Cyber Security Report 2026

Acting ahead

Two views of the Schwarz Digits Cyber Security Report 2026: The printed cover and an open page featuring infographics on ransomware trends, top investment targets, and AI security risks such as prompt leakage.

The English version of the Cyber Security Report 2026 will be available from mid-April 2026.

Schwarz Digits Co-CEOs Rolf Schumann (left) and Christian Müller (right) in a professional portrait

Sovereignty as a Shield – Sovereign Decisions, Secure Actions

Digital sovereignty is becoming a strategic necessity. Cyberspace has turned into a battlefield where malicious actors constantly attack the operational core of our business location. Cybersecurity has long since ceased to be a purely IT-related task; it is now a matter of survival for every institution.

Our Cyber Security Report 2026 provides the essential guidance needed in this complex environment. It illustrates how we can shape the digital transformation securely and independently.

At Schwarz Digits, our mission is to provide clarity and support organizations in reducing technological dependencies and maintaining long-term operational resilience.

Exclusive survey, analysis and trends

Infographic from the Schwarz Digits Cyber Security Report 2026 showing ransomware statistics by country and graphical data trends.

At a Glance – Cybersecurity in 2025 and 2026

Chapter 01
An illustration of the Reichstag building on a seesaw, being tilted by gold nuggets falling from a cliff.

German Economy Barometer – Cybersecurity and Digital Sovereignty

Chapter 02
Visualization of the "EU CLOUD SOVEREIGNTY FRAMEWORK" in the center of a multi-colored ring diagram against a world map background of digital points.

Sovereign Things – Software Sovereignty in Europe

Chapter 04
Illustrative representation of data retention and document management; a skeleton figure holding a file folder next to candles and footprints against a dark background.

Digital Afterlife - Managing Your Digital Legacy

Chapter 05

A look at the report

Infographic from the Schwarz Digits Cyber Security Report 2026 showing ransomware statistics by country and graphical data trends.

At a Glance – Cybersecurity in 2025 and 2026

The global threat landscape has become structurally entrenched. Today, cyberattacks operate in tandem with geopolitical tensions, endangering state stability and global supply chains alike. Of particular concern: the professionalization of attackers is increasing massively due to artificial intelligence, while entry barriers into the scene are falling. Meanwhile, ransomware has evolved into an industrialized ecosystem.

In Germany, cyberattacks now account for 70% of all economic damage. Beyond financial losses, the psychological impact of extortion on management and the workforce is becoming a primary focus. Furthermore, technological trends such as quantum computing and the securing of physical infrastructure are intensifying the requirements for cyber defense.

An illustration of the Reichstag building on a seesaw, being tilted by gold nuggets falling from a cliff.

German Economy Barometer – Cybersecurity and Digital Sovereignty

Our representative survey of 1,001 companies reveals a deep divide between perceived resilience and operational reality. While 65% rate their defensive readiness positively, in fact, one in five companies has already fallen victim to a successful attack. Although IT security budgets have risen to an average of 17% of total IT spending, many measures remain reactive or purely driven by regulatory requirements.

The supply chain remains a massive risk factor: 75% of companies forgo security audits of their suppliers, even though every second company has already recorded attacks on its service providers. There is also an enormous knowledge gap regarding NIS2 regulation - it is estimated that 48% of potentially affected firms have not yet identified their regulatory role.

At the same time, the desire for defensive fortitude is growing: 79% support state-led hackbacks, and 42% of companies would be willing to pay a premium for digitally sovereign solutions.

Visualization of Artificial Intelligence in the Cyber Security Report 2026, featuring a humanoid robotic figure with a butterfly symbolizing technological transformation.

Robo Wars – From Helper to Terminator

The rapid integration of autonomous systems marks a convergence point where the distinction between digital and physical security is being dissolved. Modern robots combine AI with mechanical mobility, meaning that any digital vulnerability can now lead to immediate kinetic consequences. Experiences from current conflicts demonstrate how agile innovation processes are outpacing traditional, bureaucratic procurement cycles.

What was once science fiction is becoming reality: from sensor-based "fear detection" to bio-hybrid weapon systems like cyborg insects, attack targets are shifting toward physical violence and state destabilization. Furthermore, falling costs mean that, in the long term, combat robots will likely be more affordable than the training of human soldiers.

Mastering these technologies is not merely a matter of mechanical superiority; it is a question of digital sovereignty over the underlying software and the complex supply chains involved.

Visualization of the "EU CLOUD SOVEREIGNTY FRAMEWORK" in the center of a multi-colored ring diagram against a world map background of digital points.

Sovereign Things – Software Sovereignty in Europe

Software represents one of the most critical and cost-intensive pillars of digital infrastructure; however, 80% of expenditures in the EU currently flow to US providers. To make these dependencies measurable, we have operationalized the EU Cloud Sovereignty Framework for software for the first time. Our analysis of 27 enterprise products reveals a stark reality: only ten meet the minimum EU requirements for digital sovereignty.

European open-source solutions lead the rankings, while non-European proprietary platforms often fall short due to jurisdictional dependencies - such as the US CLOUD Act. Particularly in the field of Artificial Intelligence, achieving full control over the entire lifecycle remains a significant challenge.

Illustrative representation of data retention and document management; a skeleton figure holding a file folder next to candles and footprints against a dark background.

Digital Afterlife - Managing Your Digital Legacy

Our digital identity does not end with biological death, creating a dangerous protective vacuum. Today, the average user manages around 170 passwords but is consciously aware of only a tiny fraction of their actual digital footprint. These "information corpses" form a massive attack surface for identity theft and financial fraud.

Criminals are now using deepfakes of the deceased to bypass biometric identification systems or to deceive grieving relatives through social engineering. Simultaneously, "subscription creep" leads to a gradual loss of assets, as digital contracts do not automatically terminate. By the year 2100, Facebook alone could host 4.9 billion profiles of deceased individuals - a digital graveyard under the control of private corporations.

Professional management of a digital estate is now as vital as a traditional will. We demonstrate how you can protect your digital legacy and your loved ones through healthcare proxies, powers of attorney, and technical access management.

Cyber Security Report

First time here? Many exciting topics were also addressed in the previous reports.

Please fill out the contact form, confirm your email address and then you will receive the free download links to the Cyber Security Reports 2026,  2025, 2024 (German and English available) and 2023 (German) by email.

The English report will be available from mid-April 2026.

 

Front view of the spiral-bound Schwarz Digits Cyber Security Report 2025 featuring a dark blue and turquoise digital pixel design.

Report 2025

Act now.

  1. Cybersecurity at a glance
  2. Focus on Cybersecurity – The prospects for the German economy
  3. Boundless threats – cyber dangers from the bottom of the sea to outer space
  4. Product chaos – The challenge of the cybersecurity solutions landscape
  5. Abuse of trust – The underestimated danger of sextortion
A ring binder in dark blue and turquoise can be seen on a gray background. Cyber Security Report 2024 can be read in white lettering.

Report 2024

State-organized crime dominates cyberspace - and what do you do?

  1. Cybersecurity – A brief overview
  2. Prevention – Continuous Threat Exposure Management
  3. Gaining a perspective – Cybersecurity in the age of artificial intelligence and quantum computing
  4. Under fire – The psychological impact of cyberattacks on management, IT departments and IT security teams
  5. The Future – Training and skills shortage
  6. Regulations at a glance