The cost of a data breach is climbing again, but the biggest story in IBM’s 2026 Cost of a Data Breach Report is not the price tag itself. According to IBM, the global average cost of a data breach reached a record $4.99 million in 2026, a 12% increase from the previous year. Key Takeaways of the 2026 IBM Cost of a Data Breach ReportThe global average cost of a data breach reached a record $4.99 million in 2026, while U.S. organizations averaged $11.5 million per breach. Phishing remained the leading initial attack vector, while healthcare recorded the highest average breach cost for the 13th consecutive year. According to IBM’s 2026 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the global average cost of a data breach reached a record $4.99 million.