Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
- Cobalt’s State of Pentesting Report shows an industry struggling with cybersecurity in the face of workforce reductions and AI threats.
- The report highlights the increase in cyber threats, challenges faced by C-suite executives, and the importance of pentesting in cybersecurity.
In its State of Pentesting Report, Cobalt reveals an industry struggling to balance the use of AI and protecting against it, while facing significant resource and staffing constraints. The report analyzes pentests, showing an increase in findings per engagement year-over-year along with longer times to fix vulnerabilities. Additionally, a survey of over 900 cybersecurity professionals highlights the challenges faced by teams in adapting to AI technology.
The report also delves into the impact of workforce reductions on cybersecurity postures, with many organizations conducting layoffs and facing greater cyber risk as a result. C-suite executives are feeling the pressure of increased cyber threats and are more concerned about AI adoption compared to non-C-suite respondents. However, C-suite leadership is seen as critical in preventing attacks despite staffing shortages and budget constraints.
Overall, the importance of pentesting in identifying vulnerabilities within applications and systems is emphasized as a proactive measure in improving cybersecurity posture. As threats evolve alongside technology, security teams should prioritize talent acquisition, exercise caution in AI integration, and leverage pentesting to enhance security measures.
