The State of Security Testing Report 2026

How security testing has changed, and why intelligent, adaptive coverage is the new operating model for cyber resilience.

For CISOs, CSOs, CIOs, CTOs and security leaders responsible for cyber risk in regulated and complex environments.

The State of Security Testing

Why intelligent, adaptive coverage is the new operating model for cyber resilience.

Your last pentest is a picture of an environment that no longer exists.

DAY 0

Penetration test completed

DAY 12

New customer portal deployed

DAY 23

Supplier API changed

DAY 41

Critical vulnerability disclosed

DAY 67

Cloud configuration modified

DAY 114

New internet-facing asset appears

DAY 180

Next scheduled assessment

By day 114, your environment has changed at least five times.
Which version did the pentest actually validate?

31%

of breaches now start with an exploited vulnerability. It is the most common way in.

26%

of known exploited vulnerabilities (CISA KEV) were fully fixed in 2025.

43 days

median time to full resolution, up from 32 days a year earlier.

48%

of breaches involved a third party, such as a supplier or partner.

Sources: Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2026 (31,000+ incidents, 22,000+ confirmed breaches, 145 countries).

Start here

Ten yes or no questions. Every no points you to the chapter that closes the gap.

01Do you know which internet-facing assets changed in the last 30 days?

02Would a material change trigger testing right away?

Plus 9 chapters, incl. AI risks, regulation (FINMA, DORA, NIS2) and a 6-step plan.

~100×

faster detection of new vulnerabilities

up to 90%

lower costs than traditional pentests

Noel Dunne, Cyber Security Director, Reckitt

With the 10-question coverage check, the industry lens, and the regulatory overview.

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