Exploits are playing a growing role in cyberattacks. Patch management cannot keep pace, making behavioral EDR/XDR solutions such as CrowdStrike an essential layer of defense.
Attackers increasingly target technical vulnerabilities rather than relying solely on human error. According to the 2026 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, exploiting software vulnerabilities in unpatched systems is now the most common initial access method for enterprise attacks. It accounts for 31% of all incidents, surpassing stolen credentials for the first time.
An exploit is code designed to take advantage of a vulnerability in software, hardware, a network, or an operating system. Attackers can use it to gain unauthorized access to data, take control of systems, or deploy malware.
Zero-day exploits are especially dangerous. They target vulnerabilities for which no patch is currently available. Until a fix is released, attackers may be able to compromise affected systems with relatively little resistance.
The Verizon report highlights the scale of the challenge: Only 26% of vulnerabilities were fully remediated in 2025. IT teams are struggling to patch systems fast enough.
There are several reasons why:
Security patches can disrupt critical systems. Dependencies and incompatibilities may take customer applications or production environments offline.
Approval processes take time. In regulated environments, reviews and approvals can easily delay deployment by several days.
The volume of vulnerabilities is overwhelming. Software flaws are now discovered automatically and at scale—far beyond what manual patch management processes can handle.
Cybercriminals have automated their operations. Attackers continuously scan for vulnerabilities and launch attacks as soon as they identify an opening.
Fully automated patch management does not exist. Vulnerabilities cannot be closed within seconds.
Even when a patch is available, your team must assess it, test it, and deploy it in a controlled manner. In production environments, that process takes time.
Organizations must therefore secure the critical window between the disclosure of a vulnerability and the successful deployment of a patch.
Closing this gap requires a layered security strategy.
Exposure management solutions such as CrowdStrike provide the first line of defense by prioritizing critical vulnerabilities and identifying misconfigurations. This gives security teams the visibility they need to assess and address the risks most likely to be exploited.
Automated breach and attack simulation adds another layer. By testing whether vulnerabilities are actually exploitable, organizations can prioritize remediation based on real-world risk rather than theoretical severity alone.
When an exploit succeeds, speed and visibility become critical.
EDR/XDR solutions such as CrowdStrike detect suspicious behavior early and respond to successful attacks in real time. Network Detection and Response solutions identify lateral movement across the network, while network segmentation and Secure Access Service Edge strategies isolate compromised systems and reduce the available attack surface.
Together, these controls limit an attacker’s ability to spread while the underlying vulnerability is being permanently remediated.
Serviceware works with leading technology partners across exposure management, breach and attack simulation, EDR/XDR, NDR, and SASE to turn individual security tools into a unified defense strategy.
Our portfolio includes established providers such as CrowdStrike, Vectra AI, Cato Networks, Pentera, and Remedio. Serviceware ensures these technologies work together when an incident occurs—from initial assessment and implementation to ongoing operations.
The result is an integrated security architecture that reduces risk, limits the impact of attacks, and provides lasting protection for the organization.