2026 Data Breach Investigations Report Executive Summary

The 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) serves as a comprehensive analysis of over 31,000 security incidents, including more than 22,000 confirmed data breaches from organizations across 145 countries. This edition highlights the evolving threat landscape, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong cybersecurity foundation amidst rapid changes. The report outlines key findings related to system intrusions, social engineering, and web application attacks, detailing how attackers increasingly exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to organizations. It also discusses the role of generative artificial intelligence in enhancing cybercriminal tactics. The DBIR utilizes the Vocabulary for Event Recording and Incident Sharing (VERIS) framework to normalize data for statistical analysis, providing insights into incident patterns and trends. Readers are encouraged to utilize the report's findings to better understand and prepare for potential cybersecurity threats, while also noting the significance of collaboration in addressing these challenges effectively.