The Mastercard Cyber Pulse Report 2026 offers a comprehensive overview of the evolving cyber threat landscape in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA), shedding light on the critical role of digital resilience in driving economic stability. This report is a powerful tool for businesses and governments, providing actionable insights to navigate the complex cyber environment and ensure operational resilience, economic continuity, and long-term trust in the digital economy.
One of the key findings of the report is the significant material cyber risk faced by businesses in the region. The IBM cost of data breach report 2025 highlights a staggering average cost of $7.29 million per incident in the Middle East, which is 64% higher than the global average. This alarming statistic underscores the importance of cyber resilience as a leadership and board-level concern, as organizations strive to protect their valuable data and assets.
The report also reveals a concerning trend in cybercrime. In early 2026, cybercrime across the EEMEA region increased following a period of geopolitical instability. This highlights the need for organizations to move beyond awareness and towards sustained cyber readiness and resilience. Financially motivated and disruptive activities account for a staggering 71% of observed cybercrime, emphasizing the need for stronger cyber defenses across all sectors.
Business systems, customer information, and physical infrastructure are the primary targets for attackers, accounting for 66% of all targets. Attackers aim to disrupt operations, commit fraud, and cause physical damage. The public, technology, and financial sectors are particularly vulnerable, as they concentrate high-value data and play a crucial role in economic and digital ecosystems.
The report also emphasizes the importance of addressing common attack methods such as malware, ransomware, and email-based social engineering. While baseline cyber health remains strong in some markets, application security and web encryption are identified as areas for improvement. The report provides specific recommendations for businesses, including improving application security and vulnerability management, to strengthen their cyber defenses.
Mastercard's commitment to cybersecurity is underscored by its substantial investments in trust and security. Since 2019, the company has invested approximately $12.6 billion in cybersecurity innovation. In 2025 alone, Mastercard processed 175 billion transactions, leveraging advanced data science to detect vulnerabilities faster and with greater precision. This enables the company to enhance protection across the ecosystem and provide comprehensive cyber advisory services, global partnerships, and intelligence-led capabilities.
The Mastercard Cyber Pulse Report 2026 is a valuable resource for organizations to assess their cyber exposure, understand evolving threats, and translate intelligence into practical actions. By adopting a proactive and integrated approach to cybersecurity, businesses can strengthen trust, continuity, and resilience, ensuring a more secure digital future for all who engage in the digital economy.
