Emmy Henz

As organizations move into 2026 planning cycles, budgets are continuing to tighten. Instead of across-the-board reductions, we’re seeing more selective spending: some initiatives are getting meaningful investments, while others are being delayed, consolidated, or cut entirely. Understanding where budgets are shifting can help teams prioritize more effectively and make stronger business cases for the year ahead.

AI has officially moved from a “future conversation” to something security teams are dealing with every day. In 2025, its impact is showing up across tooling, attacker behavior, team structure, and overall governance expectations. Below is a straightforward look at what’s actually happening, based on current reporting and industry sources.

Offensive cybersecurity replicates the tactics of malicious actors to identify weaknesses before they can be exploited. Rather than relying on theory, it uses the same tools and strategies that attackers employ - only in a controlled, ethical setting. By breaking defenses from the inside out, organizations gain visibility into their vulnerabilities and the opportunity to build stronger protections.