The security landscape is changing fast. In 2026, CISOs, IT leaders, and executives must stay ahead of new laws, smarter cyberthreats, and shifting organizational demands. Security awareness is now a strategic priority. It's not just about training once a year, it’s about building a culture, measuring behavior, and embedding security across your organization. Here are five key trends shaping the future of awareness.
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New EU regulations, such as NIS2, DORA, and CRA, require proof of cybersecurity competence. That means staff training, crisis readiness, and supplier control. To comply, CISOs must choose awareness programs that meet both legal and business needs. Security is no longer optional; it’s a legal responsibility
That means:
AI supports detection but also introduces risks: manipulation and misjudgments.
Teams must understand how AI decisions are made, and when not to trust them. Awareness now means the ability to challenge, question, and act on AI-driven insights. Human judgment matters more than ever.
Security awareness now includes:
Zero Trust has moved from a conceptual framework to an operational necessity.
As cloud-first strategies, remote work, and third-party integrations become standard, perimeter-based security models are no longer sufficient. The principle of “never trust, always verify” now governs identity, access, and data flows across the enterprise.
To prepare, organizations need to:
Did you know? In Sweden alone, more than 18 million fraudulent SMS messages were blocked in the first nine months of 2024. Read more about the rise of smishing attacks in the Nordics.
Industrial environments are now prime targets. As OT and SCADA systems connect to the internet, new threats emerge. Engineers and operators must be part of the awareness effort. One mistake could stop production or endanger lives. Cyber hygiene in these areas is now business-critical.
One mistake could lead to:
Security awareness must now include engineers, operators, and frontline staff.
"Regulations, AI, quantum threats, and cyber insurance are reshaping what awareness means."
Security awareness is now measurable. Organizations use BI tools to track real-time behavior, like phishing clicks and login patterns. CISOs leverage data to enhance training, demonstrate results, and prioritize risk. Awareness becomes part of a feedback loop that helps your entire organization act smarter.
That means CISOs can:
Regulations, AI, quantum threats, and cyber insurance are reshaping what awareness means. It’s no longer about ticking boxes. It’s about measurable behavior change, cultural buy-in, and risk reduction across your entire organization.
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1. What is security awareness in 2026?
Security awareness in 2026 focuses on building a cyber-aware culture, meeting regulatory demands, handling AI risks, and using data to measure behavior change across the organization.
2. How does NIS2 affect security awareness?
NIS2 requires organizations to document training, prove cybersecurity capability, and include staff readiness as part of compliance. Security awareness becomes mandatory, not just best practice.
3. Why does Zero Trust require user awareness?
Zero Trust depends on identity and access integrity. If users ignore MFA, share credentials, or fall for phishing, Zero Trust fails. Training is central to making Zero Trust work in reality.
4. Who needs security awareness beyond office staff?
Engineers, OT/SCADA operators, contractors, and suppliers all play a role. One operational mistake can create organization-wide risk.
5. How can CISOs measure awareness success?
By tracking click rates, incident response times, credential misuse, and user behavior trends, turning training into measurable outcomes.