UK organisations see cyber investment and strategic adaptations as business-critical priorities, with 85% expecting cyber budgets to increase over the next 12 months and over half (56%) anticipating increased investment by more than 6%, according to a report by PwC.

The 2026 Global Digital Trust Insights survey also found that over two-thirds (69%) of UK businesses say their cyber risk investment strategy needs to change to meet the demands of the geopolitical landscape over the next 12 months.

While raising cyber budgets is evidently a priority, ensuring resilience against an expanding range of digital threats remains a challenge. Only about one-half of UK organisations (51%) believe they are ‘very capable’ of addressing a major cyber attack targeting network architecture. Additionally, half of UK organisations (50%) say they will prioritise building out AI threat hunting capabilities, yet less than half (40%) have implemented AI practices in parts of their organisations responsible for addressing data risk.

To address a rising array of cyber risks, 57% of UK organisations say they will look to either ‘slightly’ or ‘significantly’ increase spending on proactive measures. These extend to people-related functions, with organisations highlighting skills shortages as a significant barrier. 61% of respondents acknowledge upskilling – specifically improving AI and machine learning tools capabilities – as a priority, and almost half (47%) of UK firms are looking at upskilling and reskilling current employees to address skills gaps over the next 12 months.

James Rashleigh, PwC UK & EMEA cyber leader, said: “This year’s report reinforces a critical truth: cyber security has long been a priority issue for UK boardrooms, and what we are seeing now is a significant shift from concern to commitment.

“Organisations are backing up their awareness with serious investment, embedding security into innovation, and doubling down on preparations around emerging risks related to AI and quantum computing. Those that act decisively will be best positioned to build trust and resilience in an unpredictable world.”

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