Ayesa Digital anticipates a rise in identity-based attacks and recommends rapid recovery strategies

The ‘Cybersecurity 2026: Key Predictions and Trends’ report warns of a more complex and resilient digital landscape.

AI will be a key ally in early detection and response, provided there is human oversight and responsible use.

The Zero Trust approach will become firmly established as a paradigm: always verify and assume trust can never be granted by default.

Ayesa Digital has published the report “Cybersecurity 2026: Key Predictions and Trends”, which analyzes the evolution of digital risk and the main trends that will shape the protection of systems, data, and critical infrastructures in the coming years. The document highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence, the increase in identity-based attacks, and the need to strengthen resilience against increasingly sophisticated threats.

The analysis indicates that by 2026, cybersecurity will no longer be perceived merely as a technical function, but will become a structural asset comparable to essential utilities. Dependence on digital systems in areas such as industry, public administration, and citizen services means that any incident can have direct repercussions on the economic and social fabric.

Among the report’s main conclusions, Ayesa identifies a rise in advanced threats, particularly those enhanced by artificial intelligence. Attacks will be more credible, personalized, and difficult to detect, using techniques capable of replicating real voices, generating error-free communications, and exploiting urgency and stress to prompt hasty responses. At the same time, AI will position itself as a key ally in early detection and response, provided there is human supervision and responsible-use criteria.

The report also highlights the evolution of ransomware, which will move beyond the exclusive encryption of devices to focus on reputation-based extortion, public data exposure, and pressure on third parties. This trend reinforces the need for resilience, business continuity, and rapid recovery strategies as critical priorities for the corporate sector.

In addition, Ayesa warns of the impact of cyberattacks on physical infrastructures, noting that the interconnection between the digital and physical worlds turns essential services such as energy, transport, healthcare, and industrial production into high-risk targets. Protection is no longer limited to data, but extends to the operation of systems that sustain everyday life.

The study identifies digital identity as the most relevant attack surface, with significant growth in fraud based on impersonation, advanced social engineering, audiovisual manipulation, and deepfakes. In this context, the Zero Trust approach will become established as the prevailing paradigm: always verify and assume that trust cannot be granted by default.

According to Álvaro Fraile, Director of Cybersecurity at Ayesa, “we are entering a phase in which cybersecurity goes beyond purely technical considerations. The question is no longer whether an organization can be attacked, but whether it is prepared to maintain its operations, protect its reputation, and recover quickly. The challenge for 2026 will be to build resilient systems, integrate artificial intelligence with human oversight, and assume that security is a shared responsibility among companies, institutions, and citizens.”

Strategic Recommendations

The report sets out priority lines to strengthen security in 2026:

• Investments focused on resilience and operational continuity beyond mere compliance.
• Integration of AI into detection and response, with ethical and human controls.
• Strengthening of digital identities and advanced authentication.
• Zero Trust policies and network segmentation in cloud and IoT environments.
• Training and awareness as a central pillar of the human factor.

These recommendations are particularly relevant for public administrations, industrial companies, financial institutions, and critical sectors, which will need to anticipate the combined impact of hybrid threats on physical and digital environments.

With this report, Ayesa consolidates its positioning as a benchmark in cybersecurity solutions, technology consulting, and digital transformation, providing strategic insight and advanced capabilities to support companies and public administrations in protecting their assets.