Cybersecurity Challenges in Central and Eastern Europe 2026
Cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe are rising in 2026. At the same time, attacks are becoming more targeted, more localised, and more disruptive. As a result, organisations in CEE need a practical view of what is changing and what to prioritise.
In particular, healthcare, finance, and the public sector face the sharpest pressure. These sectors handle sensitive data, run complex workflows, and often depend on third parties. Therefore, they are prime targets for social engineering, ransomware, and credential theft.
Why cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe are rising in 2026
Several conditions make cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe distinct in 2026. First, the region is exposed to a blend of criminal activity and geopolitically motivated disruption. In addition, many organisations combine modern cloud tools with older systems that are harder to patch. Moreover, shared suppliers and outsourced IT create a wider “blast radius” when one provider is compromised.
ENISA’s Threat Landscape continues to highlight social engineering as a major initial access route, while also noting fast exploitation of vulnerabilities and the growing role of AI in attacks.
Cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe in 2026: the threat mix
In 2026, cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe are defined by convergence. Attackers combine persuasion, identity abuse, and operational disruption rather than relying on a single technique.
1 – Social engineering becomes mobile-first
Phishing still works. However, the chain often starts on mobile: smishing leads to messaging apps, and then escalates to voice calls or payment requests. Consequently, “verify by email” is no longer a safe workflow. ENISA also notes the increasing role of AI-supported phishing activity.
2 – Credential theft fuels repeatable compromise
Stolen credentials, session tokens, and infostealer logs enable fast account takeover. Europol describes this clearly: data and access are traded, reused, and exploited at scale.
3 – Disruption attempts are more visible in CEE
CEE remains a region where disruptive intent is not theoretical. For example, reporting in January 2026 described an attempted destructive attack against Poland’s energy targets linked by researchers to Sandworm, using malware designed to wipe systems.
Cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe for healthcare in 2026
For healthcare, cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe are amplified by operational urgency. Clinicians and administrators work under time pressure, so attackers focus on workflows that must not slow down.
Common healthcare risks in 2026 include:
phishing against shared inboxes, referrals, and appointment workflows
invoice and supplier impersonation tied to procurement
ransomware combined with data theft and extortion
credential reuse across clinical systems and SaaS portals
Even when core systems are defended, attackers aim for the human layer. Therefore, healthcare resilience depends on process controls as much as tools.
Cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe for finance in 2026
In finance, cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe often look like fraud first and malware second. While banks invest heavily in controls, attackers keep targeting people and processes.
High-frequency finance risks include:
payment diversion and invoice fraud (supplier change requests)
executive impersonation and “urgent transfer” pressure
account takeover via stolen sessions or MFA fatigue
credential theft that enables lateral movement into payment systems
Because cross-border operations are common, language and time-zone complexity add risk. As a result, verification steps must be strict, fast, and easy to follow.
Cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe for the public sector in 2026
For the public sector, cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe are shaped by legacy IT, limited budgets, and large user populations. In addition, municipalities and agencies are highly visible targets.
Common public sector issues include:
phishing against procurement, payroll, and citizen services
supplier compromise via MSP tools or remote access
slow patch cycles and hard-to-retire legacy systems
disruption attempts designed to erode trust
CERT Polska reporting also shows the scale of malicious domains and phishing activity handled at national level, which aligns with the pressure public services face.
Practical priorities for cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe
To reduce cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe in 2026, focus on controls that remove attacker advantage quickly.
Mobile-first awareness and simulations (smishing → chat apps → vishing paths)
Identity hardening (conditional access, MFA quality, privileged access hygiene)
Fraud-proof business processes (call-backs, dual approval, verified channels)
Patch and exposure speed for internet-facing systems
Recovery readiness (tested restores, segmented backups, rehearsed playbooks)
Supplier triage focused on MSPs, remote tooling, and shared admin access
Final thoughts on cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe in 2026
In 2026, cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe will keep concentrating in healthcare, finance, and the public sector. However, the strongest defensive gains come from tightening workflows and identity controls, not just buying more tools. Ultimately, organisations that reduce human-triggered risk and prove recovery capability will be the ones that stay resilient.
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Further reading
ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 (EU trends, social engineering, AI)
Europol IOCTA 2025: Steal, Deal and Repeat (data/access economy)
Reuters reporting on Poland energy cyber incident (Jan 2026)
CERT Polska annual reporting and statistics
Frequently Asked Questions about cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe
What are the main cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe in 2026?
The main cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe in 2026 are social engineering, ransomware, credential theft, and fraud. These threats often combine technical compromise with human manipulation. As a result, attackers gain access through people rather than systems.
Why are healthcare organisations in CEE especially exposed to cyber attacks?
Healthcare organisations face higher cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe because staff work under time pressure and rely heavily on email, mobile devices, and shared systems. In addition, many hospitals still use legacy platforms that are difficult to patch. This makes phishing and ransomware particularly effective.
How do cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe affect financial institutions?
For banks and financial services, cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe often appear as fraud rather than traditional hacking. Attackers target payment processes, supplier changes, and executive approvals. Therefore, human verification and identity protection are critical controls.
Why is the public sector a frequent target in Central and Eastern Europe?
The public sector faces persistent cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe due to visibility, budget constraints, and legacy IT systems. Municipalities and agencies also depend on external service providers. Consequently, phishing and supplier compromise are common entry points.
Are technical security tools enough to address cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe?
No. While technical controls are essential, they do not fully address cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe. Most successful incidents begin with social engineering or credential abuse. Therefore, organisations must combine technology with training, clear processes, and identity controls.
What should organisations prioritise first to reduce cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe?
To reduce cybersecurity challenges in Central and Eastern Europe, organisations should prioritise mobile-focused awareness, strong identity and access management, and fraud-resistant business processes. In addition, tested backup and recovery plans are essential for resilience.
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