Industries That Need Cybersecurity in 2026

The cybersecurity space is shifting faster than at any point in the last decade. As digital transformation accelerates and cybercriminals adopt AI-driven techniques, the number of industries that need cybersecurity has expanded dramatically.

For cybersecurity vendors, MSSPs, and technology providers, this shift presents a huge opportunity. The key is knowing which industries need cybersecurity the most, where the largest budgets are being allocated, and where the demand for specialized security solutions is growing fastest.

This blog breaks down the top industries in need of cybersecurity in 2026, supported by real-world breach examples, fresh statistics, and future trends shaping global cyber risk.

Why These Industries Are Being Targeted More Often

Before diving into sector-specific insights, it’s important to understand why cyberattacks are rising across so many verticals. Certain industries are being targeted more frequently due to:

High-value data (health, finance, research, identity documents)
Legacy systems and outdated security tools
Operational disruption value (especially in energy, healthcare, transportation)
API-heavy digital systems are becoming easier to exploit
Rapid cloud adoption without proper governance
Large third-party supply chains
Public impact and ransom pressure

In short, attackers follow money, disruption potential, and weak points, and these industries have all three.

1. Healthcare: The Most Vulnerable Industry in 2026

The cybersecurity needs of the healthcare industry continue to grow as hospitals, labs, clinics, insurers, and telehealth platforms digitize at scale. Medical data is the world’s most valuable stolen asset. According to the report of IBM 2024, the healthcare breach cost was around $10.93M.

Why Healthcare Is at Extreme Risk

Life-critical environments make ransomware more effective.
Heavy reliance on outdated systems
Massive volumes of sensitive data (EHRs, insurance details, prescriptions)
Rapid telemedicine and IoT-medical device expansion

Real-World Example

The 2024 Change Healthcare ransomware attack disrupted hospitals nationwide and became one of the costliest breaches in US history.

Bottom line: The healthcare industry needs more cybersecurity than ever before, and represents the largest opportunity for vendors.

2. Financial Services & Banking

When discussing what industries need cybersecurity, financial institutions are always near the top. They hold the world’s most liquid assets, money and identity. A report by IBM in 2024 states that the average financial breach has cost approximately $5.9 million.

Why Finance Is a Top Target

Sophisticated fraud and credential theft
Heavy regulatory pressure
API-driven banking and fintech integrations
High-value data: SSNs, credit files, payment data

Example

Several major banks suffered API-driven account takeover attacks in late 2024, impacting millions of customers.

3. Manufacturing & Industrial Sector

Manufacturers are becoming top industries in need of cybersecurity as factories modernize with IoT, robotic automation, cloud ERP systems, and third-party contractors.

Why Manufacturers Are Vulnerable

OT/ICS systems are not built for security.
Supply chain visibility gaps
High downtime costs
Third-party risk (vendors, logistics, procurement)

Stats

ICS/OT cyberattacks surged 30% in 2024 (Dragos).

Over 70% of industrial operators reported at least one breach attempt.

Example: JBS Meat Processing Attack

The ransomware incident shut down operations temporarily and caused millions in losses.

4. Critical Infrastructure (Energy, Utilities & Transport)

One of the most critical additions to your blog, and the most high-risk sector in 2026.

Includes

Oil & gas pipelines
Water treatment plants
Nuclear facilities
Electrical grids
Dams
Transportation and shipping networks

Why It’s High Risk

Systems are old
Successful attacks create national disruption.
OT devices often lack patches.
Geopolitical cyberwarfare is rising.

Example

The Colonial Pipeline attack showed how one ransomware infection can halt fuel supply to millions.

5. Retail & E-Commerce

Although often overlooked, retail is now among the top industries that need cybersecurity, especially with the surge in online payments and APIs.

Why Retail Is Rising in Priority

Payment data + identity fraud
API-heavy e-commerce architecture
Loyalty program exploitation
Massive transaction volume

Statistics

API attacks grew 400% in 2024 (Salt Security).
Retail ransomware cases doubled YoY.

Example

Multiple global e-commerce brands suffered wallet and checkout fraud through API vulnerabilities in 2024–2026.

6. SaaS & Tech Companies

One of the fastest-growing industries that needs cybersecurity due to expanding cloud workloads, AI tools, and API-first architecture.

Threats Facing SaaS & Tech

API abuse
Identity token hijacking
Supply-chain attacks
CI/CD pipeline compromises

Example

The 2024 software supply-chain breaches affecting global vendors exposed thousands of downstream customers.

7. Telecommunications

With the expansion of 5G and national digital infrastructure, telcos have become a major cyberattack target.

Why Telecom Needs Strong Cybersecurity

National intelligence risks
Customer identity + metadata exposure
Signaling network vulnerabilities
Internet backbone dependencies

Example

Multiple telcos suffered large-scale DDoS and espionage intrusions tied to state-level threat actors in 2024.

8. Education Sector

Schools, colleges, universities, research labs, and online learning platforms are now major industries that need cybersecurity.

Why Education Is High Risk

Student data & payment information
Research IP
Low cybersecurity budgets
Widespread third-party software use

Stats

Ransomware on educational institutions increased by approximately 78%.

9. Insurance Providers

Insurance companies are being aggressively targeted due to the nature of their data.

Why Insurance Is a Growing Target

Claims and compensation history
Identity documents
Medical records
Fraud potential

Example

Multiple insurance providers experienced large-scale credential-stuffing attacks throughout 2024–2026.

10. Construction & Real Estate Development

An underrated but fast-emerging group among industries in need of cybersecurity.

Why Construction Is Vulnerable

IoT machinery
Digital blueprints
Project management SaaS
Weak cybersecurity policies
Multiple subcontractors

Example

Ransomware attacks halted major construction projects and exposed architectural plans in recent years.

Cybersecurity Spending Forecasts (2025–2027)

Industry-wide spending is skyrocketing:

Global cybersecurity spending expected to reach $219B in 2025 (Gartner).
Expected growth in global cybersecurity spending: ~15% in 2025 vs 2024 (Gartner).

Future Cybersecurity Trends (2025–2027)

Cyber risk will continue to evolve, driven by:

AI-powered cyberattacks & autonomous malware.
Deepfake social engineering.
Zero Trust is dominating adoption.
API and microservice-level attacks are increasing.
Identity-first security is becoming foundational.
Operational technology (OT) security is expanding rapidly.
Supply-chain compromise is becoming more frequent.
Cyber insurance premiums are driving stricter controls

How Vendors Can Target These High-Risk Industries

For cybersecurity vendors and solution providers, the opportunity lies in aligning offerings with industry-specific pain points.

Practical Strategies

Tailor solutions around compliance (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, NIST, ISO)
Provide demos and proof-of-value
Target CISO communities and verified security networks
Focus on measurable outcomes (MTTD, MTTR, risk postures)
Offer bundled services for SMBs with limited security maturity

A strong go-to-market plan can significantly accelerate lead generation, especially across the industries that need cybersecurity the most.

Conclusion

As cyber threats accelerate, the number of industries that need cybersecurity will continue to grow. But in 2026, these sectors, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, critical infrastructure, retail, SaaS, telecom, education, insurance, and construction, represent the highest-risk and highest-demand opportunities.

Want to connect directly with CISOs, CIOs, and cybersecurity decision-makers across these high-priority industries? Join Execweb, the platform where cybersecurity vendors book 1:1 meetings, build industry relationships, and secure high-value clients across the world’s most at-risk sectors.