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Key Takeaways 2026

 

Breaches are being buried. AI is reshaping the risk landscape. Leaders and front-line practitioners are reporting different realities.


To uncover what's really happening inside organizations, Bitdefender surveyed 1,200 IT and cybersecurity professionals about the changes, pressures, and priorities defining cybersecurity today.

 

The Rise of Shadow AI
Creates New Visibility Challenges

Artificial intelligence tools are rapidly entering the workplace, often without formal approval or oversight from security teams.

 

47% say they lack visibility into Shadow AI tools employees are using today.

The full report includes a deep dive into what your peers are reporting about AI’s impact on cybersecurity.

Buried Breaches and the Pressure to Stay Silent

Reporting requirements are becoming more stringent around the world, yet many security professionals still encounter pressure to keep incidents out of public view.

 

55% say they were told to keep a breach quiet—even if it was reportable.


The full report explores the factors driving this culture of concealment.

 

Teams Are Caught Between
Protection and Productivity

The modern attack surface has become too large and dynamic to manage with traditional approaches. Security teams are increasingly caught between two competing priorities: minimizing risk and enabling the business in the AI age.

 

49% admit it's difficult to balance security restrictions with productivity.

 

The full report examines cybersecurity’s complexity problem.

There's more inside.

The full report goes deeper - more data, more peer benchmarks, more context for the decisions your team is navigating right now.

Read the Report

Data Sovereignty
Is Now a Strategic Priority

Geopolitical instability, tightening regulations, and growing concern over dependence on foreign technology providers increasingly factors into IT and cybersecurity purchasing decisions.

 

76% report data sovereignty is becoming a buying criterion.

 

The full report explores why the goal posts have moved from data residency to focus on data sovereignty.

Security Tools
Face Increased Scrutiny

Organizations continue to invest heavily in security technologies, but many remain dissatisfied with the results.

 

59% have significant complaints about their EDR/XDR solutions.

 

The full report explores the biggest tool challenges reported by organizations along with top 2026 priorities.

Access the full data, peer benchmarks, and expert insights