Vulnerabilities in Security Stack - Major Endpoint Issues Uncovered
Basically, many company computers aren't as secure as they seem, which is a big problem.
What Happened A recent report from Absolute Security reveals a troubling reality in enterprise cybersecurity. On any given day, one in five enterprise endpoints operates outside a protected and enforceable state. This statistic, drawn from the 2026 Resilience Risk Index, shows that despite organizations investing heavily in security tools, the situation has barely improved over the past year. The
What Happened
A recent report from Absolute Security reveals a troubling reality in enterprise cybersecurity. On any given day, one in five enterprise endpoints operates outside a protected and enforceable state. This statistic, drawn from the 2026 Resilience Risk Index, shows that despite organizations investing heavily in security tools, the situation has barely improved over the past year. The gap between security deployment and effective enforcement is widening, raising significant concerns for businesses.
The report highlights that while dashboards may show green lights and active licenses, many devices are not in a secure state. For instance, the percentage of endpoints in a protected state increased only marginally from 78% to 79% in 2026. The average enterprise device spends about 76 days a year unprotected, which is alarming given the potential risks involved.
Who's Affected
The findings impact a wide range of organizations, particularly those heavily reliant on endpoint management and protection platforms. The report analyzed telemetry from tens of millions of corporate PCs, revealing that vulnerability management is deteriorating, with the out-of-compliance rate rising from 20% to 24% year over year. This trend indicates that even with increased spending on security tools, the actual security posture of many enterprises is not improving.
Moreover, the financial implications are staggering. Companies lose an average of $49 million annually due to downtime, with the Global 2000 experiencing aggregate losses exceeding $400 billion per year. These figures underscore the critical need for organizations to not only deploy security tools but also ensure they are effectively enforced across all endpoints.
What Data Was Exposed
The report emphasizes that the distinction between security coverage and operational continuity is crucial. Organizations may have active licenses and installed agents, but this does not guarantee that devices can be remotely restored during a disruption. For example, a case study shows that a major global enterprise found that fewer than 40% of its devices were remotely recoverable during an incident, leading to significant downtime and financial losses.
Additionally, the report highlights that Windows 10 endpoints are particularly vulnerable, with many devices running outdated software that no longer receives security updates. As of early 2026, approximately 10% of enterprise endpoints were still on Windows 10, leaving them permanently exposed to security threats.
What You Should Do
To mitigate these risks, organizations must prioritize resilience in their security strategies. This includes implementing persistence-based resilience capabilities to improve remote recovery rates and reduce downtime. Companies should also regularly assess their endpoint management practices and ensure that all devices are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches.
Moreover, as enterprise architecture consolidates around fewer platforms, organizations must be cautious of the potential for widespread disruptions caused by a single vendor failure. By diversifying their security solutions and maintaining a proactive approach to endpoint management, businesses can enhance their overall security posture and protect against the growing threats in today's digital landscape.