About the CyberProof 2026 Cybersecurity Predictions Series:
As we look toward the 2026 threat landscape, the data from the past year has made one thing clear: the strategies that protected us yesterday are no longer enough for tomorrow. This article is part of a dedicated 2026 Cybersecurity Predictions series featuring exclusive insights from CyberProof Threat Researchers and leading voices across the security industry. Throughout this series, we explore the critical shifts in the digital battlefield, providing expert analysis on the top threats to prepare for in 2026 and the proactive defenses necessary to stay ahead of an increasingly agile adversary.
Stop Chasing Malware, Start Finding Your Assets
A clear pattern emerged throughout 2025. Malware is no longer the main driver of breaches, and social engineering is no longer the only way attackers get in. Most real intrusions this year were driven by weaknesses in identity, exposed systems, and gaps in basic estate management. In practically every investigation, attackers took advantage of something simple: an unpatched appliance, a forgotten internet facing system, an old VPN running without MFA, or an admin account with broader access than anyone realised.
CrowdStrike’s 2025 Global Threat Report put a number to what many of us have been seeing day to day. Close to eighty percent of intrusions did not use traditional malware at all. Attackers simply blended in with legitimate activity, used built in tools or remote support software, and moved with speed. Once they gained a single identity, breakout times dropped to minutes, not hours.
At the same time, social engineering continued to rise but it stopped being the only major entry point. Cybereason reported that exploitation of published vulnerabilities surged during Q3. It jumped from fifteen percent of intrusions in the first half of the year to more than thirty percent by September. Rapid7 observed the same trend with widespread exploitation of SharePoint, SonicWall and Cisco devices, often within days of disclosure.
The takeaway for 2026 is straightforward. Real security gains will come from knowing what we own, reducing identity sprawl, tightening remote access, and closing exposure gaps before attackers discover them first.
How CyberProof is Changing the Game
We’ve seen this shift coming. That’s why CyberProof has pivoted to a Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) first approach.
By integrating asset- estate management with Interpres, for threat exposure management, into our platform, we’ve moved beyond simple monitoring. We give organizations a “single pane of glass” view of their assets and configurations, allowing them to close the door before the attacker even reaches the porch.
The 2026 mandate is simple: You can’t protect what you don’t know you have. It’s time to find your assets before the hackers do.
