Ayesa Digital predicts an increase in attacks based on digital identity and recommends rapid recovery strategies

The report ‘Cybersecurity 2026: key predictions and trends’ 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 established as the paradigm: always verify and assume that trust cannot be taken for granted.

Ayesa Digital has published the report “Cybersecurity 2026: key predictions and trends”, which analyses the evolution of digital risk and the main trends that will shape the protection of critical systems, data and infrastructure in the coming years. The document highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence, the increase in attacks based on digital identity and the need to strengthen resilience in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats.

The analysis indicates that, by 2026, cybersecurity will no longer be perceived as a technical element but will become established as a structural resource comparable to essential supplies. The dependence on digital systems in areas such as industry, public administration and citizen services means that any incident has a direct impact on the economic and social fabric.

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

The report also highlights the evolution of ransomware, which will shift its focus from exclusively hijacking devices to reputation-based blackmail, public exposure of data and pressure on third parties. This trend reinforces the need for resilience, business continuity and agile recovery strategies as critical priorities for the business sector.

Ayesa also warns of the impact of cyberattacks on physical infrastructure, pointing out that the interconnection between the digital and physical worlds makes essential services such as energy, transport, healthcare and industrial production high-risk targets. Protection is no longer limited to data, but extends to the functioning of systems that sustain everyday life.

The study identifies digital identity as the most significant attack surface, with a notable increase in fraud based on impersonation, advanced social engineering, audiovisual manipulation and deepfakes. In this regard, the Zero Trust approach will become established as the paradigm: always verify and assume that trust cannot be taken for granted.

According to Álvaro Fraile, Director of Cybersecurity at Ayesa, “we are entering a stage where cybersecurity transcends the purely technical. The question is no longer whether an organisation can be attacked, but whether it is prepared to maintain its activity, 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 between companies, institutions, and citizens.”

Strategic recommendations

The report sets out priority areas for strengthening security in 2026:

Investments aimed at resilience and operational continuity beyond compliance.
Integration of AI in detection and response, with ethical and human controls.
Strengthening digital identities and advanced authentication.
Zero Trust policies and network segmentation in cloud and IoT environments.
Training and awareness as the central axis of the human factor.
These recommendations are particularly relevant for public administrations, industrial companies, financial institutions and critical sectors, which must anticipate the combined impact of hybrid threats on physical and digital environments.

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