The 2026 State of the SOC Report by N-able examines the evolving cybersecurity landscape using analysis of over 900,000 alerts from managed detection and response (MDR) operations in 2025. The report highlights a significant shift in attack patterns, with network and perimeter exploitation resurging as a primary threat vector. It emphasizes that organizations relying on single-layer defenses face critical visibility gaps, while true resilience requires a defense-in-depth strategy that integrates multiple security layers. The findings also underscore the growing role of AI and automation in modern SOC operations, with correlation and orchestration enabling faster, more effective threat detection and response.
Key Points
- Network and perimeter attacks have re-emerged as major entry points, accounting for a notable share of detected threats.
- Up to 90% of security investigations are now automated, signaling a shift to AI-driven SOC operations.
- Single-layer security tools (e.g., endpoint-only) miss substantial portions of the attack surface.
- Multi-layer correlation and automated response are critical to detecting threats early and preventing full-scale breaches.
Download the full 2026 State of the SOC Report to explore the data, insights, and recommendations for building a more resilient security strategy.