: Cyberthreats are becoming faster, more automated, and more coordinated than ever before.
