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Nearly eight in 10 organisations plan to increase cybersecurity spending over the next year, with artificial intelligence emerging as the top investment priority, according to PwC’s 2026 Global Digital Trust Insights survey.
The study, based on responses from 3,887 business and technology executives in 72 countries, found that 78% of organisations expect to raise their cybersecurity budgets. Of those, nearly one third said spending would rise between 6% and 10%.
Investment in AI was cited as the top budget priority by 36% of respondents, ahead of cloud security at 34%, network security at 28% and data protection at 26%.
PwC said companies are focusing on AI capabilities such as threat hunting and emerging “agentic AI” systems, which can operate with greater autonomy.
Despite the investment push, only 6% of executives surveyed said their organisations were “very capable” of withstanding cyber-attacks across all vulnerabilities. Areas of particular weakness included supply chain risks, legacy systems, and connected devices.
Additionally, one quarter of businesses reported that their most damaging data breach in the past three years cost at least $1m (£744,600). Large enterprises, US-based firms and technology, media and telecoms companies were among the most exposed.
The survey also highlighted a skills gap. Half of respondents cited a lack of knowledge in applying AI to cyber defence, while 41% pointed to a shortage of relevant expertise. Shortages were also reported in operational technology and industrial internet of things security.
At the same time, PwC said many organisations remain unprepared for threats from quantum computing. Nearly half of respondents had not yet begun implementing quantum-resistant security measures, citing a lack of understanding and competing resource pressures.
Sean Joyce, global cybersecurity and privacy leader at PwC US, said: “New and emerging technologies and a rapidly evolving and digitally interconnected global ecosystem and threat landscape have created a tipping point. The organisations that will lead in the future are those investing in cyber not just to respond, but to anticipate.”
