Report by ISACA
2026 Tech Trends and Priorities
Key Findings
14% of professionals ranked modernizing legacy systems as a top digital trust priority in 2026.
30% of professionals indicated that workforce upskilling in data security is very important in 2026.
59% of professionals identified AI-driven social engineering as a significant cyber threat for 2026.
64% of professionals ranked regulatory compliance as a very important priority in 2026.
63% of professionals expect to hire for digital trust roles in 2026.
41% of professionals support statutory cybersecurity guidance for high-risk sectors in 2026.
18% of professionals believe increased government funding for cyber skills and workforce development is the most important factor for enhancing cybersecurity resilience in their country.
51% of professionals anticipate difficulty filling digital trust roles with qualified candidates in 2026.
43% of professionals in digital trust fields identified cloud migration and security as very important focus areas in 2026.
61% of professionals identified AI and machine learning as top technology priorities for 2026.
Only 12% of professionals reported having a strong talent pipeline for digital trust roles.
45% of professionals indicated they will be hiring for more digital trust roles in 2026 than in 2025.
32% of professionals expect regulatory complexity and global compliance risks to be major concerns in 2026.
Only 18% of professionals feel fully ready for new regulations like NIS2 and DORA in 2026.
Only 14% of professionals reported that their organization is very prepared to manage generative AI risks in 2026.