Cybersecurity in Denmark

When I look back at the past year, one thing is clear: 2025 was a turning point for cybersecurity in Denmark. We have long known that cyber threats are real, growing, and global. But this year also showed how regulation, geopolitics, and technology are transforming not only the threat landscape but also how Danish organizations approach security. Against this backdrop, I am proud to introduce the Security Navigator 2026 – combining global research, threat intelligence, and insights from Orange Cyberdefense with a local Danish perspective. 

A defining year for Danish cybersecurity 

At the start of 2025, many asked: What will this year bring? Will we see more of the same – rising attack numbers, more ransomware, hacktivism, and sophisticated criminal networks – or will something fundamentally shift? 

The answer, I belive, is both. Yes, the overall volume of attacks continues to grow, but the rate has stabilized. The real story lies in how attacks are changing – in their impact, the harm they cause, and the new responsibilities leaders now carry under NIS2 and DORA, and how Danish businesses are responding with growing maturity and determination. 

Resilience moved from theory to practice 

2025 was the year when resilience moved from theory to practice. Regulations like NIS2 and DORA placed accountability squarely on top management. Danish boards can no longer ignore cybersecurity – it has become a business-critical issue. Across more organizations, awareness training, incident simulations, and resilience planning have also become mainstream. Companies now recognize that resilience is more than compliance – it’s survival. 

People’s identity is the new perimeter 

In 2025, identity truly became the new perimeter. With data scattered across clouds, mobile devices, and hybrid workplaces, the old notion of an outer digital fortress no longer holds. We saw Danish enterprises embrace Zero Trust, Micro-Segmentation, and Identity Management within SASE and SSE frameworks – modern secure access platforms that give employees exactly the access they need, wherever they are. For attackers, stolen credentials still matter, but their impact is limited when access policies are strong. 

OT Security exploded onto the agenda 

2025 also brought Operational Technology (OT) Security to the forefront. For many companies, the production floor is the beating heart of the business – without OT, there’s no output, revenue, or service. As IT and OT converge, risks multiply. We saw this clearly in Denmark where more organizations sought help to map and protect OT environments, segment networks, and prevent production shutdowns. As manufacturing, logistics, and energy systems become increasingly digitized, the stakes rise. A compromised OT system can halt production, disrupt supply chains, and threaten critical infrastructure. That’s why we continue to invest heavily in helping Danish organizations secure their OT environments – from segmentation and monitoring to Managed Detection and Response. 

AI dominated the conversation 

2025 was also a year when AI dominated the conversation. Many asked whether criminals were already using AI to launch unprecedented attacks. The truth is more nuanced. We don’t yet see entirely new attack patterns driven by AI, but criminals are experimenting – automating, scaling operations, and probing for weaknesses. On the defensive side, we use AI to filter noise, reduce false positives, accelerate incident response, and empower human experts to focus on what matters most. At the same time, regulation is catching up. The AI Act introduces strict requirements for protection, classification, documentation, and governance. Together with NIS2 and DORA, it marks a shift from innovation at any cost to harmonized, responsible, resilient digital growth. 

A global report with local relevance 

The Security Navigator 2026 explores these developments through a political, economic, sociocultural, and technological lens. Here’s my perspective on each of them from a Danish point of view: 

Economic: Digital sovereignty and global dependencies

Denmark is deeply integrated into global supply chains and relies on large international cloud providers, AI models, and digital platforms. This brings efficiency but also dependency. As more Danish organizations embrace AI and large language models, we must ask: Who controls the data? Who sets the standards? What happens when dependencies are exploited? At Orange Cyberdefense, we believe in balanced strategies – combining the scale of global platforms with local governance and expertise to strengthen resilience. 

Sociocultural: Consumer-driven adoption 

Denmark is among the world’s most digitalized nations. We adopt new technologies fast – from smart devices to AI tools – creating both opportunities and blind spots. Security is often an afterthought when innovation moves fast. That’s why a Security by Design approach is essential – embedding cybersecurity into every system and process from the start. The human factor remains decisive. Training, awareness, and culture make the difference between resilience and vulnerability. Companies that build a culture of shared responsibility and run tabletop exercises are better prepared and protected. Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue – it’s a people issue. 

Technological: AI, quantum technology, and beyond 

While AI remains the here-and-now power engine of cybersecurity – empowering both defenders and attackers – quantum technology represents the next major future challenge. The United Nations designated 2025 as the “Quantum Year,” signaling that this technology is moving from theory to strategic reality. Denmark’s new quantum fund and the heavy investment in one of the worlds largest AI supercomputers, underlines our ambition to be a global quantum hub and to develop secure, quantum resistant infrastructure. Quantum technology could enable unbreakable communications, yet within a decade, quantum computers may also be able to break today’s encryption standards, putting sensitive data at risk. This looming “Q-Day” highlights the need to prepare. At Orange Cyberdefense, we already help organizations build crypto-agility and plan for post-quantum cryptography. 

From compliance to real resilience 

Looking ahead, one message stands out: NIS2 and DORA are milestones, not finish lines. The real goal is resilience – the ability to keep operating no matter what happens in cyberspace. As a consequense, we’re seeing growing demand for Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) expertise and Managed Security Sevices (MSS) in Denmark. As regulations tighten, boards seek trusted partners who can turn analysis and strategies into action. And with the skills shortage deepening, outsourcing detection and response is becoming the logical choice. For us, this growth is not just business – it’s proof that Danish organizations are becoming more mature, proactive, and determined to protect business critical assets and invest in a secure future. 

Building a safer digital Denmark 

Looking toward 2026, I see both challenges and opportunities. The threat landscape is complex and evolving – yet we are not powerless. With foresight, resilience, and strong partnerships, we can build defenses that match the scale of the threats, and I believe we are better prepared than ever. New regulations drive accountability, technologies like AI and advanced monitoring are on our side, and we see more companies embracing maturity. But most importantly, we have skilled and dedicated people who make all the difference. The Security Navigator 2026 is more than a report – it’s a guide and an invitation to think strategically about the future of cybersecurity. 

I encourage you to read it, reflect on its findings, and use it to strengthen your own resilience.