The compliance landscape is changing
2026 marks a turning point. The NIS2 Directive is reality, AI is reshaping the threat landscape, and compliance is becoming increasingly business-critical. Here are the five trends that define the year.
Trend 1: AI security becomes a compliance requirement
What’s happening:
- Regulators in finance, healthcare and critical infrastructure are defining AI-specific requirements
- The AI Act comes into force with requirements for risk assessment of AI systems
- Organisations must demonstrate how they manage AI risks
AI risks to address:
- Data leakage through AI tools
- Shadow AI (unauthorised use)
- Prompt injection and manipulation
- Bias and fairness aspects
What you need to do:
- Inventory AI usage in the organisation
- Create policy for responsible AI
- Integrate AI risks into risk management
- Train staff on secure AI usage
Trend 2: Identity as top priority
The traditional network perimeter has dissolved. Hybrid working, SaaS services and API integrations create a complex identity landscape.
Each new application introduces new identities faster than governance models can adapt. Humans, service accounts, APIs, AI agents.
Concrete steps:
- Inventory all identities (human and non-human)
- Implement MFA everywhere possible
- Apply least privilege principle
- Conduct regular access reviews
- Automate provisioning and deprovisioning
Trend 3: Resilience over prevention
The shift:
| Previously | Now |
|---|---|
| Prevent all incidents | Absorb and recover |
| Focus on perimeter | Defence in depth |
| Reactive incident handling | Proactive continuity planning |
| ”It won’t happen to us" | "When it happens, we’re ready” |
Key components:
- Business continuity planning (BCP)
- Disaster recovery (DR)
- Incident handling with exercises
- Crisis communication
- Backup strategies that are tested
Trend 4: New board requirements
Boards and leadership are asking different questions than before:
Risks must be expressed in pounds, not technical terms. Boards want to understand financial exposure.
ROI on security investments. How do we measure effectiveness? What risk reduction do we achieve?
Benchmarking against industry. Are we investing correctly? Do we have the right maturity level?
NIS2 makes management personally liable. Boards want to understand, not just approve.
Consequence for CISO/security officer:
- Learn to speak business language
- Develop meaningful KPIs
- Quantify risk where possible
- Report regularly and systematically
Trend 5: Regulatory fragmentation
The challenge:
37% of organisations struggle to understand how regulations apply to their specific systems and operations.
Regulations to handle in 2026:
- NIS2 Directive — Cybersecurity
- GDPR — Data protection (still relevant)
- DORA — Digital resilience (financial sector)
- AI Act — AI regulation
- Sector-specific — Healthcare, energy, etc.
- National variations — EU countries implement differently
The solution: Build an integrated management system that can address multiple regulations simultaneously. Avoid silos. ISO 27001 as a foundation covers much.
Practical recommendations
- Secure NIS2 compliance first It's law. Meet the basic requirements: risk management, incident handling, supplier security, management responsibility.
- Build identity capability Inventory identities, strengthen authentication, implement access reviews. It's basic hygiene.
- Test your resilience Exercises reveal weaknesses. Test incident handling, backup restoration, crisis communication.
- Develop board reporting Create structured reports with the right level of detail. Focus on risk, measures and status.
- Address AI proactively Inventory AI usage. Create policy. Integrate into risk management before regulators require it.
How Securapilot can help
Securapilot supports organisations in navigating 2026’s compliance landscape:
- Integrated compliance — NIS2, GDPR, ISO 27001 in one system
- Risk management — Systematic approach to all risks including AI
- Management dashboard — Information in the right format for the board
- Incident handling — Preparedness and rapid response
- Supplier management — Control over third-party risk
Book a demo and see how we can help you meet 2026’s challenges.
Frequently asked questions
Which trend has the most impact?
AI security permeates everything and affects both threat landscape and compliance requirements. Organisations that don't address AI risks early will face challenges.
How does NIS2 affect these trends?
The NIS2 Directive forces management engagement, drives security investments, and creates market demands downstream in supply chains.
How should we prioritise?
Start by meeting regulatory requirements (NIS2). Then build capacity for identity management and resilience. Address AI risks in parallel.
