Portugal ranked 19th among European countries for the frequency of customers affected by malicious cyber activity during the first half of 2026, highlighting the growing pressure on organisations from evolving cyber threats.
The 7th edition of the report highlights the expanding role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity. AI is being used by both attackers and security teams to speed up processes and operate at scale.
For cyber criminals, AI can help identify vulnerabilities, analyse information and adapt attacks more quickly. Security teams, meanwhile, are using the technology to detect and investigate threats and respond more efficiently.
Despite these advances, compromised accounts and stolen credentials remain major entry points for attackers. Phishing accounted for 23% of intrusions recorded in 2026, making digital identity protection a key concern.
Microsoft has advised organisations to strengthen safeguards around digital identities, especially critical accounts. The aim is to reduce the chances of an initial breach and limit the spread of attacks.
Public sector remains a key target
Government bodies and public services accounted for 27% of cyber activity recorded in 2026. The sector remains attractive to attackers because public organisations hold sensitive information and provide essential services.
They are also connected to broader networks involving government bodies, technology companies, service providers and critical infrastructure operators.
Pedro Soares, National Security Director at Microsoft Portugal, said the cybersecurity landscape has entered a new phase where preventing attacks alone is no longer enough.
He said organisations must also respond quickly, protect digital identities and keep essential operations running during incidents. Resilience, he added, is becoming increasingly important for both security and competitiveness.
The report warns that cyber threats are becoming faster, more connected and harder to contain. Resilience therefore involves more than recovering after an attack. It also requires preparation for incidents that can spread across multiple organisations and coordinated responses to keep essential services running.
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