AI is the new insider threat: 7 data security findings for 2026

As AI adoption grows, organizations face pressure to secure the data driving these initiatives. Agentic AI systems create new attack surfaces, while credential theft, cloud vulnerabilities, and tool sprawl worsen security challenges. With only half of sensitive cloud data encrypted and fewer than a third of organizations aware of their data’s location, risks are significant.

This global report, based on responses from 3,100+ IT and security professionals across 20 countries, highlights:

• AI agents as new insider threats needing stronger access controls
• Cloud assets as top attack targets for the third year
• Rising quantum computing risks

Explore the full report for insights.