Last updated at Thu, 22 May 2025 15:09:42 GMT
The Take Command 2025 Virtual Cybersecurity Summit wasn’t just about sharing insights, it was about listening. After the live sessions wrapped, we surveyed attendees to understand where their security programs stand today, what challenges they’re facing, and what they found most valuable during the event.
Now, we’re excited to share those insights in a new downloadable infographic - The Take Command: Pulse of the Industry Survey, capturing the state of exposure management, AI adoption, MDR maturity, and more.
Here are a few standout takeaways from the survey, and where to dive deeper in the sessions on demand.
Exposure management: confidence is growing — but challenges remain
80% of respondents said they have confidence in their ability to respond to cyber risks through their exposure management program, and 60% reported successful integration of EM into their broader security workflows.
But the day-of survey showed a more nuanced reality. More than half of respondents cited “identifying unknown assets” and “monitoring third-party risk” as the top challenges in their exposure programs.
To explore solutions and strategies, check out Risk Revolution: Proactive Strategies for Exposure Management.
MDR adoption is strong — but visibility still needs work
58% of respondents rated their detection and response capabilities at 4 or 5 out of 5, and most teams using MDR cited a need for 24/7 monitoring and support for under-resourced teams. But 21% rated their confidence at 3 or below, indicating that making the right choice in MDR partner is critical.
In sessions like Inside the SOC and Demystifying Cloud Detection & Response, Rapid7’s teams shared real-world threat hunting stories and cloud-centric detection tactics to help close the gap.
Generative AI is a double-edged sword
Generative AI was one of the most discussed topics across the day — and for good reason. 50% of respondents said they were “very” or “extremely concerned” about adversaries using AI to enhance cyber attacks. Yet 36% of respondents say they’re not currently using Generative AI in their own security operations, citing barriers like tool integration, cost, and lack of skilled personnel.
For those navigating this space, AI in Action and Rise of the Machines both delivered practical examples of how teams are using AI responsibly to improve triage, detection, and response — while setting the necessary guardrails for safe adoption.
What attendees found most valuable
Take Command 2025 drew more than 2,200 live attendees, with on-demand views continuing to grow — and the feedback was clear: the content delivered. 67% of survey respondents rated the speakers as “Excellent”, with similarly high marks for session content and delivery.
When asked about their biggest takeaways, attendees consistently highlighted:
- Exposure management and risk visibility are key
- SOC operations and real-world case studies
- AI’s role in transforming security strategy
- The importance of “thinking like a hacker” to improve defenses
Attendees also appreciated the balance of voices, with one noting:
“Good mix of internal and external resources that knew what they were talking about and how to deliver it to a wide audience.”
Another shared:
“I didn’t think Rapid7 could improve its ability to unify information — but the new Exposure Command solution has done just that.”
From the depth of expertise to the variety of session formats, the summit resonated with attendees across roles, regions, and industries.
Explore the full infographic
Want a deeper dive into the data? Download the full Take Command: Pulse of the Industry Survey infographic to explore:
- Where teams are seeing success with exposure management
- How GenAI is being used (or not) across security operations
- What MDR teams are prioritizing — and what’s holding them back
- The biggest technical and strategic challenges security leaders face in 2025
Catch up or rewatch: all sessions on demand
Whether you missed the live event or want to explore specific topics in more detail, every session from Take Command 2025 is now available to watch on demand.
