The threat to critical infrastructure has changed. Has your readiness?

Five facts critical infrastructure (CI) leaders need to act on in 2026, grounded in what Microsoft Threat Intelligence is observing across sectors right now. The post The threat to critical infrastructure has changed. Has your readiness? appeared first on Microsoft Security Blog .

Critical infrastructure (CI) organizations underpin national security, public safety, and the economy. In 2026, the cyber threat landscape facing these sectors is structurally different than it was even two years ago. What Microsoft Threat Intelligence is observing across critical infrastructure environments right now is not a forecast. It is already happening. Threat actors are no longer focused solely on data theft or opportunistic disruption. They are establishing persistent access, footholds they can sit in quietly, undetected, and activate at the moment of maximum disruption.

That is the threat CI leaders need to be preparing for today. Not someday. Now. Given these rising threats, governments worldwide are advancing policies and regulations to require critical infrastructure organizations to prioritize continuous readiness and proactive defense. The regulatory trajectory is clear.