MetricStream Announces 2026 Predictions for Cyber GRC; Insights to Be Explored in Detail in February Webinar

San Jose, January 20, 2026: MetricStream, the global market leader in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), today announced its annual forecast of key Cyber GRC trends for 2026, highlighting developments that will shape how organizations design risk and compliance strategies amid escalating cyber threats, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and rapid AI-driven transformation.

As enterprises face increasingly complex and interconnected risks across IT, operational technology (OT), and third-party ecosystems, MetricStream’s 2026 outlook underscores the need for AI-first, continuous, and connected approaches to cyber governance, risk, and compliance.

“In 2026, Cyber GRC will move from reacting faster to predicting earlier, governing smarter, and connecting risk across the enterprise,” said Manu Gopeendran, SVP of Strategy and Marketing at MetricStream. “Our trends forecast is grounded in real-world insights from customers, analysts, and industry experts navigating Cyber GRC today. They offer organizations a clear view of how to modernize cyber risk management and compliance programs and stay ahead of escalating cyber, regulatory, and operational risks.”

Key Cyber GRC Trends for 2026

1. AI-First Cyber GRC Will Redefine Risk Management
   Cyber GRC is becoming AI-first, with organizations using predictive intelligence, automated controls, and real-time insights to anticipate risks and shift from reactive responses to proactive cyber resilience.
2. The Convergence of IT and OT Creates a New Industrial Risk Frontier
   As IT and OT environments converge, cyber risk extends beyond digital systems into physical operations, forcing organizations, especially in critical infrastructure, to adopt unified Cyber GRC strategies.
3. Continuous Cyber Compliance Becomes the New Enterprise Standard
   Static, point-in-time compliance is being replaced by continuous models driven by real-time monitoring, automated evidence collection, and ongoing controls validation.
4. AI Governance Becomes a Core Pillar in Cyber Resilience
   With rapid AI adoption, governance of AI systems is emerging as a critical Cyber GRC priority, focused on accountability, regulatory alignment, and mitigating ethical and security risks.
5. Interconnected Risks Drive CISOs Towards a Connected GRC Approach 
   As cyber, third-party, operational, and regulatory risks increasingly overlap, CISOs are adopting connected GRC platforms to gain holistic visibility and coordinate risk responses across the enterprise.

Join Our Webinar February 18, 2026

MetricStream will explore these trends in greater detail during an upcoming webinar on February 18, 2026, where practical strategies for strengthening cyber governance, risk management, and compliance will be discussed. Register here.

For more information on MetricStream’s 2026 Cyber GRC predictions and to download the full list, please visit: 10 Cyber GRC Trends for 2026