Threat Intelligence , AI/ML , Identity , MSP AI and identity-first attacks reshape MSP security landscape May 1, 2026 Share By SC Staff (Adobe Stock) Per Channel Insider, a new report highlights how artificial intelligence and identity-first attacks are fundamentally altering the threat landscape for managed service providers (MSPs) and the small businesses they serve. Guardz's 2026 State of MSP Threat Report indicates that AI has rendered traditional phishing tactics obsolete, enabling attackers to craft highly personalized and contextually relevant threats at an unprecedented scale. The report reveals a significant rise in compromised passwords, with approximately 31% of users experiencing such issues monthly, as attackers leverage AI to optimize password lists. Business email compromise (BEC) incidents are also proving costly, ranging from $140,000 to $1.5 million. Ransomware has evolved, showing a 190% surge in behavioral detections, often utilizing legitimate IT tools like remote monitoring and management (RMM) software, with 26% of endpoint threats now involving RMM abuse. Furthermore, non-human identities (NHIs) such as service principals and API keys now outnumber human users by a 25:1 ratio, presenting a vast, often overlooked attack surface. Predictions for the latter half of 2026 include a rise in session hijacking, cloud-based ransomware targeting services like SharePoint and OneDrive, and increased attacks on Google Workspace environments. The report emphasizes that the convergence of AI-driven offensive and defensive tools is narrowing the gap between attackers and defenders, necessitating MSPs to adopt AI for detection and response to maintain client trust. Source: Channel Insider An In-Depth Guide to AI Get essential knowledge and practical strategies to use AI to better your security program. Learn More SC Staff Related Threat Intelligence Dubai scam centers shut down in joint US-China operation SC Staff May 1, 2026 U.S. and Chinese law enforcement agencies have raided at least nine scam centers across Dubai, resulting in 276 arrests, as part of a joint operation conducted alongside the Dubai Police Department, with assistance from the Royal Thai Police and Meta, reports The Record, a news site by cybersecurity firm Recorded Future. Threat Intelligence Romanian national sentenced to 4 years for leading swatting ring SC Staff May 1, 2026 The individual, identified as 27-year-old Thomasz Szabo, operated under various aliases and founded a community that engaged in bomb threats and swatting attacks starting in late 2020. Security Operations Hackers accidentally leak database of stolen credit cards due to AI coding error SC Staff May 1, 2026 Hackers utilized an AI-assisted development tool called Cursor to build a statistics dashboard for Jerry's Store. Related Events Cybercast Better Threat Intelligence Between Public and Private Sectors On-Demand Event Virtual Conference Nationwide Cybersecurity Summit 2025: Safeguarding America’s Digital Future On-Demand Event Virtual Conference Securing the Future of Finance: Strategies to Counter Modern Cyber Threats On-Demand Event Get daily email updates SC Media's daily must-read of the most current and pressing daily news Business Email By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Subscribe Related Terms Basic Authentication Botnet Certificate-Based Authentication Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) Data Mining Domain Hijacking Dumpster Diving Fault Line Attacks Google Hacking Morris Worm You can skip this ad in 5 seconds