Kaseya Survey Finds Human Error Is Top Cybersecurity Risk

Kaseya’s 2026 report finds human error is the top cybersecurity concern, with budget and skills gaps leaving organizations vulnerable.

Kaseya, the leading global provider of AI-powered IT management and cybersecurity software, today released its Cybersecurity Report: Building Security That Survives Human Error, the most comprehensive look yet at how cybersecurity is really being practiced on the ground. Based on responses from 1,132 MSPs and IT professionals across more than 60 countries, the research cuts through the theory to examine what is getting in the way of good security. The report closes with a Cyber Resilience Playbook offering practical guidance for building security programs that hold up under real-world conditions.

Also Read: Menlo Security Closes Zero-Day and AI Agent Attack Gaps with Google Security Operations Integration

Human error remains the biggest security risk

Human error, including social engineering and distraction, ranks as the top threat vector 68% of respondents are most concerned about in the next 12 months, followed by email at 55%. Among organizations that experienced an incident in the past three years, four of the top five contributing factors were people-related, led by poor user practices or gullibility (41%) and a lack of end-user cybersecurity training (40%).

The findings suggest that despite advances in security technology, people remain one of the most difficult vulnerabilities for organizations to address.

“People aren’t perfect, and everyone knows it. Yet much of cybersecurity still depends on people making the right decision every time,” said David Baggett, SVP and GM, Security Suite, Kaseya. “The path to true cyber resilience isn’t about eliminating mistakes. It’s about building an organization that can withstand them. Expect mistakes, account for constraints and engineer around them.”

Being audit-ready doesn’t make compliance easy

Nearly 65% of respondents say they could pass a compliance audit today without preparation; but that confidence may be optimistic. When asked what could create problems during an audit, 49% pointed to incomplete documentation or policies, followed by security controls that are not fully implemented (34%) and a lack of employee security awareness or training (33%).

Also Read: AYTM Launches Bridge for AI-Powered Research

Cybersecurity investment isn’t keeping up with risk

Only 20% of IT departments say their cybersecurity budget is growing in line with real risk. At the same time 77% of those surveyed describe themselves as under-resourced in some way: budgets held flat while threats grow (23%), growing but too slowly to keep pace (30%), or under-resourced and aware of it (24%). MSPs report a similar pattern among their client base, with 65% saying clients are underinvested in cybersecurity relative to their risk.

Key characteristics of high performing MSPs

Alongside these findings, Kaseya is introducing an MSP resilience assessment, giving MSPs visibility into what high-performing companies do differently. High and low performers were defined by whether they met both revenue and growth goals over the last two quarters.

The assessment shows that high performing MSPs have turned compliance, cyber insurance and AI adoption into competitive advantages, while low-performing MSPs — often constrained by budget or size — deprioritize those same areas.

• Incident response and backup testing: Almost 30% of high-performing MSPs test their clients’ incident response plans quarterly, compared with 18% of low-performing MSPs. Only 11% of high-performing MSPs report not having an incident response plan, compared with 25% of low-performing MSPs. Across all MSPs, 15% do not have an incident response plan.
  
  
• Compliance as a differentiator: High-performing MSPs are making compliance a more meaningful part of their business. A quarter generate 11–25% of their revenue from compliance services, compared with 15% of low-performing MSPs, suggesting that compliance can be a strong differentiator and revenue opportunity
  
  
• Tech stack depth: While foundational tools like EDR, MFA, BCDR and email security are near-universal across all MSPs, high performers pull ahead on advanced, proactive layers, including SIEM adoption (48% high vs. 42% all vs. 31% low), NDR (52% top vs. 44% all vs. 27% low) and cloud security/CNAPP (32% high vs. 22% all vs. 13% low).

Also Read: IgniteUps.ai Launches NEXUS for Automotive AI Management

The report closes with a five-part playbook for building resilience into daily operations: designed for the mistakes teams already expect, making the case for investment before an incident forces the issue, removing friction so secure behavior is the easy choice, using AI to extend stretched teams, and treating compliance as continuous work rather than a once-a-year scramble.

Write to us [⁠wasim.a@demandmediaagency.com] to learn more about our exclusive editorial packages and programmes.