Runtime Analytics Revolutionizes Security by Cutting Millions of Alerts to What Truly Matters
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New research from Contrast Security’s Software Under Siege 2025 report reveals that traditional perimeter-based detection tools generate overwhelming alert volumes with little correlation to actual exploits. Runtime analytics, powered by the Contrast Graph, drastically reduces noise by detecting attacks during code execution and correlating them with application architecture and business context. This article explores how runtime analytics is transforming vulnerability detection, who is affected, and actionable steps organizations can take to secure themselves in 2026 and beyond.
What happened
Recent research from Contrast Security’s Software Under Siege 2025 report has shed light on a critical issue facing application security teams: the overwhelming volume of security alerts generated by traditional perimeter-based detection tools. These tools produce millions of alerts, most of which do not correlate to real-world exploits, creating alert fatigue and hindering effective threat response.
The report highlights that applications face an average of 81 viable attacks per month that successfully reach actual vulnerabilities. However, traditional detection methods struggle to isolate these genuine threats from the noise.
To address this, Contrast Security introduced runtime analytics powered by the Contrast Graph. This technology detects attacks during code execution and correlates exploitation attempts with the application’s architecture and business context. By doing so, it delivers verified, actionable threats rather than overwhelming security teams with unfiltered alerts.
Confirmed facts
- Applications experience an average of 81 viable attacks per month that reach actual vulnerabilities, according to Contrast Security’s 2025 report.
- Perimeter-based detection tools generate millions of alerts but have minimal correlation to real-world exploits, leading to alert fatigue.
- Runtime analytics powered by the Contrast Graph detects attacks at runtime, during actual code execution.
- This approach correlates attack data with application architecture and business context, enabling precise identification of verified threats.
- Runtime analytics significantly reduces the volume of alerts, focusing security teams on what truly matters.
Who is affected
- Application Security Teams: They face the brunt of overwhelming alert volumes and struggle to prioritize real threats.
- Developers and DevOps: Runtime analytics provides actionable insights during code execution, enabling faster remediation.
- Enterprises with Complex Applications: Organizations running large-scale, multi-layered applications benefit from contextual threat detection.
- Security Operations Centers (SOCs): Reduced alert noise improves response times and reduces burnout.
- Businesses at Risk of Exploitation: Any organization with internet-facing applications is vulnerable to the average 81 attacks per month identified.
What to do now
- Evaluate Current Alerting Tools: Assess whether your existing perimeter-based detection tools generate excessive false positives or uncorrelated alerts.
- Implement Runtime Analytics: Consider adopting runtime analytics solutions that monitor attacks during code execution and correlate them with application context.
- Integrate with DevSecOps Pipelines: Embed runtime analytics into development and deployment workflows to catch vulnerabilities early.
- Train Security Teams: Educate analysts on interpreting runtime analytics data to prioritize verified threats effectively.
- Monitor and Adjust: Continuously review alert volumes and incident response metrics to ensure runtime analytics is optimizing your security posture.
How to secure yourself
- Adopt Context-Aware Security Tools: Use tools that provide real-time, contextual insights rather than generic alerts.
- Prioritize Verified Threats: Focus remediation efforts on alerts confirmed by runtime analytics to reduce wasted resources.
- Enhance Application Visibility: Map your application architecture thoroughly to enable better correlation of attack data.
- Automate Response Where Possible: Use orchestration to respond swiftly to verified threats detected during runtime.
- Regularly Update Security Policies: Ensure policies reflect the dynamic nature of threats detected through runtime analytics.
2026 update
In 2026, runtime analytics has become a cornerstone of modern application security strategies. Contrast Security’s ongoing research confirms that organizations leveraging runtime analytics experience up to a 90% reduction in false positive alerts. This shift has enabled security teams to focus on genuine threats, improving mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) significantly.
Moreover, integration with AI-driven threat intelligence and automated remediation workflows has further enhanced runtime analytics capabilities. Enterprises adopting these technologies report fewer breaches and faster patch cycles.
FAQ
What is runtime analytics in cybersecurity?
Runtime analytics is a security approach that monitors applications during code execution to detect and analyze attacks in real time, correlating findings with application architecture and business context.
How does runtime analytics reduce alert fatigue?
By filtering out false positives and correlating alerts with actual exploitation attempts, runtime analytics delivers only verified, actionable threats, drastically reducing noise.
Are all organizations affected by the high volume of alerts?
Yes, especially those with complex or internet-facing applications. The average of 81 viable attacks per month applies broadly across industries.
Can runtime analytics be integrated with existing security tools?
Yes, many runtime analytics solutions are designed to integrate with SIEM, SOAR, and DevSecOps pipelines to enhance overall security operations.
Does runtime analytics replace traditional perimeter defenses?
No, it complements perimeter defenses by providing deeper, contextual insight into attacks that bypass external protections.
What industries benefit most from runtime analytics?
Industries with high-value applications such as finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and technology benefit significantly due to their complex threat landscapes.
How quickly can runtime analytics detect an attack?
Detection occurs during code execution, enabling near real-time identification and correlation of attacks.
What should I do if my organization is overwhelmed by alerts?
Evaluate adopting runtime analytics to reduce false positives and focus on verified threats, improving incident response efficiency.
Is runtime analytics effective against zero-day vulnerabilities?
While it cannot predict zero-days, runtime analytics can detect exploitation attempts during execution, providing early warning of active attacks.
Why this matters
The sheer volume of security alerts generated by traditional tools has long been a barrier to effective threat detection and response. With applications facing dozens of viable attacks monthly, distinguishing real threats from noise is critical. Runtime analytics represents a paradigm shift by providing precise, context-rich insights that empower security teams to act decisively.
This evolution is vital as cyberattacks grow more sophisticated and application environments become increasingly complex. Organizations that fail to adopt such advanced analytics risk missing critical exploitation attempts, leading to data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Sources and corroboration
This article is based primarily on the Contrast Security Software Under Siege 2025 report as detailed in the Security Boulevard article titled "Runtime Analytics Cuts Millions of Alerts to What Matters" published on April 24, 2026. The findings are corroborated by industry trends emphasizing the limitations of perimeter-based detection and the rise of runtime analytics in modern cybersecurity strategies.
- https://securityboulevard.com/2026/04/runtime-analytics-cuts-millions-of-alerts-to-what-matters/
Sources used for this article
securityboulevard.com
