Cybersecurity planning long assumed a predictable rhythm: vulnerabilities were discovered, patches were issued and systems were updated. By 2026, that cadence will be largely obsolete. Exploited flaws are emerging faster than vendors can respond, and attackers are no longer bound by disclosure timelines or maintenance windows. For service providers, exposure is becoming a permanent condition rather than an occasional crisis.
Technologists at Radware argue that zero-days are no longer exceptional events but a structural feature of modern software. As digital stacks grow more complex and interconnected, attackers increasingly exploit weaknesses buried deep in supply chains—often before defenders even know they exist. Encryption, while essential for protecting data, adds to the challenge by making malicious activity harder and more expensive to inspect at scale, shaping costs and competitive dynamics across the sector.
This reality is forcing a shift in defensive economics. Reactive security—patching after disclosure or responding once attacks are visible—delivers diminishing returns. Instead, service providers are moving towards in-line, runtime protections that assess behaviour rather than rely on known signatures. The aim is not faster response, but limiting damage before it spreads.
By 2026, the issue will not be eliminating zero-days, which is impossible, but whether systems are designed to operate safely in a world where unknown vulnerabilities are always present.
