Gartner to Spotlight Cybersecurity Trends for 2026 at Security & Risk Management Summit in Sydney

Gartner to Spotlight Cybersecurity Trends for 2026 at Security & Risk Management Summit in Sydney

Sydney, Australia, Feb 5:  The rapid rise of artificial intelligence, escalating geopolitical tensions, regulatory volatility and an expanding threat landscape are reshaping the global cybersecurity environment, according to Gartner, Inc. These forces are driving the most critical cybersecurity trends for 2026, which will be explored at the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit, taking place March 16–17 in Sydney.

“Cybersecurity leaders are navigating uncharted territory as multiple disruptive forces converge,” said Alex Michaels, Director Analyst at Gartner. “This environment is testing the limits of teams and traditional models, demanding new approaches to cyber risk management, resilience and resource allocation.”

Gartner identified six cybersecurity trends that will significantly impact governance models, secure emerging digital frontiers and guide the responsible adoption of AI.

Agentic AI Requires Strong Cybersecurity Governance

The growing use of agentic AI by employees and developers is introducing new attack surfaces. The rise of no-code/low-code platforms and “vibe coding” is accelerating the proliferation of unmanaged AI agents, unsecured code and potential regulatory violations. Gartner advises organizations to identify both sanctioned and unsanctioned AI agents, implement robust controls and prepare incident response playbooks to manage emerging risks.

Regulatory Volatility Accelerates Cyber Resilience

Geopolitical uncertainty and evolving global regulations are making cybersecurity a board-level business risk. With increasing executive accountability, compliance failures can result in significant penalties and reputational damage. Gartner recommends closer collaboration between cybersecurity, legal, procurement and business teams, along with alignment to recognized control frameworks and proactive management of data sovereignty issues.

Post-Quantum Computing Moves from Theory to Action

Advances in quantum computing are expected to compromise current asymmetric cryptography by 2030. Gartner urges organizations to begin adopting post-quantum cryptography now to protect sensitive data from “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks and to ensure long-term cryptographic agility.

Identity and Access Management Evolves for AI Agents

The rise of machine identities is challenging traditional IAM models. Issues around identity registration, credential automation and authorization for AI agents are increasing access-related risks. Gartner recommends a risk-based investment approach, focusing on high-impact gaps while leveraging automation to maintain compliance and innovation.

AI-Driven Security Operations Transform SOCs

AI-enabled security operations centers (SOCs) are changing operational norms, creating new workforce, cost and skills challenges. While AI enhances alert triage and investigations, Gartner emphasizes the importance of human-in-the-loop frameworks, workforce upskilling and clear strategic alignment to maintain resilience.

GenAI Disrupts Traditional Security Awareness Programs

As GenAI adoption accelerates, traditional cybersecurity awareness programs are proving ineffective. A Gartner survey conducted in 2025 found that over 57% of employees use personal GenAI tools for work, and 33% admitted entering sensitive information into unapproved platforms. Gartner recommends shifting to adaptive, behavior-based training with AI-specific guidance, supported by stronger governance and clear policies for authorized use.

Gartner clients can access deeper insights in “Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2026.” Additional guidance is available in the complimentary ebook “AI in Cybersecurity: Minimize Risks and Maximize Impact.”

Gartner Security & Risk Management Summits

Gartner analysts will present the latest insights for security and risk management leaders at upcoming summits worldwide, including March 9–10 in Mumbai, March 16–17 in Sydney, June 1–3 in National Harbor (MD), July 22–24 in Tokyo, August 4–5 in São Paulo, and September 22–24 in London. Updates from the events can be followed using #GartnerSEC on X and LinkedIn.