As cyber threats become faster and harder to contain, Ivanti’s leaders are predicting a pivotal shift in 2026, where security teams must move from reactive defence to autonomous, system-level protection. 

Below are the summaries of the predictions: 

 

·       David Shepherd, SVP EMEA, Ivanti 

o   Cybersecurity in 2026: The year of human-supported, autonomous systems 

·       Mike Riemer, SVP of Network Security Group and Field CISO, Ivanti 

o   The shortening exploit window: Why 2026 demands smarter patch management  

o   Building and enforcing a security culture   

o   Look at product features from the adversary's perspective   

·       Brooke Johnson, Chief Legal Counsel, SVP HR and Security, Ivanti 

o   The three pillars of AI’s survival: 2026 will test their sturdiness  

 David Shepherd, SVP EMEA, Ivanti 

Cybersecurity in 2026: The year of human-supported, autonomous systems 

Autonomous attacks will define 2026, and they’ll move mainstream long before most defences do. We’re about to enter the first era where attacks don’t just scale, they think, adapt and execute at machine speed. That shift will force the traditional security model to evolve or risk breaking overnight.  

The biggest divide next year won’t be between mature and immature security teams, it will be between organisations that deploy autonomous defence, and those still relying on purely human-led response cycles. You simply can’t beat autonomy without autonomy.  Security teams will need to make one fundamental shift: move from tools that inform, to systems that act. That means meticulously training AI to remediate low-level threats instantly, enforcing policy autonomously across sprawling environments, and using agentic systems to contain live incidents before humans even see them.  

2026 is the year cybersecurity becomes a contest of autonomous systems supported by humans. The organisations that thrive will be those that embrace this reality early, building a culture ready for a threat landscape where the first move is always made by a machine. 

Mike Riemer, SVP of Network Security Group and Field CISO, Ivanti 

Building and enforcing a security culture  

Historically, the standard Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) process across the industry has involved conducting security tests only at the end of the development lifecycle, typically during the final testing phase. This meant that products and features were planned, designed and developed with security only considered at the very last stage.   

In contrast, a Secure Software Development framework – embodied in the Secure by Design philosophy – integrates security into every stage of development. Security considerations are taken into account from the planning phase and are woven into each step that follows, ensuring that potential vulnerabilities are addressed proactively rather than reactively.  

In today’s threat landscape, security cannot be an afterthought in product development.   

The shortening exploit window: Why 2026 demands smarter patch management  

As weaponised AI enables threat actors to reverse-engineer patches in less than 72 hours – turning routine updates into potential attack vectors – the urgency for timely patch deployment is greater than ever. Yet, for many IT and security teams managing on-premises solutions, rapid patching within such a narrow window remains a significant challenge. The reality of limited time and resources underscores the critical role for vendors in supporting their customers with prioritising and streamlining the patching process. Vendors have the opportunity to go beyond simply releasing patches and including features in their solutions that help customers identify the most critical updates and implement them efficiently. By offering user-friendly tools, clear prioritisation frameworks and finding innovative ways to deliver updates, vendors can cut through the noise and empower customers to overcome operational barriers, close exploit windows faster and strengthen overall resilience. In this way, vendors play a pivotal role in enabling customers to defend against emerging threats with greater confidence. 

Look at product features from the adversary's perspective  

Due to the rapidly evolving threat landscape, software companies must fundamentally transform their efforts to proactively identify and mitigate vulnerabilities throughout the product lifecycle.  

Moving into 2026, leading product management teams will fully shift their approach, treating security as a core consideration for the development of new features. During the planning and design of features, teams need to devote as much time and attention to how malicious actors could potentially exploit them as they do to the functionality. This forward-thinking mindset will cement security as an essential component of the entire development lifecycle, guiding every product decision and establishing a new standard for secure innovation. 

Brooke Johnson, Chief Legal Counsel, SVP HR and Security, Ivanti 

From AI gold rush to AI reckoning: Why 2026 is the year of responsible integration  

“After years of chasing the AI hype, companies are waking up to the consequences of AI slop, underperforming tools, fragmented systems, and wasted budgets. The early rush to adopt AI prioritised speed over strategy, leaving many organisations with little to show for their investments.  
 
In 2026, companies must take a decisive pivot, especially when approaching agentic AI, with intentional, disciplined integration to replace blind adoption. Businesses will demand proof of maturity and ROI before committing resources, focusing on AI solutions that deliver measurable value. The mindset shift? Treat AI like an employee – train it, review it and hold it accountable. Building trust and educating employees on how to use these tools will become essential, ensuring AI simplifies workflows rather than disrupts them. This marks a new era for enterprise tech: AI adoption grounded in accountability, performance and strategic alignment – not hype.”