TopicInsightsRising threats: End User Cybersecurity spend forecast US$239bn by 2026

Rising threats: End User Cybersecurity spend forecast US$239bn by 2026

  • Gartner: Global End-User Spend on Information Security $213bn in 2025
  • Gartner forecasts $239bn by 2026, marking +12.5% increase year on year

Worldwide end-user spending on information security is projected to reach US$213 billion in 2025, up from $193 billion in 2024, according to Gartner, Inc. Spending is estimated to increase 12.5% in 2026 to total $240 billion.

“Established security spending will continue as normal, but some organizations are being more cautious with any new security spending in this highly uncertain and challenging climate,” said Ruggero Contu, Sr Director Analyst at Gartner. “However, higher defense budgets, rising threats, increasing regulatory pressure and better cybersecurity awareness – especially among small and medium-sized businesses – will keep cybersecurity spending strong in the medium to long term.”

Security software is the fastest growing segment because more companies continue to move from on-premises to cloud-based systems, which brings new security risks. Cloud security posture management and cloud access security brokers are the main drivers in this segment.

In the forecast period, rising threats and the expanding use of AI and generative AI — by both internal users of AI and attackers — will remain key growth drivers.

Gartner Data Snapshot: Information Security End-User Spending by Subsegment, Worldwide, 2024-2026 (Millions of U.S. Dollars)

Market 2024 2025 2026
Network Security 21,317 23,273 25,825
Security Services 77,130 83,812 92,780
Security Software 94,960 105,940 121,154
Total 193,408 213,025 239,759

Source: Gartner (July 2025)

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