The inaugural Cyber Pulse Report released by Mastercard reveals that public, technology, and financial sectors account for 44% of cyberthreat activity in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA).
This study combines regional threat intelligence with organizational health assessments to evaluate internet-facing assets. Meanwhile, the data shows that application security and web encryption are emerging as key vulnerabilities across these regions.
According to the findings, financially motivated and disruptive activities are responsible for 71% of cybercrime in the EEMEA region. Consequently, organizations must move beyond basic awareness toward sustained readiness to protect their digital assets. The report notes that cybercrime increased in early 2026 following a period of geopolitical instability.
“Cyber resilience is synonymous with business resilience and operational wellbeing. Our first report highlights the importance for organizations adopting a proactive and integrated approach to cybersecurity alongside consistent vigilance.”
Selin Bahadirli, Executive Vice President Services, EEMEA, Mastercard
Targeted Sectors and Systems
Attackers primarily target business systems, customer information, and physical infrastructure, which represent 66% of all targets. Specifically, these actors aim to disrupt operations, commit fraud, or cause physical damage to organizations.
Because these sectors hold high-value data, they remain highly attractive to cybercriminals looking to disrupt the economy.
Findings of the Cyber Pulse Report
The Cyber Pulse Report highlights that the average cost of a data breach in the Middle East has reached 7.29 million USD per incident. Notably, this figure is 64% higher than the global average, according to cited IBM data from 2025.
Therefore, managing these risks has become a critical priority for corporate boards and leadership teams across the region.
Common Attack Methods
Common attack methods such as malware, ransomware, and email-based social engineering continue to dominate across the EEMEA region. However, while baseline health remains strong in some markets, application security requires consistent improvement.
To address these vulnerabilities, the Cyber Pulse Report recommends that businesses improve their vulnerability management and application security protocols.
Financial Impact and Investments
To support digital safety, Mastercard has invested approximately 12.6 billion USD in cybersecurity since 2019. Furthermore, the company processed 175 billion transactions in 2025, using data science to detect vulnerabilities.
These efforts support a broader goal to connect and protect 500 million individuals and small businesses by 2030.
