The global business industry faced numerous challenges in the previous year in its efforts to minimize cyberattacks and strengthen its cybersecurity posture. Experts forecast another difficult period in 2026, as escalating global conflicts heighten supply chain risks and operational resilience challenges.
AI continues to be an unregulated technological force that companies are inadequately introducing within their systems. The layoff concerns are making it difficult for candidates to establish careers and commit to a company culture, as firms focus on AI-driven operations that don’t deliver the expected return on investment or measurable impact.
So, instead of looking to replace valuable employees and leverage technology they don’t fully understand, entrepreneurs should prioritize their companies’ cybersecurity, as cybercrime cost $10.5 trillion in 2025. Here are some of these necessities.
Create a strong password policy
Passwords are still among the most underrated forms of cybersecurity, largely because people struggle to create and manage them. Having guessable passwords in 2026 is no longer excusable or safe, and using the same password across multiple accounts increases the risk of data leaks within the company.
The costs of weak passwords begin when companies are unaware of the data protection and privacy regulations specific to their industry. Such practices will also lead to financial losses and reputational damage, so combining adequate, up-to-date employee training with tools like a business password manager can lay the foundation for an effective defense strategy.
Proper employee training will prepare them to face every challenge and to identify potential attacks and scams, while a password manager helps keep all passwords in a safe place, so users can create them as complex as they want and change them frequently without having to memorize each one.
Defend systems against ransomware
Ransomware is a growing threat to companies across all industries, as its technology improves and impacts the critical infrastructure of sectors such as healthcare and education. Ransomware attacks are part of almost half of all data breaches worldwide, and they usually involve data theft and extortion.
However, the concerns companies face include operational issues involving encryption, data exfiltration, or regulatory pressure that can cause more damage than conventional ransomware. Hence, businesses should expect this year to be difficult as supply chain issues, downtime, and disruptions are expected to worsen.
Thus, protection against ransomware should also be more than conventional by including:
- A zero-trust approach in which multiple cybersecurity principles cover proof of authorization, micro-segmentation, and damage mitigation;
- Regular data backups are necessary to reduce the impact of an attack since they use off-site environments that cannot be corrupted;
- Phishing prevention is still relevant since attackers use it to gain access to systems, but preventing it offers more peace of mind and data security;
Make the difference between AI in defense and attack
AI is believed to be an efficient tool for preventing cybersecurity attacks, but it is now also used by actors to create deceptive and attractive scams. AI is increasingly leveraged for more effective phishing campaigns, reconnaissance (the preliminary phase of a cyberattack), and evasion to avoid detection, so how could AI turn on itself in protecting companies?
Here’s what AI can do for your company:
- Analyze massive amounts of data to determine the patterns of an attack through irregular network behavior, inconsistent login attempts, or suspicious traffic from devices;
- Isolate compromised systems and devices while blocking malicious traffic to strengthen defenses and address vulnerabilities in real time;
- Authenticate users with the help of fingerprints and voice patterns for a seamless process while being able to detect user anomalies;
Automating cybersecurity is safe as long as it is cost-efficient, removes human error (and is not prone to errors), and enables better decision-making. However, it may be safer to use it alongside human intelligence.
Train employees to act with accountability
It’s no secret that employee training in cybersecurity is often lacking, whether entrepreneurs rely on their prior knowledge or simply overlook the importance of cybersecurity education. Moreover, 55% of employees responsible with AI have not received proper training to understand its risks, which increases the chances of misuse and cyberattacks.
Businesses need to implement effective training that includes policies and procedures, helping employees overcome challenges and navigate daily issues while also protecting the company from potential vulnerabilities. This can be done by:
- Having monthly training meetings that focus on specific issues like data security and social engineering;
- Offering frequent reminders and updates on industry risks and statistics over AI and security;
- Creating incentives for proactive employees and those who contribute to the learning process;
Have a cybersecurity incident response in place
However, regardless of how much you train the employees or prepare for a situation, sometimes attacks simply happen. In this case, you must develop a cybersecurity incident response plan that enables the company to navigate the issue and minimize losses and disruptions.
The process includes the following:
- Identifying and prioritizing critical assets, from digital to physical ones;
- Checking for potential threats and vulnerabilities by conducting risk assessments;
- Developing an incident response team that has the necessary skills to remediate security breaches promptly;
The incident response plan will include a set of essentials, such as communication strategies for escalation paths, as well as containment measures and recovery processes to minimize damage and restore operations. The responsible team plays a crucial role in this activity, so their training and skills are imperative to improve over time. Therefore, regularly testing and updating the plan will help keep it current with the latest challenges.
Conclusion
While the previous year showed how much data breaches and attacks can cost companies, this year, we’re preparing for other issues triggered by new policies and global conflicts. Now more than ever, firms must prioritize passwords, understand their role in protecting systems, and train employees to help identify and prevent attacks. It’s also important to know how to blend artificial intelligence with human intelligence, since AI is still an unexplored technology that can create additional vulnerabilities. Finally, a proper incident response plan is imperative to conduct and improve.