Cybersecurity risks rise from unmanaged devices and hidden threats

Cybersecurity leaders face significant risks from unmanaged and unknown assets. A survey by Trend Micro of over 2,000 leaders revealed that 74% have already experienced security incidents caused by unmanaged devices. These assets often exist outside of security controls, making them impossible to patch, monitor, or respond to effectively.

Research suggests a substantial gap between managed and unmanaged devices. A 2019 Forrester survey indicated that some organizations reported three times as many unmanaged devices as managed ones, a figure likely underestimated given the recent expansion of remote work, industrial IoT, and AI tooling.

To combat these vulnerabilities, the role of the threat hunter has become essential. Threat hunters act as digital detectives, analyzing network traffic, endpoint behavior, and logs to identify sophisticated malicious activity that automated tools may overlook. Their work involves identifying threats before they escalate into full-scale incidents, investigating root causes, and recommending preventative improvements.