A Veeam survey reveals that cybersecurity and AI threats top IT concerns for 2026. Despite high spending, most leaders lack confidence in data recovery and support a ban on ransomware payments.
Veeam Software, the global leader in Data Resilience, today released a survey of over 250 senior IT and business decision-makers that outlines the core challenges facing enterprises in 2026. The findings underscore a major shift: cybersecurity threats and the disruption from AI maturity and regulation are the two most significant disruptors facing the industry.
The report highlights a growing paradox: while organizations are investing heavily in defense, confidence remains low, and data is becoming harder to track.
Key Findings on Risk and Resilience:
- AI as a Cyber Weapon: AI-generated attacks (66%) were cited as the most significant threat to data security, surpassing even ransomware (50%). This signals that AI is now viewed as a primary weapon in the hands of attackers.
- Low Recovery Confidence: Despite rising threats, only 29% of respondents were very confident in their ability to recover critical data from a major cyberattack, such as a zero-day exploit. Furthermore, 71% are only somewhat or not confident in maintaining operations during a multi-day cloud provider outage.
- The Data Visibility Crisis: Nearly 60% of leaders report reduced visibility of where their data resides due to the rapid sprawl of multi-cloud and SaaS environments.
- The Push for Accountability: An overwhelming 72% of respondents support a ban on ransomware payments, reflecting widespread frustration with payouts that fuel criminal activity. Additionally, the majority of leaders are demanding increased executive accountability and higher cybersecurity standards from all partners and suppliers.
- Sovereignty Shapes Strategy: Data sovereignty and compliance are now rated as extremely or moderately important by 76% of leaders, reshaping global cloud strategies as geopolitical and regulatory control becomes essential.
“IT and business leaders are entering 2026 with unprecedented complexity,” said Anand Eswaran, CEO of Veeam. “Organizations must prioritize data resilience and compliance while embracing innovation responsibly. At Veeam, we see this as an opportunity to lead with trust, security, and simplicity.”
