Four key areas in cybersecurity that need fresh thinking and actionable steps in 2026

Four areas demanding fresh thinking and actionable steps in cybersecurity

by · TechRadar

Opinion By Sheetal Mehta published 6 May 2026

(Image credit: sarayut Thaneerat/ via Getty Images)

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Cybersecurity entered 2026 under pressure to keep pace with the rapid deployment of AI technologies while laying the foundations for a quantum future.

Security leaders are expected to defend increasingly complex AI and hybrid environments while facing persistent talent shortages, a fast-changing threat landscape and mounting operational pressure.

For the first time, attackers have access to similar sophisticated enterprise-grade technologies that the defenders are using to protect their digital enterprise.

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This convergence has created a paradox for cybersecurity teams. AI is becoming a powerful force for attackers, yet it also holds the potential to reimagine cybersecurity, improve detection and response accuracy and speeds and significantly reduce security analyst workloads on routine tasks.

Sheetal Mehta

Executive Managing Director, Global Head of Cybersecurity Solutions and Services at NTT DATA.

Organizations are also looking forward to the transformational benefits that Quantum computing promises, but it also threatens to undermine the cryptographic foundations that secure today’s digital ecosystem. Meanwhile, cybercriminal operations continue to get more organized, often moving faster than traditional, siloed defenses can adapt.

They are also prepared to play the long game, gaining initial access and remaining undetected within systems for extended periods of time, waiting for the right moment to move laterally and access sensitive data that can disrupt operations, inflict financial strain and damage reputations.

Not to mention the potential impact on society when essential services and critical industries are targeted.

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