Philadelphia, PA, United States, March 9th, 2026 — In a significant development for cybersecurity, Security Risk Advisors (SRA) has officially launched its inaugural report, titled The Purple Perspective 2026. This extensive report is a comprehensive analysis that delves into the real-world performance of detection and prevention mechanisms against a carefully selected range of high-priority adversary techniques. By providing actionable insights, it aims to bolster the cybersecurity defenses of organizations globally.
The findings in the report are based on the execution of over 160 purple team exercises, along with the evaluation of more than 8,300 Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs). This meticulous approach offers a grounded perspective on the practical realities of cybersecurity defense, serving as a benchmark for organizational performance across various industries, while also pinpointing critical areas that necessitate improvement.
Key Features of the Report
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Review of the Cyber Threat Landscape: The report opens with a thorough overview of emerging cyber threats and the challenges organizations have faced throughout 2025.
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Analysis of Detection and Prevention Success: It provides insightful data regarding the top 10 most successfully defended and the most commonly overlooked MITRE ATT&CK TTPs, offering organizations crucial context in their defense strategies.
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Top Priorities for Defensive Improvement in 2026: SRA lays out comprehensive recommendations aimed at enhancing detection and prevention capabilities, an essential read for those aiming to stay ahead in the cyber landscape.
- Industry-Specific Performance Insights: The report delivers tailored analyses suited for various sectors, including Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Retail, thereby making the findings relevant across different fields.
Key Findings
One of the standout insights from The Purple Perspective 2026 underscores the importance of consistent testing frequency in improving organizational readiness. The report reveals that organizations engaging in two to four purple team exercises annually achieved remarkably higher performance levels. This highlights a crucial takeaway: a programmatic approach to testing tends to be more impactful than relying solely on industry classifications or budget shortfalls.
Moreover, the report sheds light on the concerning underutilization of telemetry data. While many organizations diligently log post-exploitation activity, they frequently fall short when it comes to effective detections. Here are a few striking statistics from the report:
- Pass-the-ticket attacks were logged 42% of the time yet only alerted about 16%.
- Bulk SharePoint downloads recorded a logging rate of 70% but prompted alerts just 24% of the time.
- Scheduled task persistence was logged 66% of the time, leading to a mere 27% alert rate.
- HTTPS Command and Control (C2) activities over port 443 were logged 47% of the time but only generated alerts 10% of the time.
Another crucial finding emphasizes the necessity of dismantling organizational silos. Attackers often exploit the disconnect between compliance and security teams, as illustrated by the statistics concerning SharePoint bulk downloads, where logging occurred 70% of the time but alerts were only triggered 24% of the time. The report strongly advocates for integrating compliance telemetry with incident response workflows to bridge these gaps, a measure that could significantly bolster overall security postures.
In essence, The Purple Perspective 2026 emerges as an indispensable resource for cybersecurity professionals. It offers not only a keen understanding of the current cybersecurity landscape but also practical recommendations aimed at addressing the myriad challenges involved in defending against increasingly sophisticated threats.
Access the Report
For those interested in diving deeper into the findings and recommendations, the report is available for free at The Purple Perspective 2026.
About Security Risk Advisors
Security Risk Advisors stands as a prominent figure in the cybersecurity consulting arena, specializing in a unique blend of offensive and defensive security services, including purple teaming and security program development. With a commitment to empowering organizations against a backdrop of evolving threats, SRA focuses on delivering innovative solutions and actionable insights, thereby enhancing cybersecurity resilience.
For further inquiries, Douglas Webster, the Marketing Manager at Security Risk Advisors, is available for contact via email at [email protected].
This newly released report not only reflects SRA’s dedication to advancing cybersecurity understanding but also serves as a vital tool for organizations eager to enhance their defenses in the rapidly evolving threat landscape.