Australian Cybersecurity Spending to Reach AUD $7.5 Billion in 2026

Gartner forecasts that Australian organizations will spend over AUD $7.5 billion on information security in 2026, marking a 9.5% increase from 2025. This growth is driven by persistent cyber threats, the increasing use of AI by both defenders and attackers, and a significant talent shortage in the cybersecurity workforce. Security software spending is expected to rise by 12.3% to over AUD $3.3 billion, with a focus on areas such as application security and data privacy. Additionally, over 75% of enterprises are predicted to adopt AI-amplified cybersecurity products by 2028. Security services, which include consulting and managed services, will remain the largest spending category, reaching over AUD $3.7 billion. The demand for AI-literate security personnel is intensifying, further exacerbating the talent shortage. The Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit is currently taking place in Sydney, where these trends are being discussed.

Key Points: • Australian cybersecurity spending is projected to exceed AUD $7.5 billion in 2026. • Security software spending is expected to grow by 12.3%, driven by AI adoption. • Over 75% of enterprises are predicted to utilize AI-amplified cybersecurity products by 2028.