The change is symbolic of a world in "permacrisis". Until now, the risk map presented each year by International SOS has provided a backdrop of the state of the world through the prism of health. With this 2026 edition, it is the security risks that will directly catch the eye of the professionals in charge of their company's security. Presenting the Risk Outlook 2026 report accompanying the unveiling of this summary map, Christophe Suptil, General Manager Strategy, paints a worrying picture: " Last year, we talked about a fragmented world. This year, we're highlighting a fragmented world with accelerating risks. ".
Companies are well aware of this, according to a survey of more than 800 decision-makers in 94 countries carried out by Echo Research on behalf of the world leader in security and safety. 64% of respondents have noted an increase in security risks over the last twelve months, and 65% expect this trend to continue in 2026. Above all, 57% believe that new risks are emerging faster than they can manage them. And sometimes where they are not necessarily expected.
Beatrix Renautthe head of security at International SOS, gives the example of Tanzania, " long perceived as one of the most stable countries in Africa "In the space of a few days, the country entered a period of major unrest following the presidential election at the end of October. In the same way, and in a way unprecedented for these countries, protest movements by "Gen Z" have shaken Peru as much as Nepal, Morocco and Madagascar. " They have emerged almost simultaneously and mark the erosion of confidence in traditional political systems "says Beatrix Renaut.
The speed at which geopolitical realignments are taking place is also cause for concern. The alliances that emerged at the end of the Cold War are changing, and spheres of influence are being redrawn as the diplomatic priorities of the major powers evolve. We have seen this in Ukraine or with the resurgence of border conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand or India and Pakistan, and we can see it with the deployment of the American fleet off the coast of Venezuela: " conventional warfare is no longer seen as a last resort "Beatrix Renaut can only agree. And even in Europe and France, the prospect of a future major conflict is no longer a pipe dream in the eyes of governments.
It comes as no surprise, then, to see geopolitical tensions cited for the first time as the main disruption factor for 47% of respondents, now overtaking cybercrime (27%) on the list of business concerns. Access to markets, stability of supply chains, employee safety: a multitude of issues for businesses can be affected by the tectonics of global geopolitics.
Although the trend in health risks is less marked, it follows a similar dynamic, with 43% of the managers surveyed reporting an increase in health and well-being risks in 2025, while 44% expect a further deterioration in the coming year. Extreme weather events have an impact on both travel and working conditions, with extreme heat waves, floods causing dozens of deaths and destroying health-critical infrastructure, and devastating fires.
Dr Philippe Guibert, International SOS Medical Consulting Director, points out that ". the recent COP 30 summit made climate change a global public health issue ". But other health concerns are also emerging, such as the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains that threaten to make common infections much more difficult, if not impossible, to treat. A " silent crisis "At the same time, old diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera are making a comeback. At the same time, old diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera are making a comeback, in addition to the spread of anti-vaccine fake news, which recently led North America to lose its status as a measles eradication zone because of renewed transmission.
Putting all this together, the International SOS annual report identifies three major dynamics that will characterise the year ahead: a climate of uncertainty, the speed of change and the superimposition of crises. All of which makes business life even more complex. In fact, 57% of respondents believe that new risks are emerging faster than they can manage them. And this exposure to risk is increasing faster than the resources allocated to deal with it, with budgets at best stagnating or even decreasing. " Organisations often find themselves in a situation where they have to do more with less "says Beatrix Renaut.
Nevertheless, 76% of respondents still say they are confident in their organisation's ability to act effectively in the face of current risks. But, while three-quarters of them indicate that the time to take critical decisions is getting shorter, 80% consider that the ability to detect risks more quickly would give them a competitive advantage.
" The real question is no longer what risks we need to manage, but rather how quickly we are able to detect them, understand them and take action. "International SOS offers a whole range of solutions in this area. While inter-team collaboration (34%) and the sharing of information internally (32%) are the determining factors for a rapid reaction to the emergence of new risks, behind the ability to verify information (41%), the use of AI to identify risks receives only 3% of the votes. In crisis management, the human element retains its rightful place.
