It wasn’t the ransomware headlines or zero-day vulnerabilities that captured attention in this year’s Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) — it was the elements that triggered them. Subtly, yet steadily, two fundamental factors contributed to some of the most significant breaches: third-party exposure and misuse of machine credentials.
As per the 2025 DBIR, the participation of third parties in breaches surged twofold.