While much of the technology sector has faced sharp selloffs in early 2026 over fears that generative AI tools could disrupt traditional software, data services, and knowledge-based industries, cybersecurity stands out as one corner of the market where investors can potentially find shelter from AI disruption while still benefiting from the technology’s widespread adoption, according to a Wednesday research note from Wedbush Securities.

Led by veteran tech analyst Dan Ives—a longstanding and vocal AI bull—Wedbush argues that AI will act as a powerful tailwind for the cybersecurity industry over the coming years. The rapid proliferation of AI deployments is expected to dramatically increase attack frequency, success rates, and blast radius, making protection of data, endpoints, and use cases mission-critical.

“AI will be a major tailwind to the cyber security sector over the coming years as protection of use cases, data, and end points expand markedly,” the analysts wrote. “As attack frequency, success rates, and blast radius rise with AI deployments, cybersecurity becomes even more mission-critical risk management, reinforcing budget resilience in this new AI driven IT budget world.”

Gartner projects global spending on AI cybersecurity to reach $51 billion in 2026, roughly doubling from the prior year, underscoring the sector’s rapid growth trajectory. Cybersecurity remains one of the fastest-growing categories of enterprise IT spending, with budgets proving resilient even in periods of broader tech spending caution.

Why Cybersecurity Is Seen as AI-Resilient

Wedbush and other analysts view cybersecurity as a “double-edged sword” beneficiary of AI:

• Defensive upside — AI enables faster threat detection, automated response, behavioral analytics, and predictive intelligence, strengthening defenders’ capabilities.
• Offensive threat amplification — AI empowers attackers with more sophisticated phishing, automated vulnerability scanning, polymorphic malware, deepfakes for social engineering, and faster exploit development—driving demand for advanced protection.

Unlike many software categories facing potential disintermediation or pricing pressure from AI agents and automation, cybersecurity demand is expected to rise as organizations seek to secure AI systems themselves, protect expanding attack surfaces (cloud, edge, IoT, data pipelines), and comply with stricter regulations around AI governance and data privacy.

Wedbush identified three stocks as best-positioned to capitalize on this dynamic:

1. CrowdStrike — “We believe that CRWD’s position as the gold standard of cybersecurity remains firmly unchanged in the face of this software sell-off with the company’s innovative, best-in-class Falcon platform becoming increasingly effective in the modern threat landscape as AI adversaries become an incrementally larger threat for enterprises heading down the AI path.”
2. Palo Alto Networks — “AI is not displacing PANW’s value proposition, but has actually made it more relevant, not less, as it is forcing customers to consolidate vendors, improve visibility, and automate response as threats become more adaptive and effective.”
3. Zscaler — Highlighted for its cloud-native zero-trust architecture, which aligns well with securing distributed AI workloads, remote users, and cloud-based AI infrastructure.

The cybersecurity sector has shown relative resilience amid the broader 2026 tech selloff. While software stocks broadly declined on fears of AI-driven disruption, cybersecurity names have held up better, supported by sustained enterprise budget priority and visible secular growth drivers. CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, and Zscaler have each outperformed the broader Nasdaq and software indices year-to-date, with CrowdStrike particularly benefiting from its Falcon platform’s reputation as a leading endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution in an era of increasingly sophisticated threats.

The sector’s resilience is further bolstered by regulatory tailwinds—stricter data privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA expansions), SEC cybersecurity disclosure rules, and emerging AI-specific governance frameworks—that force companies to increase security spending regardless of broader IT budget cycles.

However, there are still risks while Wedbush is bullish. A prolonged economic slowdown could pressure IT budgets, even in security. Competitive intensity is high, with legacy players (Fortinet, Check Point), cloud-native vendors (Cloudflare, Okta), and emerging startups all vying for share. Rapid AI advancement could also empower attackers faster than defenders in some scenarios, requiring continuous platform evolution.

However, the consensus view among analysts is that cybersecurity remains one of the most structurally advantaged sectors in the AI era. Demand is driven not by discretionary IT projects but by necessity—protecting assets, complying with regulations, and mitigating existential risks from AI-augmented threats.

As AI adoption accelerates across enterprises, cybersecurity spending is widely expected to remain resilient and likely accelerate. Wedbush’s note reinforces the emerging narrative: while AI may disrupt certain software categories, it is simultaneously creating a massive, secular growth driver for the companies tasked with securing the AI-powered world.

In the orchestra of modern commerce, the supply chain serves as the conductor’s baton, setting the rhythm, directing the flow, and ensuring harmony across the enterprise. Yet in many organizations, that baton has become weighed down by inefficiencies: warehouses filled with slow-moving stock, lead times stretched endlessly, and coordination across partners that struggles to keep pace with demand.

A lean supply chain represents a deliberate redesign. It is the discipline of eliminating waste, synchronizing processes, and delivering value with precision. Drawing inspiration from Toyota’s philosophy of lean production, it is about achieving more with less (less time, less inventory, and lower cost) while ensuring that the customer consistently receives greater value.

But lean is not simply about trimming excess; it is about building operational strength. Organizations that embrace it optimize sourcing, digitize logistics, and use data visibility to anticipate demand. They move from reactive replenishment to proactive planning, aligning resources closely with actual consumption patterns.

In Africa, where logistics constraints remain a major barrier to competitiveness, lean supply chain models offer a pathway to reduce the inefficiencies that inflate prices and erode margins. Properly implemented, they can transform fragmented ecosystems into coordinated networks where goods move predictably, efficiently, and at scale.

Ultimately, lean supply chain is both a strategy and a mindset. It calls on firms to see partners not as entities to be pressured, but as collaborators within a shared value system. When businesses commit to lean principles, they unlock capital, respond faster to markets, and build resilience against shocks. The reward is speed, adaptability, and enduring competitiveness.

From NATO today, we will learn from a Zen-master of lean at Tekedia Mini-MBA.

Thur, Feb 19 | 7pm-8pm WAT | Lean Supply Chain Applications in Business – Chibueze Noshiri, NATO Luxembourg  | Zoom link

The European Commission is probing whether Shein’s gamified features, recommendation systems, and safeguards against illegal products comply with the Digital Services Act.

The European Union has intensified regulatory pressure on Shein, launching a formal investigation under the bloc’s sweeping Digital Services Act (DSA) over what it describes as “addictive design,” opaque recommender systems, and the potential sale of illegal products.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the European Commission said it will examine whether elements of Shein’s platform architecture and risk controls comply with the DSA’s obligations for large online platforms. The move signals a broader regulatory shift in Europe: scrutiny is expanding beyond pricing and consumer transparency to the very design mechanics that drive user engagement and sales.

At the center of the probe is the Commission’s concern that Shein’s interface may encourage compulsive engagement through gamified rewards, point systems, and time-sensitive incentives. Regulators argue that such mechanisms could undermine consumer well-being by nudging users toward repeated or impulsive purchases.

Under the DSA, platforms must assess and mitigate systemic risks stemming from their design choices, including how recommender systems amplify certain content or products. Transparency obligations require companies to explain how algorithms prioritize listings and to provide meaningful information about how recommendations are generated.

The Commission said it will examine whether Shein’s recommender systems meet those transparency standards. The investigation also extends to the company’s systems for preventing illegal listings, including products described as “child-like sex dolls,” which would be prohibited under EU law.

If violations are confirmed, the Commission can impose fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover and require structural changes to platform operations.

French Action and Broader EU Consumer Concerns

The EU-level investigation follows earlier national action. In 2024, the French government sought to suspend Shein’s website over reports of sex doll listings. A Paris court rejected the suspension request in December but ordered the company to implement age verification measures for adult products and imposed financial penalties for non-compliance.

Shein has also faced scrutiny from EU authorities over marketing practices. In May, the bloc accused the company of misleading customers through fake discounts, inadequate refund processing, and obscured customer service contact information — practices it said breached EU consumer protection rules.

Together, the actions suggest regulators are examining Shein’s operations across multiple fronts: product compliance, marketing transparency, and digital design.

Supply Chain, Safety, and International Investigations

Outside Europe, Shein’s regulatory exposure continues to grow.

South Korean authorities have previously reported detecting toxic substances in some of the company’s products above legal thresholds. In the United States, a Texas court said in December it would investigate Shein for “unethical labor practices and the sale of unsafe consumer products.”

Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, said at the time: “Any company that cuts corners on labor standards or product safety, especially those operating in foreign nations like China, will be held accountable.”

The convergence of consumer safety, labor practice, and digital governance investigations reflects mounting global pressure on ultra-fast fashion models that rely on rapid product turnover and algorithm-driven merchandising.

It’s High Stakes for Shein

The DSA probe arrives at a sensitive time for Shein, which has been expanding aggressively in Europe while navigating regulatory and reputational headwinds.

Europe represents a significant growth market for the company. Compliance failures under the DSA could result not only in fines but also in mandated operational adjustments that affect how Shein structures promotions, gamification, and product recommendations — core components of its high-frequency sales model.

The Commission’s focus on “addictive design” highlights a broader regulatory trend in the EU toward scrutinizing behavioral design techniques, sometimes referred to as “dark patterns.” Policymakers increasingly view digital interface choices as capable of influencing economic behavior at scale.

If regulators determine that Shein’s engagement mechanisms constitute systemic risk, the case could establish precedent for how the EU applies the DSA to e-commerce platforms, not just social media networks.

A Test Case for the Digital Services Act

The Digital Services Act, fully applicable to large online platforms since 2024, represents one of the EU’s most ambitious digital governance frameworks. It imposes obligations on platforms to assess and mitigate risks related to illegal content, consumer harm, and public safety, and to ensure algorithmic transparency.

By invoking the DSA against Shein, the Commission is signaling that retail marketplaces with heavy algorithmic personalization fall squarely within the scope of systemic risk oversight.