The new year is set to usher in a new era of cybersecurity challenges and opportunities. With threat actors increasingly leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for sophisticated attacks, and the rise of other complex risks like supply chain vulnerabilities and deepfakes, simply maintaining your current defences isn’t enough.
For businesses like yours, making cybersecurity a core business competency is no longer optional—it’s essential for survival and success. Proactive planning is key.
Here are the crucial cybersecurity goals your business should be focusing on for 2026, along with practical tips to help you get there.
Goal 1: Embrace the Zero Trust Security Model
The traditional approach of trusting everyone inside your network perimeter is outdated and dangerous. In 2026, your goal should be to fully adopt a Zero Trust architecture. This means treating every user, device, and connection—internal or external—as potentially hostile until explicitly verified.
💡 Tips for Zero Trust Implementation
- Verify Explicitly: Always authenticate and authorise based on all available data points, including user identity, location, device health, and the sensitivity of the resource being accessed.
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Everywhere: This is fundamental. Ensure MFA is required for all accounts, especially for remote access, email, and cloud services. Look into phishing-resistant MFA methods like FIDO2/hardware keys for the highest level of protection.
- Enforce Least Privilege Access: Users should only have access to the resources absolutely necessary to perform their job. Regularly review and remove old or unused accounts and permissions.
Goal 2: Harden Your Human Firewall Through Next-Gen Training
In an era of sophisticated AI-powered phishing and deepfakes, the human element remains the weakest link. The goal isn’t just to make employees aware, but to build a Security-Aware Culture where every team member acts as a proactive defender.
💡 Tips for Advanced Security Training
- Simulated Phishing and Impersonation Campaigns: Don’t just show slides. Run regular, realistic phishing tests—including those mimicking internal communications and AI-generated voice or video—and provide immediate, targeted training for those who click.
- Focus on ‘High-Risk’ Behaviour: Train staff specifically on securing remote work environments, safe use of IoT (Internet of Things) devices, and how to spot “shadow IT” (unauthorised apps or services).
- Establish Clear Reporting Protocols: Make it easy and consequence-free for employees to report suspicious emails or activities. A fast report can stop an attack before it spreads.
Goal 3: Achieve Ransomware and Data Loss Resilience
Ransomware attacks are evolving, often involving “double extortion” (stealing data and encrypting systems). Your goal for 2026 is to move beyond mere recovery and achieve true Cyber Resilience, meaning you can quickly detect, respond to, and recover from any disruption with minimal impact.
💡 Tips for Resilience
- The 3-2-1 Backup Strategy: Maintain three copies of your data, on at least two different types of media, with one copy stored offline or air-gapped (securely isolated from the network). Crucially, test your restoration process regularly.
- Continuous Monitoring and Automated Response: Invest in tools (like our IT247 Pen Tests and Cybersecurity Support) that can monitor your systems 24/7, detect anomalies, and launch automated responses instantly. This is vital as attacker speed increases.
- Maintain an Updated Incident Response Plan: Have a clear, documented plan for who does what before, during, and after a major incident. Ensure all key stakeholders—from IT to legal to PR—understand their roles.
Goal 4: Secure the Supply Chain and Third-Party Risk
As your business integrates with more cloud services and third-party partners (your Supply Chain), attackers are increasingly targeting these connections. Your 2026 goal is to rigorously manage the security risks introduced by your vendors and partners.
💡 Tips for Supply Chain Security
- Vetting and Due Diligence: Conduct thorough security risk assessments for all critical suppliers, especially those with access to your sensitive data or systems.
- Enforce Minimum Security Standards: Ensure your contracts with vendors include mandatory security requirements, such as requiring them to use MFA, perform regular patching, and maintain clear incident reporting procedures.
- Limit Vendor Access: Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to your third-party vendors and their software integrations (APIs), giving them only the access they require for their services.
📞 Time to Act: Don’t Wait for a Breach
The threats of 2026 are already being developed today. Cybersecurity is not a project with a finish line; it’s a constant, evolving process. By focusing on these four key goals—adopting Zero Trust, empowering your team, building resilience, and securing your supply chain—you will dramatically improve your security posture and protect your business’s future.
We are it247nw, and we specialise in helping businesses like yours implement robust, proactive, and future proof cybersecurity strategies.
Is your business prepared for the AI-driven threats of 2026?
Don’t leave your success to chance. Contact it247nw today for a complimentary 2026 Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment to identify your immediate risks and map out your strategic security roadmap.
