Navigating Cyber Security and Data Protection Compliance in 2026: What Every Business Needs to Know

27 October 2025
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Why Staying Ahead of 2026’s Compliance Changes Matters

For digital businesses, 2026 will be a defining year for cyber security and data protection compliance. A wave of new UK and EU laws is reshaping how companies collect, store, and protect information — and how they build trust in a connected world.

Whether you’re a SaaS provider, a cloud platform, or any business handling customer data, these regulations aren’t just background noise. They directly affect how you design your products, manage risk, and communicate with your users.

What’s changing isn’t just the law — it’s the expectation. Regulators are demanding more transparency, accountability, and resilience than ever before. Customers, too, are becoming more privacy-aware and less forgiving of data mishandling.

Understanding the evolving compliance landscape isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about protecting your reputation, avoiding costly fines, and staying competitive in a market where trust is your greatest asset.

In this post, we break down the key data protection and cyber security regulations shaping 2026 — and what your organisation can do now to stay compliant, confident, and ready for the future.

The Data Landscape: From AI to Access and Accountability

The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) is now in full swing. It categorises AI systems by risk — from unacceptable to minimal — and places strict oversight on how AI is used in recruitment, education, healthcare and beyond.

If your AI systems or outputs are used within the EU, you’re within scope — even if your business isn’t based there. You’ll need to review how AI models are embedded in your platforms, ensure transparency and explainability, and appoint an EU representative where required. Non-compliance can mean fines of up to €35 million or 7% of global turnover.

Meanwhile, the EU Data Act (effective September 2025) empowers users with new rights to access, share, and port data. It compels cloud and SaaS providers to remove switching barriers, support data portability, and delete data promptly when customers move on. Providers failing to comply could face fines of up to 4% of global turnover.

In the UK, the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA) mirrors this trend, updating privacy, marketing, and cookie consent rules. With PECR fines now aligned to GDPR levels, organisations must act fast to review governance and cross-border data transfers before the UK’s EU adequacy decision expires in December 2025.

Cyber Resilience: From Prevention to Continuous Readiness

Cyber resilience has become a core compliance obligation.

The EU NIS2 Directive now extends cyber security requirements far beyond critical infrastructure. If your SaaS or digital services support EU markets, you may need to demonstrate robust risk management, incident reporting, and supply chain security.

Similarly, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) makes financial institutions — and their technology providers — responsible for operational resilience. Providers must include DORA clauses in all relevant contracts and manage third-party risks proactively.

The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) adds yet another layer, requiring secure design and vulnerability management for all “products with digital elements.” This includes software, IoT systems, and connected devices — areas often overlooked in compliance planning.

Add to that the Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER) and the UK’s PSTI Act, and it’s clear: regulators expect security by design across every layer of your digital infrastructure.

Online Platforms and Consumer Protection: Accountability in the Spotlight

Online platforms face a new era of digital accountability.

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) demands clear processes for handling illegal content, transparency around algorithms, and regular compliance reporting — not just for big tech, but for any provider hosting user content.

Accessibility has also become a compliance issue under the EU Accessibility Directive (EAA). From online banking to ticketing systems, digital products must now meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.

In the UK, the Online Safety Act (OSA) and Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) extend protections to users and consumers. Platforms must safeguard children online, ensure subscription transparency, and make cancellations easy.

Coming in 2026, the Revised EU Product Liability Directive (PLD) will even treat software defects and cybersecurity flaws as grounds for liability — meaning compliance failures could carry not just regulatory, but legal risks too.

Your 2026 Cyber Security & Data Protection Readiness Guide

The world of digital compliance is moving fast. Between new AI rules, data-sharing rights, and tougher security standards, it’s easy for teams to feel overwhelmed.

This isn’t just about avoiding fines — it’s about showing your customers, partners, and regulators that you take privacy and resilience seriously. Here’s how to get your business ready for the new era of cyber security and data protection in 2026.

Step 1: Get Your Data and AI in Order

2026 is the year AI governance and data transparency go mainstream. Start by asking:

Do we know where and how we use AI? Map every system — from chatbots to analytics — and classify them under the EU AI Act risk categories.
Do our contracts reflect data portability and switching rights under the EU Data Act? Make sure customers can move their data easily and securely.
Are our cookie, marketing and consent policies up to date with the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA)?
Have we reviewed international data transfers before the UK’s EU adequacy decision expires in December 2025?

Pro tip: Data governance isn’t just an IT task — involve your legal, product, and marketing teams to ensure consistency across the board.

Step 2: Build Cyber Resilience into Everything

With NIS2, DORA, and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) all now active or imminent, the focus is shifting from prevention to resilience.

Check if your organisation qualifies as an “essential” or “important” entity under NIS2.
Update incident response and risk management procedures — and test them regularly.
If you serve financial clients, make sure your contracts meet DORA requirements.
Review software and connected devices for CRA and PSTI Act compliance — secure design and patching are now legal obligations.
Conduct a resilience review: could your business keep operating if key systems failed tomorrow?

Pro tip: Think of cyber resilience as your digital immune system — it needs regular testing and strengthening.

Step 3: Make Platforms Safer and Fairer

If you offer digital services or online content, several new laws are raising the bar for accountability.

Check whether you fall under the Digital Services Act (DSA) or the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) — both require clear content reporting and child protection measures.
Make accessibility part of your design process — compliance with WCAG 2.1 is now required under the EU Accessibility Directive (EAA).
Prepare for the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC) by reviewing your subscription and cancellation processes — no more hidden renewals or hard-to-find opt-outs.
Look ahead to the Product Liability Directive (PLD) — from 2026, software flaws and cybersecurity weaknesses can trigger liability claims.

Pro tip: Prioritise user trust — compliance with these laws isn’t just a duty; it’s a selling point.

Step 4: Strengthen Oversight and Culture

The best compliance programmes aren’t built on policies — they’re built on people.

Create a compliance roadmap tracking all applicable laws, timelines, and responsibilities.
Refresh your privacy policies, vendor agreements, and service contracts.
Run compliance awareness training for every team — from developers to customer support — so everyone understands their part in compliance.
Bring compliance into everyday conversations. Make it part of how your organisation defines quality and trust.

Pro tip: Continuous learning is your best defence. The more your people understand the “why” behind compliance, the less likely you are to face costly mistakes.

Final Thoughts: Compliance as a Culture

2026 isn’t just about keeping up with new rules — it’s about building a culture of compliance.

Regulators are closing gaps that once allowed digital providers to fly under the radar. Whether it’s AI governance, data portability, or cyber resilience, the direction of travel is clear: greater accountability, stronger consumer protection, and more resilient digital ecosystems.

For businesses operating in the cloud, this is the time to invest in awareness, compliance and cyber security training, and operational readiness. Compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties — it’s about proving your business deserves your customers’ trust.

To find out more about our compliance learning management system (LMS), you can contact us via our contact form, or email us at info@infoaware.com.