Threat Intelligence for Strategic Leadership
Cyber risk is moving at machine speed. AI is reshaping the balance between attackers and defenders, compressing the time organisations have to assess, patch, decide, and respond.
Northwave’s Global Threat Landscape 2026 report provides a clear view of what is changing, why it matters, and how to strengthen your business resilience.
Key developments we are tracking:
- AI is helping attackers act faster, adapt more easily, and scale with less effort
- Identity abuse and vulnerability exploitation are now parallel access paths
- Trust is being exploited across people, partners, systems, and AI-driven processes
- Cybercrime, espionage, disruption, and influencing are converging
- Impact is shifting from isolated IT incidents to data, legal, regulatory, and strategic exposure
The key insights, without the noise
A concise version of the Global Threat Landscape 2026 — focused on what matters for risk, resilience, and decision-making.
What You’ll Find in This Report
We examined the most significant cyber threats facing European organisations in 2026, with practical insight into how they are evolving and what leaders should prioritise.
Inside the report, you’ll find analysis of:
- Cyber extortion and the shift from system encryption to data-driven leverage
- Business email compromise and the rise of identity abuse at scale
- Insider threats and the growing risk of uncontrolled legitimate access
- Nation-state attacks targeting commercial networks, supply chains, and intellectual property
- State-aligned hacktivism and the operational pressure created by politically timed disruption
Each threat is accompanied by tailored mitigation advice to help organisations move from insight to action.
Short on time? Get a summary version in our "At a Glance" version, here.
Cyber Threat Intelligence from the Frontlines
Our analysis draws on open and closed intelligence, incident response data from Northwave CERT, monitoring and detection insights from our SOC, and expertise from our Managed Security & Privacy Office, Red Team, Human Risk Management services, consultants, subject matter experts, and partner network.
The report also includes concise expert insights and focused articles on emerging trends, including the adversarial use of AI and the rise of ClickFix.
Understand the threat landscape. Prioritise the right risks. Strengthen your organisation’s resilience.