At a glance
- Cyber remains the top risk leaders feel unprepared for.
- AI adoption is accelerating faster than governance readiness.
- Geopolitical uncertainty is amplifying business risk.
- Organizations are reassessing how risk is managed across the business.
- Resilience increasingly depends on shared ownership of risk.
Extending ownership beyond the risk function
Risk is everywhere, influencing decisions across functions, operations, and growth strategies. BDO's Global Risk Landscape 2026 report explores how business leaders worldwide are responding to this increasingly complex and interconnected business risk environment. The challenges identified in the report are felt globally, including by Canadian organizations, highlighting how today’s risks are not confined to borders.
What stood out most from this year's findings?
We take a closer look at three key insights from the 2026 report.
Cyber risk remains the top preparedness gap
“40% of leaders cite cyber as a top risk they are unprepared for, up from 23% last year.”
The rapid adoption of new technologies, digital operations, and AI is creating new opportunities for organizations, but it is also creating new areas of risk which must be managed. The report highlights a growing gap between investment and preparedness, raising questions about whether traditional approaches to cyber risk are still adequate to keep up with the velocity and speed of change.
Across Canada, organizations are accelerating digital transformation, increasing reliance on third parties, and embedding emerging technologies into core operations. As a result, cyber resilience is becoming a broader business issue, one that extends beyond technology teams and requires greater focus on governance, accountability, and operational readiness.
AI adoption is outpacing governance readiness
“66% of business leaders see the evolution of AI as an opportunity to the business, up from 57% in 2025.”
As AI moves from experimentation to deployment, organizations are finding that scaling AI responsibly requires more than new technology. The report highlights a growing need for stronger governance and clearer accountability as AI becomes embedded in everyday business operations.
That shift is already underway in Canada. Organizations are increasingly integrating AI into operational workflows and decision-making, as well as customer experiences. And while adoption continues to accelerate, attention is turning toward governance frameworks that can support innovation while maintaining confidence among regulators, customers, and other stakeholders.
Geopolitical uncertainty is reshaping business risk
“Geopolitical risk is a top-three risk that business leaders feel unprepared for.”
Beyond individual risk events, the report highlights how geopolitical volatility is influencing everything from supply chains and regulation to cybersecurity and investment decisions. As these pressures become more interconnected, organizations are finding it harder to anticipate and respond to change.
Canadian organizations are experiencing this complexity firsthand. Regulatory change, trade uncertainty, cybersecurity concerns, and geopolitical tensions increasingly intersect, creating challenges that extend well beyond compliance. For many leaders, the focus is shifting from managing individual risks to understanding how multiple pressures can converge and impact business strategy, operations, and growth.
What else stood out?
Cyber preparedness, AI governance, and geopolitical uncertainty are only part of the picture. Explore the full report to learn how business leaders are responding to an increasingly complex risk environment and where they feel least prepared for the challenges ahead.
Interested in discussing what these findings mean for your organization? Connect with our leaders.
The information in this publication is current as of July 1, 2026.
This publication has been carefully prepared, but it has been written in general terms and should be seen as broad guidance only. The publication cannot be relied upon to cover specific situations and you should not act, or refrain from acting, upon the information contained therein without obtaining specific professional advice. Please contact BDO Canada LLP to discuss these matters in the context of your particular circumstances. BDO Canada LLP, its partners, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability or duty of care for any loss arising from any action taken or not taken by anyone in reliance on the information in this publication or for any decision based on it.