As the year winds down, many leaders are already planning for what’s ahead — and cybersecurity remains a top priority. With cyber threats evolving quickly, understanding the cybersecurity trends for 2026 can help small businesses, nonprofits, and associations strengthen their defenses, protect sensitive data, and avoid costly disruptions.

Whether you manage a growing organization or operate with a lean staff, the landscape in 2026 will require proactive planning, stronger controls, and continued employee awareness.

1. AI-Powered Cyberattacks Will Increase

Artificial intelligence is no longer only a tool for security teams — bad actors are now using it to automate phishing campaigns, generate convincing messages, and identify vulnerabilities faster than ever.

Organizations should expect:

• More sophisticated spear phishing
• Fraudulent emails that mimic writing style or tone
• Faster attack cycles and shorter detection windows

Solution: AI-based email filtering, multi-factor authentication, and ongoing staff training are essential.

2. Zero Trust Will Shift from Trend to Standard

“Trust but verify” is no longer enough. In 2026, more organizations will adopt Zero Trust security frameworks, requiring identity validation and access controls for every user and device.

Key components include:

• Strong access control policies
• Least-privilege permissions
• Continuous authentication monitoring

This approach significantly reduces the damage a compromised account can cause.

3. Vendor and Third-Party Risk Will Become a Priority

Supply-chain attacks continue to rise, and smaller organizations are especially vulnerable when partners, apps, or cloud platforms are breached.

In 2026, expect:

• More vendor compliance requirements
• Mandatory security questionnaires
• Increased scrutiny around cloud platforms and hosted applications

4. Cyber Insurance Requirements Will Tighten

Carriers are responding to increased claim frequency and payouts. Premiums may rise — and approval will require stronger controls.

Expect insurers to require:

• MFA
• Endpoint detection and response
• Documented cybersecurity policies
• Employee security awareness training

Investing in these now can help control future premiums.

5. Security Awareness Training Will Matter More Than Ever

Human error remains one of the top causes of breaches. Organizations that train employees regularly are far better positioned to prevent avoidable security incidents.

In 2026, expect user training to expand beyond phishing to include:

• Password hygiene
• Social engineering awareness
• AI-generated attack recognition

Preparing Now Sets You Up for a More Secure 2026

Cyber threats aren’t slowing down — but with the right planning, tools, and employee education, small organizations can stay ahead.

Artificial intelligence tools are becoming more integrated into email platforms, raising new questions about security and transparency. The recent lawsuit involving Google AI and Gmail privacy highlights growing concern over whether AI systems should have access to personal or organizational emails by default.

In early November, a class-action lawsuit alleged that Google quietly shifted its Gemini AI features in Gmail, Google Chat, and Google Meet from an opt-in setting to opt-out — meaning many users may not have realized AI was being applied to their messages. While facts are still unfolding, the complaint suggests the AI may have had access to emails, attachments, chat conversations, and more.

How to Turn Off AI Features in Gmail

If you want to restrict AI access to your data, you can turn off smart features in just a few steps:

1. Open Gmail → click the Settings (gear) icon → select See all settings.
2. Scroll to Smart Features and Personalization.
3. Toggle the setting off.
4. If you use Google Workspace, repeat the process under Workspace privacy controls.
5. Refresh Gmail to confirm the change.

Repeat these steps for any personal, business, or shared Gmail accounts.

Why This Matters Going Forward

This lawsuit represents a larger shift in how everyday software is evolving. As platforms bake AI into communication and productivity tools, privacy settings may become less obvious. As a result, some may be enabled without clear user action.

For organizations handling confidential or regulated data — including nonprofits, law firms, medical practices, and financial institutions — reviewing technology settings will become just as important as using secure tools.

Final Takeaway

AI-powered features can make communication more efficient — but they shouldn’t come at the cost of privacy or control. Taking a few minutes to update your Gmail settings now can help protect your information as technology continues to evolve.

Want a professional to check your security posture? OptfinITy has you covered. Contact us today at (703) 790-0400 or sales@optfinity.com for a free security assessment.

Cybersecurity training isn’t just another item on an annual compliance checklist – it’s one of the most critical components of an organization’s security posture. Yet, for many small organizations, nonprofits, and mission-driven teams, traditional cybersecurity training isn’t working.

Employees sit through a slide deck or video once a year and move on. Then, all it takes is one convincing email or rushed moment for a malicious link to be clicked. Suddenly, the organization is facing downtime, financial loss, or reputational damage.

The problem isn’t that people don’t care about security. The problem is that most cybersecurity training isn’t built for the real world.

Problem #1: Training Is Treated as an Annual Event

If training only happens once a year, employees forget what they learned the moment they return to their daily work. Cyber threats evolve monthly – and attackers are counting on outdated knowledge.

How to fix it:
Move from annual training to continuous microlearning:

• Short 2–5 minute training moments
• Quarterly refreshers
• Role-based training for finance, leadership, and HR
• Real phishing simulations

Repetition builds awareness and confidence.

Problem #2: Training Focuses on Information, Not Behavior

Most training explains what phishing is but doesn’t teach employees how to spot it under pressure, on mobile devices, or when multitasking.

How to fix it:
Make training behavior-driven:

• Show real-world examples
• Include mobile screenshots (where most phishing succeeds)
• Train using realistic context: invoices, donor emails, scheduling requests

Security becomes a habit when employees recognize threats instinctively.

Problem #3: There’s No Accountability or Follow-Through

If training isn’t measured, tracked, or tested, there’s no way to know whether it’s working or simply being completed.

How to fix it:
Add structure and reporting:

• Track phishing simulation responses
• Require passing scores
• Provide coaching instead of punishment
• Use dashboards to monitor progress

Security improves when employees see it as shared responsibility, not a pass/fail exercise.

Problem #4: Leadership Isn’t Modeling the Behavior

If executives skip training, reuse passwords, or bypass policies “just this once,” the message is clear: security is optional.

And attackers know executives are high-value targets.

How to fix it:
Security culture must start with leadership.

• Executives complete training first
• Password managers and MFA are mandatory
• Policies apply to everyone- no exceptions

When leaders set the tone, adoption follows.

Stronger Training Creates a Stronger Organization

The goal of cybersecurity training isn’t just awareness- it’s resilience. When people understand threats, practice spotting them, and believe their actions matter, training becomes part of the culture.

Cybersecurity doesn’t start with firewalls. It starts with people.