TL;DR: By 2026, seven developments fundamentally change the cybersecurity landscape for Flemish companies: AI makes phishing virtually unrecognizable, NIS2 enforcement kicks off effectively, the Cyber Resilience Act introduces new product requirements, supply chains become a systemic risk, cyber insurers increase their requirements, OT security becomes mandatory by law, and SMEs are definitively the primary target of cyber criminals.
Belgium recorded as many as 635 cyber incidents nationally in 2025, up 70% from the previous year. At the same time, the average time between the disclosure of a vulnerability and its first exploitation fell to just five days. For Flemish companies with 50 to 250 employees, 2026 is the year when the theoretical frameworks of the past few years turn into compelling operational reality. In this article, we discuss the seven cybersecurity trends 2026 that directly affect your business, and what you can do about them in concrete terms.
1. AI makes phishing unrecognizable
AI-generated phishing will be the biggest immediate threat to Flemish businesses by 2026. Large Language Models produce error-free Dutch, including Flemish business terminology, completely eliminating the language errors that previously served as warning signals. More than 80% of phishing campaigns now use AI-generated content.
The threat goes beyond e-mail. Flemish SMEs are regularly confronted with “vishing” (telephone phishing) in which the voice of a CEO or financial director is realistically imitated through deepfake technology. Employees are thus tricked into making unauthorized payments. The threshold for this type of attack has dropped significantly with the availability of Phishing-as-a-Service platforms that integrate deepfakes.
In addition, so-called “agentic AI” systems, autonomous AI agents that perform tasks without constant human supervision, inadvertently create new vulnerabilities. Unsupervised or poorly configured AI agents can be exploited for unauthorized data leakage or lateral movement within an enterprise network.
What can you do? Train your employees structurally on recognizing AI-generated attacks. A one-time session is not enough: monthly phishing simulations combined with short micro-learnings are the most effective approach. In addition, implement a strict verification protocol for financial transactions, no matter how convincing the request sounds.
2. NIS2 enforcement begins in Belgium
Belgium was the first EU country to transpose the NIS2 directive into national law through the law of April 26, 2024. In April 2026, this track reaches a crucial point: the deadline for the first conformity assessment of essential entities falls on April 18, 2026. More than 4,500 organizations have registered with the CCB, about 1,500 of them as essential and 2,500 of them as significant.
About 75% of registered entities chose the CyberFundamentals (CyFun) framework as their basis for compliance. This pragmatic Belgian framework offers four levels (Small, Basic, Important, Essential) that allow companies to follow a feasible growth path based on their risk profile.
The consequences for non-compliance are far-reaching. Essential entities risk fines of up to 10 million euros or 2% of annual global turnover. Major entities up to 7 million euros or 1.4%. But the real gamechanger is personal director liability: directors can be held individually liable for negligence and must attend mandatory cybersecurity training.
What can you do? Verify that your organization is registered with the CCB through Safeonweb@Work. Have a gap analysis performed to know where you stand in relation to the required CyFun level. A detailed overview of the full process can be found in our NIS2 guide for Flemish companies. You can read more about the financial and legal risks in our article on NIS2 fines and directors’ liability.
3. The Cyber Resilience Act is changing product security
While NIS2 targets the operational resilience of organizations, the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) places responsibility on manufacturers of hardware and software. Starting Sept. 11, 2026, the first mandatory reporting requirements go into effect. Manufacturers must report every actively exploited vulnerability and serious security incident through a central ENISA platform: an early warning within 24 hours, a full notification within 72 hours, and a detailed final report within a month.
For Flemish SMEs offering SaaS solutions or developing embedded systems, this means intensive process changes. The CRA requires products to be “secure-by-design” and “secure-by-default.” An essential tool in this regard is the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM): a machine-readable inventory of all components and dependencies within a software product.
Important for smaller players: the European SECURE project offers grants of up to €30,000 to SMEs for product classification, training and documentation support. But the pressure remains high: lack of CE marking for cyber security will lead to a sales ban within the EU from December 2027.
What can you do? Inventory which of your products are covered by the CRA and in which category (standard, major or critical). Start building an SBOM for your software products. Learn more about the CRA and the implications for your business on our CRA page.
4. Your suppliers become your vulnerability
The supply chain has evolved from a secondary concern to a central attack vector by 2026. Attackers realize that it is more efficient to compromise one software vendor or IT service provider than to attack individual companies. In Belgium, 38% of organizations already reported negative impacts from incidents at their suppliers.
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) remain a primary target. The digital infrastructure and services sector accounts for 8.2% of all incidents, with attackers using IT administrators as a springboard into the networks of hundreds of SMEs. Statewide affiliated groups also specifically target the logistics, transportation and telecommunications sectors in the EU.
Influenced by NIS2, an annual “checklist” for vendors is no longer enough. Companies are increasingly demanding real-time proof of the security status of their critical partners. The CCB recommends that all organizations in a NIS2 entity’s supply chain achieve at least the CyFun Basic level.
What can you do? Map your critical suppliers and assess their level of security. Include cybersecurity clauses in supplier contracts. Our article on the supply chain attack on Odido and Blue Yonder illustrates how quickly a supplier incident can affect your business.
5. Cyber insurers getting stricter
The cyber insurance market in 2026 is characterized by a stabilization of premiums, but an unprecedented tightening of underwriting requirements. Insurers have increased their questionnaires by an average of 130% since 2021. Without a proven set of security controls, it is virtually impossible to secure an affordable policy.
The non-negotiable requirements for Flemish SMEs: multi-factor authentication (required in 95% of policies), an incident response plan (delivers 15% lower premiums on average), Endpoint Detection & Response and regular pentesting. Despite rising threats, 74% of European SMEs are potentially underinsured.
In addition, exclusions are becoming tighter. The “War Exclusion” clause has been clarified in 80% of policies to exclude damage from state-directed cyber operations. As a result, your cyber insurance increasingly serves as a safety net for residual risk, not a substitute for active prevention.
What can you do? Check the coverage limits of your current policy and compare them to the actual cost of an incident. Make sure MFA, EDR and an incident response plan are demonstrably in place. Learn more about what cyber insurance does and does not cover in our article on cyber insurance in Belgium.
6. OT security is no longer a niche
Flanders has a strong industrial backbone that is reaping the full benefits of Industry 4.0. But the hyperconnectivity of Operational Technology (OT), the systems that control machines and production processes, is creating new physical risks. The separation between the office environment (IT) and the factory floor (OT) has all but disappeared in many SMEs.
In the manufacturing sector, 80% of reported incidents are related to ransomware and associated data breaches. The impact is often more immediate and costly than in purely administrative sectors: a ransomware infection that arrives via an email can shut down the entire production line.
Many Flemish SMEs operate machines that are 10 to 20 years old and run on outdated software that was never designed for Internet connectivity. Adding IoT sensors to these systems without adequate security creates critical vulnerabilities. Moreover, under NIS2, the manufacturing industry (chemical, food, mechanical engineering) is categorized as a “major entity,” making robust access controls and network segmentation in the workplace a legal requirement.
What can you do? Start with an inventory of all OT systems connected to the corporate network. Implement network segmentation to keep IT and OT separate. More background information can be found in our article on IT vs OT security.
7. SMEs are the primary target
The year 2026 confirms a painful reality: the Flemish SME is no longer collateral damage, but the primary target of cybercriminals. Recent reports paint an alarming picture: the number of attacks on Belgian SMEs increased by 50%, 46% of Flemish companies became victims, and the success rate of attacks (effective damage) is 1 in 10.
The statement is structural. SMEs receive as many security alerts as large enterprises, but must process them with a fraction of the resources. About half of those alerts are “false positives,” which puts enormous pressure on small IT teams and slows response time to actual incidents.
The consequences go beyond financial loss. Research shows that 71% of affected organizations report that a cyber attack takes a significant toll on the mental health of employees. For a Flemish SME with 100 employees, the failure of key personnel due to a cyber incident can be as damaging as the technical downtime itself.
What can you do? Start with a cybersecurity audit to objectively assess your current level of security. Combine technical measures (EDR, MFA, backups) with structural awareness training. Flemish SMEs can get up to 50% subsidy on cybersecurity services through the VLAIO Improvement Program. Practical protection measures can be found in our guide to ransomware protection.
Frequently asked questions about cybersecurity in 2026
What is the biggest cyber threat to SMEs in 2026?
AI-driven phishing and social engineering pose the biggest immediate threat. More than 80% of phishing campaigns use AI-generated content that produces flawless Dutch. In addition, ransomware remains a significant risk, with 105 incidents nationwide in Belgium by 2025.
Are NIS2 fines already being handed out in Belgium?
For now, the CCB is taking a cooperative, educational approach and has not imposed sanctions in the first 15 months. However, that policy may change as the deadlines pass. The law provides for fines of up to 10 million euros for essential entities and personal liability for directors.
Will cyber insurance become more expensive in 2026?
Premiums have stabilized, but underwriting requirements are stricter than ever. Insurers require MFA, EDR, an incident response plan and regular pentesting as basic requirements. Without these measures, an affordable policy is virtually impossible.
How does an SME protect itself from AI attacks?
The best protection combines technology with human vigilance. Implement advanced e-mail filtering, train employees monthly through phishing simulations, and institute a strict verification protocol for financial transactions. One-time training is not effective; frequency and repetition are essential.
Specifically, what will the Cyber Resilience Act change for software companies?
As of Sept. 11, 2026, manufacturers must report actively exploited vulnerabilities to ENISA within 24 hours. Products must be “secure-by-design” and include a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). From December 2027, a CE marking for cybersecurity will be mandatory to sell products within the EU.
Conclusion: proactive investment pays off
The seven trends in this article have one common thread: cybersecurity has evolved from an IT problem to a business-critical priority with legal, financial and operational consequences by 2026. Flemish companies that proactively invest in their resilience not only minimize risks, but also gain the trust of customers, partners and insurers.
Want to know where your company stands and what steps will have the most impact? Book a no-obligation consultation with one of our cybersecurity experts. Together we will map your current security level and determine the priorities for your organization.
