Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
CrowdStrike released its 2026 Global Threat Report, and the findings read like a warning flare for cyber insurance underwriting. The company says attackers moved faster in 2025, used AI more often, and shifted further into identity, cloud, and edge environments. CrowdStrike’s press release and report page both stress the same theme: speed and evasion now drive loss severity.
The headline number is brutal. CrowdStrike says the average eCrime breakout time fell to 29 minutes in 2025. It also says the fastest observed breakout took 27 seconds. CrowdStrike adds that average breakout speed increased 65% from 2024. In one intrusion, data exfiltration began within four minutes of initial access.
These numbers are important for cyber insurance underwriters because they indicate that shortened response times are vital. This makes strong detection, thorough logging, and having enough staff to respond even more valuable. Slow escalation and unclear response plans now carry higher risks. Faster attacks can lead to extortion, business interruption, and data response costs before teams can react.
A Critical Turning Point For AI Risk
CrowdStrike describes AI as both a tool that speeds up attacks and as a target itself. The company reports that AI-enabled adversary activity rose by 89% compared to the previous year. Attackers also misused legitimate GenAI tools at over 90 organizations. The report calls AI threats a “critical turning point.”
CrowdStrike explains that attackers used harmful prompts in GenAI tools to create commands for stealing credentials and cryptocurrency. They also misused AI development platforms to maintain access and deploy ransomware. Some attackers even set up fake AI servers that looked like trusted services.
Carriers and brokers should pay attention to this. AI risks now cover user actions, prompt controls, model access, and development pipelines. Underwriters may need clearer information about AI governance and access controls, as well as proof of API key management and monitoring. Traditional questionnaires may not cover all these new risks.
CrowdStrike uses a direct tone. Adam Meyers described the situation as “an AI arms race.” The company also says, “AI is both the accelerant and the target.” While these are press-release phrases, they reflect real questions for underwriters. These issues are now part of daily operations, not just marketing.
The Race Against Time Gets Harder
The report highlights time and breakout speed in a main section, which matches the concerns of the insurance industry. Claims often become more severe when defenders lose time at the start. CrowdStrike’s average of 29 minutes and the 27-second outlier make this risk clear.
Cyber insurance underwriters should see speed as a key control issue. Fast attackers take advantage of poor triage, weak network segmentation, and loose privilege management. They also exploit organizations that collect logs but do not act on them. Simply having tools is not enough to stop a four-minute data theft. How well teams respond is what counts.
CrowdStrike also points out that 82% of detections in 2025 did not involve malware. This statistic suggests underwriters should adjust their approach. Attacks that abuse identity and use existing system tools can get past old assumptions. The report says, “82% of detections were malware-free.” This fact should be discussed in underwriting meetings.
Edge Devices And Cross-Domain Exposure Rise
The report also covers edge devices and cross-domain attacks. CrowdStrike notes that attackers move between identity, cloud, and virtual environments while avoiding well-monitored endpoints. This approach creates more blind spots and increases the risk of bigger losses.
Get The Cyber Insurance News Upload Delivered
Subscribe to our newsletter!
CrowdStrike’s press release gives more details about state-linked threats. The company reports that activity linked to China rose by 38% in 2025. The logistics sector saw the biggest jump in targeting, up 85%. CrowdStrike also says that 40% of vulnerabilities exploited by China-linked actors involved internet-facing edge devices. These numbers show why underwriters should focus again on perimeter exposure and patch management.
The report also highlights another trend. CrowdStrike says that cloud-focused attacks by state-linked actors rose by 266%. This is important for insurers and reinsurers because shared cloud services can lead to losses that affect many clients at once. One attack can impact several insured organizations through shared infrastructure and vendors.
Organizing The Risk The Way The Report Organizes The Threats
The way CrowdStrike organizes its report can help guide coverage discussions. The report moves from AI acceleration to breakout speed, to cross-domain attacks, and then to examples of adversaries. This order matches how cyber insurance underwriters should review controls: begin with exposure, check speed, assess visibility, and then test response.
CrowdStrike’s FAQ offers a helpful way to think about the issue. It says attackers are now “logging in” instead of “breaking in.” This phrase aligns with current insurance loss patterns related to identity compromise and the abuse of trusted access. It also highlights the need for strong MFA, privilege controls, and monitoring in underwriting.
One last caution is important for any coverage. CrowdStrike’s findings are based on its own intelligence and frontline data, which are valuable, but definitions remain important. Readers should pay attention to how CrowdStrike defines AI-enabled activity and breakout times. Even so, the trend is clear, and cyber insurance underwriters should take action now.
Top 10 CrowdStrike FAQ Takeaways For Cyber Insurance Underwriting
What CrowdStrike’s 2026 Global Threat Report Means For Cyber Insurance Underwriting
1. The Report Uses Frontline Threat Data
CrowdStrike says the findings come from active investigations and telemetry.
2. Attack Speed Is A Core Risk Signal
Average eCrime breakout time fell to 29 minutes. Speed drives severity.
3. Breakout Compression Raises Claims Pressure
Shorter attacker timelines reduce response time and increase downstream loss costs.
4. AI-Enabled Adversary Activity Is Rising Fast
CrowdStrike reports an 89% increase in AI-enabled adversary activity.
5. Malware-Free Intrusions Now Dominate
CrowdStrike says 82% of detections were malware-free in 2025.
6. Identity Abuse Sits At The Center
Attackers are “logging in” instead of “breaking in.”
7. Zero-Day Exploitation Is Accelerating
CrowdStrike reports a 42% increase in zero-days exploited before public disclosure.
8. Edge, Cloud, And Identity Risks Converge
Attackers move across domains. Siloed controls create blind spots.
9. AI Exposure Now Includes Operations And Access Control
Underwriting questions now reach prompt governance, API keys, and AI development environments.
10. Underwriters Need Control Evidence, Not Tool Lists
Speed, visibility, and response execution matter more than checkbox security.
Related Cyber Liability Insurance Posts
- UIB Partners With CyberCube To Boost Cyber Liability Insurance Analytics And Growth In LATAM And Asia
- Non-Human Identity Sprawl Is a Cyber Liability Insurance Problem Now
- The Hidden Costs of Cyberattacks on Small Businesses
- The CrowdStrike Outage: A Wake-Up Call for Cybersecurity and Insurance
- Small Businesses Must Prepare To Defend – And Insure – Against Cyberattacks
