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Understanding the Pentesting Landscape

In an era where cyber threats evolve at an unprecedented pace, the security of enterprises remains a top priority. A recent study conducted by Synack and Omdia uncovered significant discrepancies in penetration testing practices across organizations. Despite a staggering 95% of enterprises emphasizing the importance of pentesting, only 32% of their total attack surfaces are actively examined. This results in 68% of potential vulnerabilities remaining untapped and untested, raising critical concerns about cybersecurity defensiveness.

The Study Insights

The report titled "The 2026 State of Agentic AI in Pentesting" serves as a call to action for security teams to urgently rethink their continuous security testing strategies. The findings indicate that a striking 87% of organizations have advanced beyond the assessment stage and are either piloting, planning, or currently utilizing agentic AI for intrusion testing. Furthermore, 95% of enterprises expect agentic AI to eventually replace traditional pentesting services, with nearly 49% anticipating a significant shift in this regard.

The shift towards agentic AI focuses on intelligent automation that integrates human oversight. 64% of companies favor a hybrid model that merges the efficiency of machine-driven testing and the critical safety net of human judgment. With approximately 87% of executives expressing confidence in agentic AI solutions, the necessity for comprehensive safeguards and transparent decision-making processes remains paramount according to 93% of them.

Challenges and Gaps in Testing

Despite the widespread acknowledgment of pentesting significance among security leaders, the uncovered vulnerability landscape reveals a paradox. Businesses face challenges in scaling their pentesting efforts to match the fast-paced and complex environments shaped by modern cloud technologies and AI developments. Jay Kaplan, CEO of Synack, articulated this disconnect: “The industry is ready to move past the outdated twice-a-year pentesting model.” As the stakes rise, the capability of organizations to conduct consistent and ongoing tests becomes undeniably crucial.

Mark Kuhr, Synack's CTO, added that while AI amplifies scalability and breadth of coverage, mitigating real-world risks still mandates human creativity and adaptability. This fusion of AI's processing power with the strategic insight of experienced testers embodies a practical approach to tackling modern cybersecurity challenges.

Angela Heindl-Schober, CMO at Synack, echoed the urgency for businesses to embrace this transition. She emphasized that agentic AI is not a far-off concept but rather an attainable and essential means to continuously assess dynamic environments.

Key Findings of the 2026 Report

The report not only underscores a growing need for robust security strategies but also illustrates a transformation in the pentesting realm. Below are notable findings from the report:
1. 87% of firms have transitioned beyond initial assessments and are taking actionable steps toward utilizing agentic AI.
2. An overwhelming 95% of firms foresee the replacement of conventional pentesting by agentic AI, with almost half expecting a drastic change.
3. About 64% favor human-driven oversight accompanied by agentic automation, reinforcing the balance between scalability and security.
4. Trust in agentic AI is evident among 87% of leaders, yet 93% deem complete safeguards and transparent processes necessary for operational security.

Towards a Resilient Cybersecurity Strategy

The report serves as a pivotal reminder of the pressing gaps that exist within the cybersecurity infrastructure of modern enterprises. As the industry shifts towards agile, proactive measures against sophisticated threats, bridging the testing coverage deficiency will be paramount for cyber resilience.

Synack proposes a comprehensive offensive security platform that facilitates CISO's in evolving towards a dynamic and resilient security posture. With the increasing prevalence of AI-driven threats, addressing pentesting coverage deficits must be at the forefront of contemporary cybersecurity discussions.

Download the Full Report

For those interested in diving deeper into these critical findings, the complete report, The 2026 State of Agentic AI in Pentesting, is available for download at Synack's dedicated webpage. Together, organizations can leverage continuous testing methods as a strategic advantage to stay ahead of potential cyber adversaries.

About Synack

Founded by former NSA agents, Synack stands at the forefront of human-led, AI-augmented penetration testing. By transforming offensive security, the organization allows enterprises to proactively manage risks, maintain compliance, and defend against ever-evolving cyber threats. Company employs the brilliance of agentic AI and an elite team of vetted security researchers to deliver ongoing penetration testing and effective vulnerability management.

About Omdia

As a division of TechTarget, Omdia focuses on delivering in-depth technological market insights, solving challenges that stem from emerging technologies, and guiding industries towards lucrative opportunities. Through authentic dialogues and comprehensive data evaluation, Omdia provides strategic intelligence tailored to advancing the technological landscape.