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ARTICLE · 04 NOVEMBER 2026

The SEC's 2027 Examination Priorities: Artificial Intelligence And Cyber Risk

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The SEC's 2027 examination priorities signal a decisive shift toward scrutinizing how financial firms deploy artificial intelligence and defend against cyber threats. Will your firm's AI disclosures withstand regulatory examination, and are your cybersecurity controls prepared for AI-enabled attacks? The Division of Examinations is now testing whether registrants' public statements about AI match operational reality, while simultaneously evaluating defenses against deepfakes, synthetic voice fraud, and rans

United StatesTechnology
Michael Diver
Michael Diver
Michael Lohnes
Michael Lohnes
Sarah Eichenberger
Sarah Eichenberger
Kerrigan A. McCabe
Kerrigan A. McCabe
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On October 23, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Division of Examinations (“Division”) released its examination priorities for the 2027 fiscal year (“Examination Priorities”). Although the core examination themes are largely unchanged, the Examination Priorities do place a heightened focus on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity risk. While these are not the SEC’s only examination priorities in the year ahead, their inclusion is notable because, as Chairman Paul Atkins stated, “[e]xaminations provide critical insight into emerging risks, evolving business practices, and market developments across our financial system,” setting the stage for future developments in enforcement and private litigation.

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