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AI & Cybersecurity in 2026: What Business Leaders Need to Prepare for Now

Citynet Managed Services Perspective

As we move into 2026, artificial intelligence is no longer a future consideration in cybersecurity — it’s the defining force shaping both attacks and defenses. From small and mid-sized businesses to large enterprises, organizations will face a new generation of AI-powered threats while simultaneously relying on AI to protect their networks, data, and people.

Our partners at KnowBe4 recently outlined key predictions for the year ahead. Below, we’ve highlighted those insights and have focused on what they mean for businesses and how Citynet Managed Security Services can help organizations stay ahead of the curve.

The Top AI-Driven Cybersecurity Threats for 2026

1. AI-Powered Phishing Becomes Nearly Impossible to Spot

Large language models are making phishing emails frighteningly realistic. Messages will be perfectly personalized, mimicking writing styles, job roles, and internal context. Even experienced employees will struggle to tell what’s real — unless organizations invest in advanced security awareness training and email threat detection that adapts in real time.

Citynet takeaway: Human risk is still the #1 attack surface. Ongoing training paired with intelligent email security is essential.

2. Deepfakes Create a Crisis of Trust

AI-generated voices and videos will convincingly impersonate executives, vendors, or partners — authorizing payments, requesting sensitive data, or spreading false information. “Seeing is believing” will no longer apply.

Citynet takeaway: Businesses must implement strict verification procedures, including out-of-band confirmations for financial and sensitive requests.

3. Autonomous Malware Adapts in Real Time

Malware is becoming smarter. AI-driven attacks can now modify themselves mid-attack to avoid detection, exploit new vulnerabilities, and move laterally across networks. Traditional signature-based antivirus solutions won’t keep up.

Citynet takeaway: Behavior-based monitoring and continuous threat detection are no longer optional — they’re table stakes.

4. AI Systems Themselves Become Targets

Attackers are shifting focus to AI tools inside organizations. Through techniques like prompt injection and AI hijacking, cybercriminals can manipulate systems into leaking data, making poor decisions, or executing harmful actions.

Citynet takeaway: Securing AI-enabled tools must be part of your overall cybersecurity strategy, just like endpoints and servers.

5. Cybercrime Becomes Easier Than Ever

AI is lowering the barrier to entry for cybercrime. With access to underground AI tools, attackers no longer need advanced technical skills to launch phishing, malware, or social engineering campaigns at scale.

Citynet takeaway: Expect more attacks, not fewer — and from a wider pool of adversaries.

How AI Will Strengthen Cyber Defenses in 2026

6. AI-Driven Threat Detection Becomes the Standard

Security platforms will increasingly rely on AI to identify anomalies, correlate signals, and detect attacks in real time. Organizations without AI-powered monitoring will be at a growing disadvantage.

Citynet takeaway: Managed detection and response (MDR) services help level the playing field, especially for SMBs.

7. AI Joins the “Red Team”

Autonomous agents will continuously simulate real-world attacks, helping organizations test and harden defenses before attackers strike. Annual penetration tests will give way to ongoing, AI-driven stress testing.

Citynet takeaway: Proactive security testing reduces risk and improves resilience.

8. Autonomous Security Operations Centers (SOCs) Emerge

AI will handle first-level alert triage, correlation, and even containment actions 24/7. Human experts will focus on strategy, response coordination, and decision-making instead of alert fatigue.

Citynet takeaway: A managed SOC extends enterprise-grade security capabilities without enterprise-level staffing costs.

9. AI Co-Pilots Supercharge Security Teams

AI assistants will help analysts investigate incidents, analyze logs, and produce reports faster and more accurately. Small IT teams will operate with far greater efficiency.

Citynet takeaway: The right tools — paired with local expertise — multiply the impact of your security staff.

10. Zero Trust Evolves for the AI Era

Zero Trust will expand beyond networks and devices to include identity verification against deepfakes and AI spoofing. Behavioral biometrics, digital watermarks, and strict authentication will become standard practice.

Citynet takeaway: Trust must be continuously verified — for users, systems, and communications alike.

What This Means for Your Business

AI-driven cyber threats are evolving faster than most internal IT teams can keep up with — but the same technology is also enabling stronger, smarter defenses. The organizations that succeed in 2026 will be those that combine advanced AI-powered tools with experienced security professionals and clear, enforceable processes.

At Citynet, our managed security services are designed to help businesses navigate this rapidly changing landscape — delivering proactive monitoring, local expertise, and scalable protection.

The future of cybersecurity is already here. Partner with Citynet today to protect your organization. Call us today at 800.881.2638.

07Jan

By Editorin Technology

The Emergency Information Everyone Needs on Their Phone

Our cell phones give us the modern convenience of access to emergency services almost anywhere. But, in the case of an emergency, first responders may arrive without knowing who you are, your medical conditions, or who to call.

You can store emergency information in the form of a digital medical ID on your mobile device, giving first responders secure access to pertinent medical information like your blood type, medications, and allergies, as well as your emergency contact information.

Digital medical cards carry several benefits over printed ones

It’s always with you since you’re unlikely to forget your phone
Data is easy to update (e.g. new medications, contact changes) without the need to re-print or carry extra paperwork
Pertinent information is easily accessible to first responders even if phone is locked (not your messages, photos, private data)

Modern smartphones nearly always include a built-in “Medical ID” or “Emergency Info” feature, and a few third-party apps can expand that.

Set Up Built-in Medical / Emergency ID on a Phone

On iPhone (iOS):

To set up your Medical ID on an iPhone, open the built-in Health app, then tap profile, then Medical ID.
Fill in key fields including date of birth, medical conditions, allergies, medications, blood type, emergency contacts, organ-donor status, if desired.
Make sure to enable “Show When Locked” (so Medical ID is visible even when phone is locked).

You can also enable “Share During Emergency Call” if so that if you call 911, your Medical ID may be securely transmitted to first responders without you having to take any extra action.

On Android phones:

Many Android phones have a built-in “Emergency Info” or “Medical Info” section that you can access by going into your Settings, then Safety and Emergency or Emergency Info.
Fill in similar details to those listed in the iOS Medical ID section such as allergies, medical conditions, blood type, medications, emergency contacts, etc.
Make sure any “Show on Lock Screen” or “Emergency Info visible from lock screen” toggle is turned on (if available).

Although built-in features cover most needs, there are apps that offer additional features, such as Medical ID for Android, which lets you store detailed medical profiles, emergency contacts, medications, and more, and can add a widget or lock-screen shortcut for quick access.

What First Responders Can (and Can’t) See

First responders and medical teams can’t just log into your phone and see all your data.
Whether iPhone or Android, first responders or bystanders can tap “Emergency” on the lock screen, then “Medical ID,” and see only the medical and emergency information you have entered in your medical profile. They will not have access to texts, emails, photos, or other private data behind the lock.
By enabling the “share during emergency call” feature within the phone’s medical ID settings, the phone may send the information to emergency services automatically during a 911 call on supported devices and in supported locations.

Keep Your Information Updated

Medical conditions and medications change, so it’s a good practice to make sure your information stays up to date.
Make sure to check and update your information regularly, whether on an annual schedule or even after every doctor appointment.
If you’re the “tech wizard” of your family, consider setting up the emergency information on your loved ones’ phones so that they are protected if they ever need to dial 911 from their cell.
And, though the digital ID is convenient, if your battery dies or your phone is lost, a physical card or note with critical medical data is still a good backup to keep in a wallet or on the fridge.

Make sure to share this article with a friend or family member who might not realize this simple step can make a big difference.

With a few minutes now, you can make sure first responders or even family have the critical information needed to get you the help you need as fast as possible.

07Jan

By Editorin Technology

Understanding WiFi Signal Strength and Tips for Better Coverage

Even with fast fiber internet, many people still struggle with weak WiFi, dead zones, or slow speeds in certain rooms. Walls, distance, old devices, and furniture can affect how well your wireless connection performs.

Your fiber connection brings high-speed internet to your home, and then your WiFi router is what distributes that connection wirelessly to your devices. Once the internet leaves the router and travels through your home as a radio signal, many different factors can affect how strong or weak it becomes. Once you understand the cause of weak WiFi, the fixes become much clearer.

What WiFi Signal Strength Really Means

WiFi works by sending out radio waves from the router. These waves spread outward and lose strength over distance. When people say they have a “weak signal,” it usually means their device is too far from the router or the signal is being blocked by walls, ceilings, appliances, or other obstacles.

A strong WiFi signal does not guarantee maximum speed, but it is an indicator that the connection between your device and the router is clear and steady. A weak signal usually leads to slow loading times and buffering videos, difficulty connecting smart home devices, poor video call quality, or dropped connections altogether.

Your home may receive fast speeds, but if your WiFi signal is weakened as it reaches your device, you’re not getting the full experience for which you are paying.

Your Home May Weaken Your Signal

Your WiFi signal loses strength as it tries to pass through certain common building and household materials. Some materials absorb the signal, some reflect it, and others scatter it:

Wood or drywall: Low impact
Brick or stone: Medium impact
Concrete: High impact
Metal pipes or ductwork: High impact
Metal surfaces: Very high impact
Mirrors or reflective surfaces: Can bounce the signal away

This is why some homes, especially older homes with thicker walls or narrower layouts, have inconsistent coverage. Furniture, large appliances, or a closed door can make a noticeable difference.

Distance also matters. Even a strong router has limits. A WiFi signal is often strongest within 25 to 30 feet. After that, the signal drops quickly and exponentially, especially if it has to pass through walls.

Interference From Other Devices

WiFi shares airspace with many everyday devices. Some use similar frequencies, which can clutter the wireless environment and make your signal weak:

Baby monitors
Older Bluetooth devices
Garage door openers
Microwaves
Cordless phones
Smart appliances
Old electrical wiring and systems: Electronics and wiring that do not use WiFi can still create noise in the same frequency range.

Connect with Good Quality Devices

Many customers assume their internet network is slow when the real issue is the device connected to it making the WiFi signal weak. Older phones, tablets, laptops, security cameras, and smart home gadgets often have weaker wireless chips and slower network capabilities. These devices cannot fully use the speeds delivered by fiber internet.

If you’re running a speed test on a five-year-old laptop, or even a cheaper laptop with a low-quality wireless chip, you’ll likely not be able to experience the speeds other devices can when connected to the same network at the same location in the home.

Older devices may also disconnect easily, causing delays for other devices on your network. Upgrading a few key devices can make your WiFi stronger when nothing else changes.

Understanding Multi-Device Households

Homes today rely on more wireless devices than ever. A single family may have multiple:

Phones and watches
Smart TVs
Tablets and laptops
Video doorbells
Security systems
Smart thermostats
Gaming systems
Smart plugs and bulbs

Even small households may run 10 to 20 connected devices without realizing it. Older routers that don’t offer “multibands” (meaning both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands) often struggle to keep up because every device shares the same WiFi signal. Newer routers are designed to handle many devices at once. They use updated WiFi technology that helps each device communicate with the router more efficiently. This can make a big difference in homes with many smart devices.

Ways to Improve Your Home WiFi Performance

After understanding what affects WiFi signal strength, the next step is knowing what you can do about it. Better placement, newer equipment, and sometimes additional devices can help extend your signal so you can enjoy the speed for which you are paying. Below are five solutions that work well in most situations.

Use Modern WiFi Equipment
If your router is older than four or five years, it may not support current WiFi technology. Newer routers provide stronger, more reliable coverage, and can handle many devices at once. CITYNET Fiber Internet customers receive a top-not router for free as part of their service. Not only do you get great performance from your CITYNET router, but you also get great customer support. Our Support Team can remotely identify issues and work to resolve them.

Improve Router Placement
Small changes can significantly strengthen WiFi signal strength in nearby rooms. Place the router in a central part of the house, off the floor, away from metal appliances, and outside of cabinets, closets, or closed rooms.

Reduce Interference
Move the router away from:

Microwaves
Large mirrors
Cordless phones
Baby monitors
Cluttered shelves – A clear space helps the signal travel more freely

Know What Devices Are Slowing You Down
Check for older or low-quality devices that may be dragging down the network.

Consider a Mesh WiFi System
A mesh WiFi system uses multiple small access points to cover your whole home. This is ideal for:

Large homes
Multi-story homes
Homes with thick walls
Homes with far-apart rooms

Mesh WiFi provides seamless coverage so you can move throughout your home without losing connection.

CITYNET offers fast fiber internet with high-performance WiFi routers included for free with any of our plans. CITYNET customers have access to our free WiFi management app (on most plans) for maximum control and performance. Plus, CITYNET customers also have access to around-the-clock support from our expert support team to answer any questions or help diagnose any WiFi network issues. Not a CITNET Fiber Internet customer yet? GET STARTED TODAY!

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