The consulting firm Alix Partners recently issued its 2026 U.S. Risk Survey, which analyzes the top risks facing U.S. corporations based on responses from 500 senior executives in legal, compliance, and regulatory roles. The survey found that cybersecurity incidents are of greatest concern to respondents (65%), but that only 48% say that their organizations are “very prepared” to address cyber threats. Here are some other highlights from the survey:

– Financial crime. Fewer than half (48%) of respondents feel “very prepared” to address financial crime and fraud in 2026. Technology investment remains the top resource to combat it—yet confidence in risk-detection technologies dropped 20% year-over-year.

– AI-related risk. Accelerating AI adoption poses internal and external risks, with about half of organizations still lacking key elements of AI governance, such as an AI governing body/committee. The share who see AI-powered attacks as a top cybersecurity concern doubled from 2025—to 34% from 17% last year—but nearly three quarters (74%) have not completed system upgrades to address such threats.

– Data privacy. Nearly six in 10 (58%) cite data privacy as among the most concerning risk events their organizations face, but action lags awareness. Only 50% say their organizations are enhancing or plan to enhance data encryption, for instance, even though 73% say that measure is among the most important to address data privacy challenges for companies in their industry.

– Cryptocurrency. A majority (59%) is either already using crypto for payments and transactions or testing use cases. Yet the lack of more involved safeguards heightens risk: fewer than half (45%) have escalation and off-ramp procedures in place, while just 44% conduct third-party risk assessments for BaaS/fintech partners.

– Sanctions. Amid mounting geopolitical tensions, only about a third (35%) of organizations are “very prepared” for potential changes in sanctions, compared to 44% who said the same in 2025.

The survey also found that 63% of respondents expect corporate disputes to rise due to increased litigation exposure associated with economic uncertainty and AI-driven upheaval, while 80% said that developing federal AI policy poses strategic risk to compliance efforts in an increasingly fragmented regulatory landscape.

– John Jenkins