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For the last two years, artificial intelligence (AI) has dominated every conversation. Politicians, chief executive officers and the media have crowned it the revolution of the decade. But while the world has been fixated on AI, another force has been rising quietly in the background.
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One that is far more urgent, more explosive and now impossible to ignore. That force is Cybersecurity, and the latest global data makes it undeniable.
Cyberattacks are exploding at a record pace. Ransomware incidents are at an all-time high, and global cybercrime damage is projected to reach US $10.5 trillion annually, the most significant wealth transfer in history.
Hospitals, energy grids, logistics networks and government systems are being attacked weekly. Our entire way of life is now powered by digital infrastructure, and that infrastructure is under siege.
The turning point is the intelligence behind these attacks. According to the 2025 IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Report, AI-generated phishing is already three times more successful than traditional attempts, with offensive capabilities evolving faster than any defensive system can adapt.
And it’s not just criminals. A geopolitical cyberwar is unfolding. China, Russia, Iran and North Korea have massively expanded their state-backed cyber divisions, targeting Western energy grids, semiconductor supply chains and critical infrastructure. In many cases, cyberwarfare has replaced missiles as the preferred weapon.
The financial response tells you everything. Global cybersecurity spending is set to reach US$215 billion in 2025 and surpass US$300 billion in 2026. To put that into perspective, cybersecurity investment is now growing faster than AI, cloud computing, and data centre spending combined, making it the strongest growth engine in global technology.
Meanwhile, the world faces a severe shortage of defenders. By 2026, the global cyber-skills gap is expected to exceed 4.5 million unfilled positions, one of the worst labour shortages in modern history and salaries are soaring.
In Australia, the average cybersecurity wage is around $135,000, with specialist roles upwards of $180,000 to $220,000, placing cybersecurity among the top five highest-paid technology careers in the country.
And Australia has its own emerging beneficiaries. Companies like Qoria (ASX:QOR), FirstWave (ASX:FCT), and ArchTIS (ASX:AR9) are positioned directly in front of this global spending surge, sitting in the slipstream of regulatory pressure, AI-driven threats and corporate cyber mandates.
Most investors miss these opportunities until it’s too late, but in 2026, acting early is everything. Investing in cybersecurity, or even shifting your career towards it, will not just shield you from becoming irrelevant in the age of AI. It could put you at the centre of what may become the most profitable megatrend of the next decade.
For now, good luck and good trading.
Dale Gillham is Chief Analyst at Wealth Within and an international bestselling author of How to Beat the Managed Funds by 20%. He is also the author of Accelerate Your Wealth—It’s Your Money, Your Choice, which is available in bookstores and online at www.wealthwithin.com.au.
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Disclaimer: While Wealth Within holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL:226347), the information featured in this program is general in nature and therefore should not be relied upon. Before making any investment decisions, you should consult a licensed professional who can advise whether your investment decisions are appropriate for you.
The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here.
