What does it really take to keep your organization running when attackers strike? The answer is business resilience—being able to detect,contain, and recover fast enough that disruptions areminimized,customers stay confident, and operations keep moving.
From the latest2026 State of the SOC Report, which is based on more than 900,000 alertsobservedbetween March and December 2025 from theAdluminManaged Detection and Response (MDR) provided by the N-able SOC,we’veseen firsthand where security strategies succeed—and where they fall short.
Below, we break down five actionable ways to build true resilience for your IT environment, using real-world data, strategic guidance, and frameworks that leading IT teams put into practice today.
1. Stop trusting single-layer security
Ifyou’redepending on just endpoint or cloud controls,you’remissingnearly halfthe risk surface—and the numbers prove it. In 2025, 18% of all alerts at the N-able SOC came from network and perimeter (Unified Threat Management) exploits that bypassed endpoint visibility. Over 137,000 threats were detected where endpoint-only controls would have been blind.
What we recommend:
Embrace layered, defense-in-depth designs. That means combining identity, endpoint, network, cloud, and perimeter visibility—not just bolting on tools. Relying on a“magic bullet” solution leavesdangerous gaps.
Looking for end-to-end coverage of your environment? Check outN-able Unified Security Solutions.
2. Transition from manual to automated response
SOC teamscan’tkeep up with the flood of alerts—N-able handled 2 alerts per minute on average in 2025.That’swhy automation andSecurity Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)saw a 500% YoY surge—almost one in four responses are now orchestrated automatically.
Pro tip for IT leaders:
Streamline workflows, sotriage and containment happen at machine speed, not human speed. Automate password resets, containment, and endpoint remediation, then focus your analysts on proactive threat hunting.
3. Modernize endpoint and identity management
Attack patterns are shifting.Out of 909,155 total alertsidentifiedin N-able’s 2026 SOC report, only about half touched the endpoint layer.Identity has become one of the fastest‑growing attack surfaces, and organizations need visibility into suspicious sign‑ins, privilege misuse, and anomalous authentication behavior before a breach unfolds.
A flexible, unified endpoint management solutionthat helps you manage, control, and secure endpointsistable stakesin your tech stack.To address identity attacks,anIdentity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)solution helps close this gap by correlating identity events, detecting credential abuse, and stopping identity‑based attacks in progress. ITDR gives security teams a clearer picture of how users, systems, and privileges are being accessed so they cancontainthreatsearly, beforelateral movement or escalation occurs.
Actionable step:
Integrate advanced multi-factor authentication, real-time patch management, and privileged access controls as foundational layers.Addcontinuous identity monitoringto detect unusual authentication patterns and catch malicious activity that endpoint‑only tools cannot see.
Transform your endpoint management –Explore how N-able’s N-central delivers simpler, smarter IT and security management.
4. Build recovery readinessintoyour plan
Resilienceisn’tjust stopping an attack—it’srestoring operations quickly and minimizing downstream damage.In an N-able case study, an MSP’s customer suffered a 1.5 terabyte ransomware attack on a Friday. Thanks to Cove’s reliable backups (validatedvia recovery testing), the entire environment was fully restored by Monday, getting the business back online in under 3 days. This rapid recovery dramatically limited downtime and businessdisruption.
Our advice:
Test backups regularly, ensurethey’reimmutable, and tie recovery procedures directly into your SOC playbooks. Business continuity hinges on the speed and certainty of your recovery.
See howCove Data Protectiondelivers data resiliency by recovering quickly and reliably after every disaster.
5. Prepare for the next attack surface: AI
AI is transforming both defense and risk. By 2026, up to 90% of investigationscould be automated by AI. But adversariesaren’tfar behind—compromised AI orchestration or poisoning can create new attack vectors that bypass traditional controls.
What you need to do now:
Audit where AI and automation touch your environment andmonitortheir actions with the same rigor as human activity. Prepare to secure agent-to-agent communications andmaintainoversight as AI-driven processes mature.
Explore how N-able leverages AItoprotect customer environments around the clock.
Strengthen your business with resilience-first security
Resilienceisn’ta buzzword—it’sthe only practical answer for IT leaders dealing with today’s complex, fast-moving threat landscape. By focusing on layered defense, automation, unified recovery, and AI-integrated controls, you position your organization for uptime and continued success. Ready to level up your approach? Get started withourCyber Resilience Primer: What You Need to Know in 2026.