Businesses in 2026 can face ransomware and data extortion, phishing and business email compromise, stolen credentials and cloud-identity attacks, and risks from vulnerable or misconfigured internet-facing systems. Which matters most depends on the organization’s systems, data, exposure and safeguards; the available CISA and joint-agency guidance describes these threat types but does not rank their prevalence for 2026. The guidance cited here was published or revised largely through July 2025.
How these threats can reach and affect a business
| Threat | Possible route in | Potential business effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ransomware and data extortion | Malware or access gained through a prior compromise | Unavailable files or systems, recovery work, or stolen data being threatened with disclosure |
| Phishing and business email compromise | Deceptive or targeted email that tricks someone into revealing credentials or enabling access | Account compromise, further intrusion, or disruption; ransomware can follow, but is not the inevitable result |
| Cloud identity compromise | Stolen credentials, forged tokens or exploited vulnerabilities | Unauthorized access to organizational infrastructure and cloud resources |
| Exposed or misconfigured systems | Internet-facing assets with vulnerabilities, default credentials, misconfigurations or outdated software | An avoidable opportunity for unauthorized access or compromise |
These are related risks, not interchangeable labels. For example, a phishing message may help an attacker obtain access, while ransomware may be deployed later to disrupt operations. CISA’s joint #StopRansomware Guide notes that ransomware activity can obscure earlier events such as business email compromise.
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Ransomware can disrupt operations and threaten data
Ransomware is malware that encrypts files and can make devices or dependent systems unusable. Attackers may demand payment in exchange for decryption. Some also steal data and threaten to publish it, combining encryption with data theft in an approach CISA calls “double extortion.” Data theft and extortion can also occur without file encryption.
The consequences can include interrupted business processes, the effort and expense of restoring systems, and reputational harm if sensitive information is exposed. A ransom payment does not itself restore systems or guarantee that stolen data will remain private.
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The June 4, 2025 CISA, FBI and Australian Signals Directorate Australian Cyber Security Centre advisory on Play ransomware describes that group using double extortion. Its observations draw on FBI investigations through January 2025; they describe that group’s activity and should not be treated as a prediction about every ransomware actor in 2026.
Prepare for recovery, not just prevention
- Keep backups offline or otherwise separated from systems attackers could access, and test restoration so the organization knows the data is usable.
- Write a recovery plan that identifies who makes decisions, who restores systems and how essential work continues. Make responsibilities clear before an incident.
- Patch systems and prioritize vulnerabilities known to be exploited, while considering the business importance of the affected asset.
- Require multifactor authentication for exposed and critical services, including remote access and privileged accounts.
Phishing can be a route to credentials and business email compromise
Phishing messages try to persuade recipients to click, open, disclose information or take another action that benefits an attacker. CISA’s July 2025 TIC 3.0 Cloud Use Case identifies spam, phishing, spear phishing and whaling among email threats, and describes email as a significant route for malware and credential theft. Spear phishing targets a particular person or organization; whaling is aimed at high-profile targets such as executives.
If an employee gives up a password or approves an attacker’s request, the result may be account access or a foothold for further activity. Business email compromise can involve misuse of a legitimate account. These attacks do not all lead to ransomware: the next step and impact depend on what access was obtained and how the organization is protected.
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- Give employees a clear way to report suspicious messages, and teach them to use it rather than investigate questionable attachments or links themselves.
- Use appropriate email filtering and, where useful, indicators that distinguish external messages from internal ones.
- Protect email and privileged accounts with phishing-resistant multifactor authentication where available. CISA’s business MFA guidance recommends phishing-resistant MFA; a FIDO2-compatible hardware security key is one possible method, subject to identity-provider compatibility and a workable enrollment and recovery process.
Cloud identity deserves attention alongside cloud data
Cloud services rely on identities, authentication and permissions to control access. In an article dated July 15, 2025, CISA’s Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative described recent cloud security incidents involving exploited vulnerabilities, forged tokens and stolen credentials. The examples support treating identity controls as part of cloud security, rather than assuming that securing stored data alone is enough.
Review who can sign in, what each account can reach, how access is authenticated and whether activity is visible in logs. Include cryptographic key management and third-party dependencies in that review. A compromise of an account or authentication mechanism can put organizational infrastructure at risk; the specific consequences depend on that account’s permissions and the connected services.
- Require MFA for email, file storage and remote access, with phishing-resistant methods for important accounts where supported.
- Limit permissions to what each role needs, and review privileged and service accounts as responsibilities and systems change.
- Check that relevant cloud activity is logged and that someone reviews or responds to the signals those logs provide.
- Include keys, connected services and third-party dependencies in security reviews, not only the primary cloud account.
Internet-facing systems can expose preventable weaknesses
An organization may not realize that a system is reachable from the public internet. CISA’s June 4, 2025 Internet Exposure Reduction Guidance warns that exposed systems can have vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, default credentials or outdated software. CISA recommends using tools and services to identify public exposure.
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Visibility is the first step: maintain an inventory of internet-facing assets and confirm that each one is still needed and owned by someone responsible. Remove unnecessary exposure, change default credentials and update operating systems, applications and firmware. CISA’s June 2025 Play ransomware advisory also recommends prioritizing known exploited vulnerabilities and keeping software current. That does not establish that any particular vulnerability is being actively exploited now; check current authoritative advisories when prioritizing a specific fix.
Build a practical baseline across the business
No single control removes cyber risk. A useful baseline combines prevention, detection and recovery, and makes it possible to verify that each measure works.
- Identify important assets and accounts. List internet-facing systems, critical services, business email, cloud resources and privileged accounts. Assign owners so exposure and access can be reviewed.
- Protect access. Require MFA on exposed and critical services; use phishing-resistant MFA where available, especially for email and privileged accounts. Confirm how users enroll and recover access.
- Reduce exposure and patch. Remove unnecessary public access, replace default credentials, update software and firmware, and prioritize known exploited vulnerabilities alongside business impact.
- Prepare people to report attacks. Provide practical awareness training and a simple route for employees to report suspicious messages promptly.
- Test recovery. Keep offline backups, exercise restoration and document response roles so the plan works under real operating conditions.
CISA’s joint #StopRansomware Guide supports measures including phishing-resistant MFA, patching, employee awareness, offline backups and a recovery plan. Their value depends on coverage and execution: MFA that omits a critical account, a backup that cannot be restored, or an asset inventory that misses public systems leaves gaps.
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- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
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- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
How to prioritize when resources are limited
Start with the systems and accounts whose compromise would interrupt essential work or expose sensitive data. Check whether they are reachable from the internet, whether access is protected with MFA, whether known exploited vulnerabilities remain unpatched, and whether recovery has been tested. Then address the largest gaps first, taking into account both likely exposure and business impact rather than assuming every organization faces the same threat mix.
For a specific suspected vulnerability or active incident, consult current CISA and relevant sector or government advisories: the guidance summarized here is not a live list of currently exploited flaws or a forecast of 2026 incident rates.
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