Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 Regional Analysis North America

AI for security –Organizations in North America are actively adopting AI- enabled tools to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, with survey data indicating that 80% have already implemented such solutions. This signals a strong momentum towards AI-driven security even if barriers still remain. –Despite this progress, organizations in the region report several key hurdles in adopting AI for cybersecurity: 1. Insufficient skills – cited by 50% of organizations as the most significant challenge 2. Human validation required for AI-generated security responses – highlighted by 48% as a major barrier to implementation 3. Uncertainty about risk – noted by 44% of respondents as a critical concern Geopolitics In North America, only 62% of organizations report adapting their cybersecurity strategy in response to geopolitical developments, a proportion slightly lower than most of the other regions. Nevertheless, geopolitically motivated cyberattacks remain the leading factor shaping cyber-risk mitigation strategies in the region, with 67% of organizations stating that they actively consider it in their approach. Has your organization’s cybersecurity strategy evolved because of geopolitical volatility? 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% –Preparedness challenges are accompanied by moderate confidence in national resilience. Some 38% of organizations express confidence in their country’s ability to respond to a major cyber incident affecting critical infrastructure, while 32% report having no confidence. These figures broadly reflect the trends reported in other regions. Rank Which cyber risks concern you most for your organization? Cyber-enabled fraud and phishing Exploitation of software vulnerabilities AI vulnerabilities1 2 3 –Additionally, 77% of organizations in this region report an increase in cyber fraud and phishing attacks, marking the second-highest surge in this category after AI-related vulnerabilities. In the past year, do you think cyber-enabled fraud and phishing have increased, decreased, or stayed the same? Decreased Stayed the same Increased77% 21% 2%Cybercrime –The GCO 2026 survey reveals that cyber-enabled fraud, phishing and exploitation of software vulnerabilities are the top two cyber risk concerns in the region. Resilience –In North America, only 14% of organizations rate their cyber resilience as insufficient, while 24% assess it as exceeding their requirements – the second-highest percentage across all regions, according to the GCO 2026 survey. How would you rate your organization’s cyber resilience? Our cyber resilience is insufficientOur cyber resilience meets minimum requirementsOur cyber resilience exceeds our requirements14% 62%24%