Network security threats are growing faster than ever, and organizations must keep pace. Attackers are advancing with more automation, faster exploitation, and increasingly clever social engineering. According to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), 44% of confirmed data breaches involved ransomware, a 37% increase over the previous year.
At the same time, third-party involvement in breaches doubled, rising to 30%, signaling that supply chain risk is now a top concern. Vulnerability exploitation rose sharply too by 34%, with edge devices like VPNs increasingly targeted. These statistics paint a clear picture: legacy perimeter defenses no longer suffice. Businesses must take proactive, layered action to stay secure in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Ransomware is surging, now contributing to nearly half of all breaches.
- Supply-chain (third-party) risk has doubled, making vendor security a critical priority.
- Unpatched vulnerabilities especially in edge devices are being exploited more aggressively.
- Human error remains central, with credential theft and social engineering still driving many breaches.
- AI and automation are fueling more sophisticated attacks, raising the bar on detection.
- Identity management, real-time monitoring, and segmentation are non-negotiable for modern defenses.
- A hybrid strategy of prevention plus tested response is now essential for resilience.
7 Network Security Threats
Network Security threats are dangers that target an organization’s systems, data, or users to steal, damage, or disrupt operations. These threats can come from hackers, malware, insider, or even third-party partners. Understanding these risks is the first step to building stronger defenses.
1. Ransomware
This continues to be one of the most pervasive threats, appearing in 44% of data breaches in 2025. Attackers use it to encrypt your critical systems, demand payment, and disrupt business operations, often hitting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hardest.
2. Phishing & Credential Theft
Despite technological advances, phishing remains a favorite vector for attackers. Stolen passwords, reused credentials, and social-engineering attacks allow hackers to gain a foothold and escalate their access.
3. Unpatched Vulnerabilities
Exploits of unpatched software particularly on perimeter devices, servers, and VPNs surged by 34% in the most recent Verizon report. Many organizations are struggling to fully patch these critical systems promptly.
4. Third-Party / Supply-Chain Attacks
Vendor security is a growing concern: 30% of breaches now involve a third party, according to Verizon. Insecure integrations, weak vendor controls, and poor visibility into partner environments create rich opportunities for attackers.
5. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
By overwhelming networks with traffic, DDoS attacks can knock systems offline, disrupting availability and damaging reputation especially when paired with other threats or used as a distraction mechanism.
6. Insider Threats
These originate from within; malicious or careless insiders, employees, contractors, or business partners can misuse access, leak data, or fall for social engineering.
7. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks
In MITM attacks, adversaries intercept or alter communication between two parties, allowing them to eavesdrop or tamper with sensitive data without immediate detection.
How to Prevent Network Security Threats
Preventing network security threats requires a layered, proactive strategy that includes strong identity controls, continuous monitoring, system hardening, and timely patching. Organizations must combine technology, policies, and user awareness to reduce vulnerabilities. A balanced approach of prevention and response ensures long-term resilience.
Prevention of Ransomware
To protect against ransomware, organizations should deploy advanced endpoint security tools such as EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response) or XDR, which can identify suspicious behaviors before encryption takes hold. Maintaining offline, immutable backups is equally important; this ensures that, in the event of an attack, critical systems can be restored without paying a ransom. Additionally, segmenting your network can limit the damage, even if one part is compromised, isolation measures prevent the ransomware from spreading freely to high-value assets.
Prevention of Phishing & Credential Theft
Mitigating phishing and credential misuse starts with rigorous identity controls. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all accounts dramatically reduces the likelihood that stolen credentials alone will give attackers access. Combining this with Single Sign-On (SSO) helps centralize access management and reduces the number of passwords users must manage thereby lowering the chance of reuse. Continuous user training, including phishing simulation exercises, ensures employees remain alert to evolving social engineering tactics and understand how to report suspicious messages.
Prevention of Exploitation of Unpatched Vulnerabilities
A risk-based patch management program is essential to defend against vulnerability exploitation. Security teams should first identify which systems pose the greatest risk especially perimeter devices such as VPNs and edge hardware and patch them in a prioritized manner. Regular vulnerability scanning must be performed to detect new weaknesses, and automated patch deployment tools should be used wherever possible to minimize human delay. To further protect the network, only allow devices that meet up-to-date security posture checks to connect, reducing the risk of compromised or outdated systems being used as a foothold.
Prevention of Third-Party / Supply-Chain Risk
Reducing third-party risk starts with a structured Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) program. Organizations need to assess the security maturity of their vendors regularly, enforce strong security requirements (such as encryption, patching, and identity practices), and demand visibility into their software components for example, via a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). Continuous monitoring of third-party access is also vital by logging, auditing, and responding to vendor-based activity; companies can quickly detect unusual behavior or potential compromise.
Prevention of DDoS Attacks
To defend against DDoS, leverage a layered defensive architecture that includes traffic firewalls, rate-limiting, and scrubbing services. Subscription to DDoS protection services or Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) can absorb and filter malicious traffic before it hits critical infrastructure. It’s also important to prepare a response plan that outlines how your organization will communicate internally, with stakeholders, and with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) during and after an attack.
Prevention of Insider Threats
Mitigating insider risk involves a combination of access controls, monitoring, and behavior analytics. Apply the principle of least-privilege to limit what users can do, and regularly review access rights to ensure they remain appropriate. Monitor user activity using SIEM or UEBA tools to detect anomalous behavior, such as unusual data transfers or access during off-hours. Complement these technical controls with a security culture that encourages reporting and makes employees aware of the risks associated with insider threat.
Prevention of Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks
Preventing MITM attacks requires securing communication channels. Use end-to-end encryption (such as TLS) to ensure that data remains protected while in transit. Implement strict certificate validation including pinned certificates where applicable and regularly update and rotate certificates and cryptographic keys. Network segmentation and the use of secure VPNs for remote users also reduce exposure. In addition, continuously monitor for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate interception or proxying activity.
Related Link:
- Network Security Best Practices for Businesses in 2026
- Network Security Architecture: How to Build a Secure Network
- Types of Network Security and How Each One Protects Your Data
- What Is Network Security? Complete Guide
Final Thoughts
The 2025 cybersecurity landscape is characterized by fast-evolving, multi-dimensional threats. With ransomware on the rise, vulnerability exploitation accelerating, and third-party risk surging, organizations must adopt a defense-in-depth strategy that combines prevention, detection, and recovery. Identity-first approaches such as MFA and least-privilege access coupled with real-time monitoring, segmentation, and rigorous third-party management, are critical. But security isn’t just about technology, it’s a strong security culture, robust response planning, and continuous testing make the difference between being resilient and being compromised. In a world where cyber threats are more sophisticated than ever, staying proactive, vigilant, and prepared isn’t optional, it’s essential.