Reveals new challenges from autonomous AI, post-quantum encryption systems, and the transition to intelligent SOC operations that require human supervision alongside AI.
Gartner released its 2026 annual cybersecurity trend analysis report, stating that the IT industry is entering its most complex era yet, driven by the convergence of advanced artificial intelligence technology, geopolitical tensions, and continuously tightening global regulations. The most prominent trend this year is the expansion of Agentic AI, which can make decisions and operate independently. This is creating new vulnerabilities through No-code platforms and the rising trend of Vibe Coding, where developers rapidly produce software using AI without rigorous security checks. Consequently, organizations must expedite governance frameworks to identify and control all AI Agents in their systems before these autonomous operations become channels for regulatory breaches or new forms of cyberattacks.
The current volatility of global regulations has turned cybersecurity into a direct business risk. Regulators are beginning to consider legal liabilities for boards and senior executives if failures in compliance with security standards are found. This pressure forces organizations to adapt their identity and access management (IAM) systems to better accommodate AI Agents, restricting their access rights to sensitive data.
Meanwhile, plans to address threats from Post-quantum Computing have shifted from predictions to actual operational strategies. Organizations must urgently adopt new-generation encryption systems to prevent risks from attacks that cannot be decrypted now but involve stealing data to decode in the future—a threat expected to intensify as quantum computers reach maturity by 2030.
Regarding Security Operations Centers (SOCs), especially the use of AI as the core engine for threat analysis and response, this is causing significant shifts in traditional work norms. Although the technology accelerates cyber investigation processes,
Gartner emphasizes that organizations must maintain balance through a Human-in-the-Loop approach, involving humans in control to reduce errors from automation and to manage increasingly complex budgets.
Additionally, traditional awareness strategies are becoming ineffective in the era of Generative AI, with over half of employees admitting to using personal AI tools for work and inputting sensitive organizational data into unauthorized systems. This necessitates transitioning training programs to behavior-modification approaches based on real contexts, fostering safer practices.