Core Insights - Rapid7's top cybersecurity predictions for 2026 highlight the increasing impact of geopolitical conflicts, the rise of insider threats, and the necessity for contextual awareness in cyber defense [1][6]. Geopolitical Landscape - Geopolitical tensions will increasingly affect the cyber battlefield, with private organizations becoming proxy targets for state-aligned groups, leading to a blend of third-party and nation-state attacks [6]. - Organizations are encouraged to utilize curated threat intelligence to monitor geopolitical flashpoints and emerging advanced persistent threat (APT) tools [6]. Insider Threats - Insider threats will become a dominant cause of breaches, with actors such as disgruntled employees and negligent insiders posing significant risks [6]. - Establishing behavior baselines and regularly reviewing privilege models will be critical for organizations to mitigate these risks [6]. Contextual Awareness - Context will be essential for effective cyber performance, as defenders need more than just alerts to respond to AI-driven attacks [6]. - Integrating exposure management with detection capabilities will enhance response times and measurable impact, focusing on key metrics such as time saved and risks remediated [6]. Company Innovations - Rapid7 has experienced a year of accelerated innovation, launching new insights and expanding its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) coverage for Microsoft environments [4]. - The company aims to help organizations manage risk and detect threats in increasingly complex environments [4][8].
Rapid7 2026 Cybersecurity Trends Outlook: Geopolitical Tensions and Insider Threats Among Top Risks