German Businesses Face Intensifying Cybersecurity Threats and Push for Digital Sovereignty in 2026

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated in 2026, German companies confront critical challenges in cybersecurity resilience and digital sovereignty. Michael Veit, technology evangelist at Sophos, warns about the increasing ease with which attackers can breach corporate defenses and stresses the urgent need for robust cybersecurity strategies. He highlights emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence, calling on businesses to adapt their defenses to counter AI-driven attack methods.

Simultaneously, enterprises grapple with the vulnerabilities inherent in heavy reliance on major cloud providers. A recent cyberattack on Microsoft Azure underscored the dangers of potential downtime and data loss when cloud infrastructures are compromised. This incident amplifies the call for businesses to integrate stringent data security measures within their IT frameworks.

In response, firms aim to reclaim control over their digital assets through enhanced digital sovereignty encompassing three key domains: data sovereignty, which ensures legal control over data; cloud sovereignty, focused on compliance with local regulations; and technological sovereignty, promoting independent digital infrastructure. Achieving this requires specialized IT service providers delivering sovereign hybrid and multi-cloud solutions, together with comprehensive security and compliance services.

Backup strategies are evolving beyond traditional business continuity roles to address the growing complexity of cybercrime, which increasingly employs AI techniques to refine attacks. Remote Managed Services, which take over backup and recovery responsibilities, are gaining traction to meet heightened demands. Moreover, cloud-based backup solutions offer scalability and cost advantages over on-premises systems, enabling companies to free internal IT teams to focus on strategy and innovation.

These developments mark an important phase for German businesses striving to bolster cybersecurity defenses while navigating the intricacies of digital independence amid geopolitical tensions and technological dependencies.