Arctic Wolf has published new UK findings from its ‘2026 AI & Cybersecurity Trends Report’, revealing more than nine in ten (92%) UK organisations consider digital sovereignty either important or extremely important to their IT and security strategy, amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
The global survey of 1,350 security and IT decision-makers examines how organisations are responding to the evolving cybersecurity landscape.
It finds more than eight in ten (83%) UK organisations say having a Security Operations Centre (SOC) located in Europe would increase their confidence in a cybersecurity provider, with 43% stating it would significantly strengthen overall trust.
Geopolitics
Geopolitical considerations are also influencing purchasing decisions. Half (50%) of UK respondents are actively evaluating regional and vendor risk when buying cybersecurity products, while almost one in five (19%) have already changed vendors or restricted purchases from certain regions.
Concerns around geopolitical risk are reflected in perceptions of where cyber threats originate, with UK organisations identifying China and Russia as the countries posing the biggest cybersecurity threats.
AI is another major factor in cybersecurity buying decisions. Almost all (95%) UK respondents say AI-powered capabilities will influence purchasing or renewal decisions over the next 12 months, including 48% who now consider AI capability a requirement.
Business imperative
“Digital sovereignty is fast becoming a business imperative as geopolitical uncertainty transforms how organisations approach cyber risk,” said Christopher Fielder, Field CTO at Arctic Wolf.
“Traditional ‘must haves’ like capability, cost and performance are no longer enough on their own. Organisations want greater visibility and control over their technology and data and that is changing what they expect from cybersecurity providers.
“For providers, that means giving customers confidence in how their data is managed and protected, while continuing to deliver the protection they rely on.”
