Thales Data Threat Report: AI and Cloud Complexity Fuel New Data Security Risks

A new report from Thales highlights how artificial intelligence is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, introducing new attack vectors while amplifying existing data protection challenges. 

The 2026 Thales Data Threat Report finds that as organizations accelerate AI adoption, they are simultaneously increasing their exposure to cloud threats, identity attacks, and operational complexity.

Based on a survey of more than 3000 IT and security professionals across 20 countries, the report highlights how AI-driven innovation is creating both opportunity and risk. Organizations are increasingly dependent on data to power AI applications, yet many still lack visibility into where that data resides or how it is secured.

AI Expands the Attack Surface

Security professionals are paying greater attention to AI security. Thirty percent of organizations now have a dedicated cybersecurity budget for AI security – up from 20% the previous year – though more than half are still funding AI protections through existing security budgets.  

This ...