The inaugural Cyber Pulse Report released by Mastercard reveals that public, technology, and financial sectors account for 44% of regional cyberthreats. This study analyzes digital security trends across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Meanwhile, application security and web encryption remain key vulnerabilities for organizations.
According to the Cyber Pulse Report, financially motivated and disruptive activities represent 71% of observed cybercrime in the region. Consequently, these threats have increased in early 2026 following a period of geopolitical instability. Organizations must therefore transition from basic awareness to active operational readiness.
Key Findings of the Cyber Pulse Report
The research combines regional threat intelligence from the Mastercard Cyber Insights platform with organizational health assessments from RiskRecon. Additionally, it incorporates advanced threat intelligence from Recorded Future, which Mastercard acquired in December 2024. These tools help businesses evaluate their internet-facing assets.
The report emphasizes that strengthening cybersecurity measures is essential for maintaining economic continuity. Specifically, digital resilience supports long-term trust in the broader economy.
Primary Targets and Attack Methods
Business systems, customer information, and physical infrastructure represent 66% of all cyber targets. Most attackers aim to disrupt operations, commit fraud, or cause physical damage. Furthermore, common attack methods like malware, ransomware, and email-based social engineering continue to dominate the region.
Certain sectors face higher risks due to their concentration of high-value data. Notably, the public, technology, and financial sectors are primary targets. Therefore, improving apps security and vulnerability management remains a critical recommendation for these industries.
Financial Impact of Regional Data Breaches
Cyber risks carry significant financial consequences for businesses in the Middle East. For instance, the IBM cost of data breach report 2025 indicates that the average cost of a data breach in the Middle East is nearly 7.29 million USD per incident. This figure is 64% higher than the global average.
“Cyber resilience is synonymous with business resilience and operational wellbeing. Our first Cyber Pulse 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
Mastercard Investments in Digital Security
Mastercard has invested approximately 12.6 billion USD in security innovation since 2019. During 2025, the company processed 175 billion transactions while using advanced data science to detect vulnerabilities. These investments support the company’s goal to connect and protect 500 million individuals and small businesses by 2030.
The company previously surpassed its target of bringing 50 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises into the digital economy. Currently, the Cyber Pulse Report highlights how tools like CyberQuant and Cyber Insights help organizations assess their exposure and translate intelligence into protective actions.
