The Mastercard Cyber Pulse Report offers a comprehensive look at the evolving cyber threat landscape across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA), shedding light on the importance of digital resilience for economic stability. This report is a powerful tool that combines regional threat intelligence, organizational cyber health assessments, and advanced threat intelligence to provide actionable insights for businesses and governments alike.
One of the key findings of the report is the significant material cyber risk that businesses in the region face. The IBM cost of data breach report 2025 highlights the staggering average cost of a data breach in the Middle East, which is nearly $7.29 million per incident, 64% higher than the global average. This alarming statistic emphasizes the critical need for cyber resilience at the highest levels of organizations, with leadership and board-level concerns becoming increasingly prevalent.
The report also reveals a concerning trend in cybercrime across the region. In early 2026, cybercrime increased following a period of geopolitical instability, underscoring the importance of moving beyond awareness and towards sustained cyber readiness and resilience. Financially motivated and disruptive activities account for a staggering 71% of observed cybercrime in EEMEA, emphasizing the need for stronger cyber readiness across all sectors.
The primary targets for attackers, according to the report, are business systems, customer information, and physical infrastructure, accounting for a staggering 66% of all targets. Most attackers aim to disrupt operations, commit fraud, and cause physical damage. The public, technology, and financial sectors are particularly vulnerable, accounting for 44% of all targeted industries due to their concentration of high-value data and their critical role in economic and digital ecosystems.
The report also highlights the recurring nature of cyber risk through repeatable patterns. Common attack methods such as malware, ransomware, and email-based social engineering continue to dominate across EEMEA. While baseline cyber health remains strong in some markets, application security and web encryption emerge as areas that require improvement. The report provides specific recommendations for businesses, including enhancing application security and vulnerability management.
Mastercard's commitment to cybersecurity is underscored by its substantial investment in trust and security. Since 2019, the company has invested approximately $12.6 billion in cybersecurity innovation. In 2025 alone, Mastercard processed 175 billion transactions, leveraging advanced data science to detect vulnerabilities faster and with greater precision, thereby enhancing protection across the ecosystem. This commitment is further reinforced by Mastercard's global partnerships and comprehensive suite of cyber advisory services, including its acquisition of Recorded Future, which provides real-time insights into cyber threats.
In conclusion, the Mastercard Cyber Pulse Report emphasizes the critical importance of digital resilience for economic stability. By combining threat intelligence, organizational assessments, and advanced analytics, the report empowers businesses and governments to navigate the complex cyber landscape, secure their digital assets, and build a more secure digital future for all stakeholders in the digital economy.
