Why 73% of Companies Aren't Ready for the Next Big Cyberattack

Emily Davis · 2026-07-29

Most organizations have incident response plans, security tools, and technical teams in place. Yet new research suggests that many still lack the coordination, visibility, and executive alignment needed to withstand a serious cyberattack. According to The State of Incident Response Readiness 2026, based on a survey of 600 senior IT security decision makers conducted by Vanson Bourne in January, the gap between having a plan and being truly ready is wider than most leaders realize. ### The readiness gap: plans vs. reality Having a document labeled "incident response plan" doesn't mean you're prepared. The survey found that while 87% of organizations have some form of plan, only 27% feel confident they can execute it effectively under pressure. That's a 60-point confidence gap. Why does this happen? Because plans often sit in a drawer, un-tested and un-practiced. When a real attack hits, teams fumble with outdated procedures, unclear roles, and missing contact information. It's like having a fire extinguisher but never practicing how to use it. - 73% admit they aren't fully ready for a major breach - Only 27% have conducted a full-scale simulation in the past 12 months - 61% say their incident response plan hasn't been updated in over a year ### Executive alignment: the missing piece One of the biggest hurdles is getting leadership on the same page. The research shows that in 58% of organizations, the C-suite and the security team have different priorities during a crisis. Executives focus on reputation and revenue, while security teams worry about containment and forensics. This misalignment leads to delayed decisions. For example, a company might hesitate to shut down a compromised server because it would disrupt sales. But that delay can turn a contained breach into a full-blown disaster. > "The difference between a minor incident and a major breach often comes down to how quickly leadership can make a decision." — Emily Davis, Head of Digital Privacy and Antidetect Browser Solutions ### Visibility: you can't protect what you can't see Another critical finding: 67% of organizations lack full visibility into their digital environment. They don't know where all their sensitive data lives, which third-party vendors have access, or how attackers might move laterally once inside. This blind spot is especially dangerous for companies using antidetect browsers to manage multiple accounts or protect user privacy. Without proper monitoring, a compromised session can go unnoticed for weeks. Antidetect browsers help by isolating browser profiles and making it harder for attackers to track user behavior. But they're not a silver bullet. You still need a broader incident response strategy that includes: - Real-time monitoring of all browser activity - Automated alerts for suspicious behavior - Regular audits of account permissions ### What you can do right now Start by conducting a tabletop exercise with your team. Walk through a realistic attack scenario and see how your plan holds up. Identify gaps in communication, decision-making, and technical response. Next, update your incident response plan to include specific roles for each team member. Make sure everyone knows who to call, what to say, and when to escalate. Finally, invest in tools that give you visibility across your entire environment. Antidetect browsers can be part of that solution, but they work best when combined with a comprehensive security framework. The bottom line: being ready isn't about having a plan. It's about having a plan that works under pressure. And that requires coordination, visibility, and executive buy-in from day one.