In the latest Blue Report 2025 from Picus Security, released by BleepingComputer, the cybersecurity landscape is shifting. BleepingComputer Attackers are relying less on noisy encryption-based ransomware and more on stealthy credential theft, data exfiltration, and lateral movement. For many organizations, this means that their prevention and detection tools are already too little too late. Businesses must rethink their strategy: instead of just “Detect & Respond,” it’s time to emphasize Isolation & Containment.
Here’s what the report reveals — and why solutions like AppGuard are becoming essential.
Data Exfiltration Prevention Is Shockingly Low
The Blue Report shows that prevention of data being stolen and exfiltrated stands at just 3% among tested environments. Attackers are often already inside when businesses finally notice.
Credential Abuse & Valid Account Usage
Valid accounts (T1078), credential-harvesting malware, and stolen or weak credentials are major vectors. The report states that attackers using valid credentials succeed 98% of the time when attempting to bypass existing defenses.
Encryptionless Ransomware & Double-Extortion Tactics
Encryption is no longer always needed for maximum damage. Attackers steal data, then threaten to leak it — damaging reputations, violating regulations, and exposing customers — even if the data can be recovered from backups.
Detection Lagging Behind Attack Evolution
Organizations often have tools to detect malware payloads, phishing emails, or incoming threats. But many lack robust monitoring of outbound traffic; data going out isn’t tracked well. Behavioural analytics, data loss prevention (DLP), and rules to stop credential abuse are underutilized.
Traditional security models assume that once an attacker is inside, you will notice via alerts, logs, or unusual activity. But the Blue Report shows:
Attackers are using stealthy techniques, staying under the radar for longer.
Detection mechanisms often trigger too late, after data has already been copied or sensitive credentials compromised.
Relying on backups or response plans helps recovery — but doesn’t stop damage from leaked data or reputational harm.
These gaps are especially risky in regulated industries, where breaches must be disclosed, and penalties or loss of trust follow.
Instead of waiting for something to go wrong (detection) and then trying to clean up (response), “Isolation & Containment” means:
Preventing malicious code from executing in the first place;
Blocking the misuse of legitimate credentials;
Ensuring that when an endpoint is compromised, its ability to damage is immediately curtailed;
Separating untrusted or risky processes so they can’t reach sensitive data or systems.
This is a shift from reactive security to proactive defense.
Here’s how AppGuard helps close these gaps — based on a decade of proven success, now commercially available:
Proactive isolation: AppGuard isolates applications so that even if a malicious process or intrusion attempt happens, it can’t affect the rest of the system.
Containment of lateral movement: By restricting what applications can do, AppGuard can block attacks that try to move sideways after an initial breach.
Stopping credential abuse: By limiting the privileges and access of processes, AppGuard can prevent malicious actors (or malware acting in their name) from using stolen or weak credentials to do more damage.
Minimal reliance on detection: Because AppGuard reduces attack surface and isolates threats, there are fewer opportunities for threats to go undetected long enough to cause major harm.
In trials and deployments over the past ten years, AppGuard has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to prevent data exfiltration, credential theft, and the abuse of valid accounts.
Audit your defensive posture
Look at where detection is weak: outbound traffic, credential abuse, lateral movement. These are the areas the Blue Report shows are most exploited.
Adopt isolation-first tools
Include solutions that don’t just watch and alert, but actively prevent malicious actions.
Upgrade from Detect & Respond to Isolation & Containment
The paradigm must shift — your security strategy should assume attackers will get in, but not allow them to spread or steal data.
Measure current gaps vs. what matters most
Use metrics like how long intruders remain undetected, how often credential abuse succeeds, and how effective backup/recovery is (while recognizing that backups don’t prevent threats of data leakage).
If your business is concerned about evolving threats — the rise of infostealers, encryptionless ransomware, credential theft — then simply relying on detect + respond isn’t enough. You need isolation and containment as foundational parts of your endpoint protection strategy.
At CHIPS, we believe it’s time to move beyond just detecting breach and damage. We want to help business owners like you adopt solutions that stop threats before they happen. If you want to prevent incidents like those revealed in the Blue Report — the ones where data is stolen quietly, valid credentials abused, damage done before alarms even ring — let’s talk.
Reach out to us at CHIPS to explore how AppGuard can deliver endpoint protection that isolates, contains, and stops attacks in their tracks. Move your security program from Detect & Respond to Isolation & Containment before it’s too late.
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