Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 Regional Analysis Europe and Central Asia

AI for security –Organizations in Europe and Central Asia are actively adopting AI-enabled tools to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, with the GCO 2026 survey indicating that 75% have already implemented such solutions (globally 77%). This signals strong momentum towards AI-driven security even if barriers remain. –Despite this progress, organizations in the region report several key hurdles in adopting AI for cybersecurity: –Insufficient skills (48%) –Human validation required for AI-generated security responses (38%) –Uncertainty about risk (38%) Geopolitics –70% of organizations in Europe and Central Asia report adjusting their cybersecurity strategies due to geopolitical volatility – slightly higher than the global average of 66%. Additionally, 72% report incorporating geopolitically motivated cyberattacks into risk mitigation plans – the highest proportion among all other regions (64% global average). –Approximately 40% of organizations in Europe and Central Asia show confidence in their country’s ability to respond to major cyber incidents targeting critical infrastructure, while nearly 25% explicitly state they are not confident. These figures broadly reflect the trends reported in other regions.Has your organization’s cybersecurity strategy evolved because of geopolitical volatility?How confident are you in the preparedness of the country in which you are based to respond to major cyber incidents targeting critical infrastructure? East Asia and PacificSouth Asia Europe and Central Asia Sub-Saharan Africa Latin America and the CaribbeanNorth America Yes No64%74% 26%24% 70% 30%Middle East and North Africa 76% 71% 29% 59% 41%62% 38%36%East Asia and Pacific South AsiaEurope and Central AsiaMiddle East and North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Latin America and the CaribbeanNorth America Neutral Confident Not confident84% 47% 26% 27% 40% 25% 35% 40% 19% 40% 38% 32% 30% 37% 39% 24% 13% 38% 49%11% 4% Rank Which cyber risks concern you most for your organization? Ransomware attack Cyber-enabled fraud and phishing Exploitation of software vulnerabilities1 2 3Cybercrime –The GCO 2026 survey reveals that ransomware and cyber- enabled fraud are respondents’ top two cyber risks in the region, mirroring trends seen in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as in South Asia. –Additionally, 72% of organizations in this region report an increase in cyber fraud and phishing attacks (globally 77%), marking the second-highest surge in this category after AI-related vulnerabilities.