Cybersecurity 2026: CEOs Focus on Fraud, CISOs Brace for Ransomware

The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, developed in collaboration with Accenture, presents a revised outlook on the cyber threats currently drawing the attention of top executives.

For the first time, cyber-enabled fraud has overtaken ransomware as the leading concern among CEOs.

This development comes after a year marked by a high volume of scams, payment frauds, and identity theft affecting business leaders across sectors. While ransomware incidents continue to increase, cybersecurity leaders are keeping their focus on operational impact and system disruption.

CEOs, however, are becoming more concerned with financial exposure and the difficulties of managing internal risks related to emerging technologies, particularly those related to artificial intelligence.

Why It Matters: Cybersecurity priorities are no longer aligned across leadership roles. CEOs and CISOs are responding to different types of risk and different consequences of those risks. Understanding how these perspectives diverge is essential for improving planning, policy enforcement, and financial investment. The 2026 report identifies which risks are growing in influence and how organizations are adapting their defenses accordingly.

• Cyber Fraud Is Now CEOs’ Top Concern: According to the WEF survey, nearly three out of four CEOs were either directly affected by cyber fraud in 2025 or knew someone who was. These events included phishing attempts, payment redirection scams, and cases of identity theft. This trend suggests that leaders are reacting to personal exposure and reputational risk as well as the operational consequences of these incidents. Worries are extending into executive decision-making more than in previous years.

• CISOs Still Prioritize Ransomware: While ransomware no longer holds the top place for CEOs, it continues to be the primary issue for CISOs. Their focus remains concentrated on systems availability and breach containment. Ransomware continues to be a frequent source of disruption in both public and private sectors. The priorities of CISOs appear more influenced by system functionality and compliance readiness than financial exposure alone.

• AI Vulnerabilities Surge in Focus: In 2025, most AI-related concerns were directed toward attackers using machine learning tools to automate or enhance cyberattacks. In 2026, the largest concern among executives is now internal exposure. Specifically, the accidental release of sensitive data through staff usage of generative AI platforms. This issue has surpassed external adversarial AI capabilities, as nearly two-thirds of organizations are now assessing AI tools for security weaknesses before deploying them.

• Widening Risk: Executives placed the exploitation of known or unknown software flaws as their third-highest concern in 2026. This has risen based on increased reliance on third-party software libraries and widespread application integration. Security reviews have become a more frequent part of procurement and deployment processes, especially in larger enterprises that rely on vendor platforms. Attention to patching and secure coding practices is becoming more institutionalized.

• Organizations Adapting AI Cyber Measures: The report found that over three-quarters of organizations are now applying AI tools for cybersecurity purposes, such as assisting with phishing detection and automated alert triage. Despite the growing use of AI, many companies still report knowledge gaps among staff when it comes to properly managing AI deployment. The report noted multiple governance and oversight concerns that continue to prevent some organizations from using AI more widely in their security workflows.

Go Deeper -> Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 – World Economic Forum

Cyber Fraud Overtakes Ransomware as Top CEO Concern: WEF – SecurityWeek