Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Most people know their home internet has an IP address, but that's usually where it ends. Few ever check what it is or who it belongs to. Websites check all the time though. The address gives away which ISP you use, a rough location, and whether the connection is coming from someone's house or from a server somewhere, and that last part decides a lot more than you'd expect. Here's a look at how residential IPs get handed out and why the rest of the internet cares so much about them.

Penetration testing companies simulate authorized attacks to identify exploitable security weaknesses and explain how to fix them. A useful engagement gives your team evidence of what failed, the business impact, and a clear path to remediation. Our five picks for 2026 are Bright Defense, Rapid7, Kroll, BreachLock, and NetSPI. Bright Defense leads this shortlist for small and midsize businesses that want testing with access to compliance support. The other providers offer options for broad technical coverage, threat-informed assessments, platform-based delivery, and enterprise testing programs.

For years, identity security has been based on a fairly straightforward premise: organisations need to know who, or what, is accessing their systems, what they are authorised to do, and whether that access remains appropriate. However, the rise of autonomous AI agents has changed the game, and tore-up the traditional model of role-based access controls and privileged access management.