Microsoft, SentinelOne, and Palo Alto Withdraw from 2026 MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations

Fast Facts

1. Microsoft, SentinelOne, and Palo Alto Networks will not participate in the 2026 MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations, citing a focus on internal innovation and customer initiatives over industry benchmarking.
2. These evaluations are key industry benchmarks for assessing security products, historically used as validation and marketing tools.
3. The companies reaffirm their commitment to independent testing through other organizations like SE Labs and AV-Comparatives, diversifying their validation strategies.
4. Their decision reflects a broader industry shift towards prioritizing agile development, faster innovation, and tailored security responses over standardized annual assessments.

The Core Issue

In 2026, three leading cybersecurity vendors—Microsoft, SentinelOne, and Palo Alto Networks—announced they would not participate in the renowned MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations, a key industry benchmark that tests security products against simulated real-world attack scenarios. This collective decision stems from their strategic choice to redirect resources away from external validation efforts and instead focus on internal innovation and customer-centric initiatives. Microsoft explained that it aimed to dedicate its efforts toward its Secure Future Initiative, while SentinelOne wanted to accelerate its platform development to better serve clients. Palo Alto Networks, a regular participant for six years, also shifted its focus to advancing its core technologies to address pressing security challenges.

Despite stepping away from these evaluations, all three companies confirmed their continued engagement with other independent assessment organizations, emphasizing their commitment to rigorous testing through alternative channels such as SE Labs and AV-Comparatives. This move highlights a broader industry trend where major vendors are re-evaluating how they validate their products, prioritizing rapid innovation and direct response to emerging threats over standardized testing routines. The decision has stirred ongoing discussions within the cybersecurity community about the future role of benchmarks like the MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations and whether more companies might follow suit to better align with their evolving strategic goals.

What’s at Stake?

Microsoft, SentinelOne, and Palo Alto Networks have announced their decision to abstain from the 2026 MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations, signaling a strategic shift away from traditional third-party testing toward internal innovation and customer-centric priorities. Historically, these evaluations served as vital industry benchmarks, showcasing a vendor’s ability to detect and respond to simulated real-world cyber threats, thus influencing market trust and reputation. However, these leading firms now believe their resources are better allocated to accelerating product development and addressing immediate security challenges, as evidenced by their continued participation in alternative assessment programs like SE Labs and AV-Comparatives. This collective move highlights an evolving industry landscape where rapid threat mitigation and customized security solutions are increasingly valued over standardized, periodic validation exercises, raising questions about the future role of such assessments and prompting competitors to reconsider their validation strategies amid the dynamic and fast-paced cybersecurity environment.

Fix & Mitigation

Understanding the implications of Microsoft, SentinelOne, and Palo Alto Networks withdrawing from the 2026 MITRE ATT&CK evaluations is crucial, as it highlights potential gaps in security posture that demand prompt action to maintain resilience against evolving threats. Timely remediation ensures that organizations can mitigate vulnerabilities, uphold their security standards, and prevent malicious actors from exploiting gaps exposed by the withdrawal.

Assessment & Analysis
Conduct an immediate review of current security measures and identify areas where reliance on the withdrawn providers might leave gaps.

Update Security Tools
Integrate alternative or supplementary security solutions that cover the functionalities previously provided by the withdrawing vendors.

Enhance Threat Intelligence
Strengthen threat detection and response strategies by subscribing to multiple threat intelligence sources to compensate for the potential decline in evaluation insights.

Training & Awareness
Increase staff training on emerging threats and gaps that could arise due to this withdrawal, ensuring proactive identification and mitigation.

Vendor Diversification
Avoid over-reliance on a single vendor by diversifying security toolsets and establishing contingency plans with multiple vendors.

Monitoring & Auditing
Implement rigorous continuous monitoring and regular auditing of security systems to quickly detect and remediate any new vulnerabilities.

Explore More Security Insights

Discover cutting-edge developments in Emerging Tech and industry Insights.

Explore engineering-led approaches to digital security at IEEE Cybersecurity.

Disclaimer: The information provided may not always be accurate or up to date. Please do your own research, as the cybersecurity landscape evolves rapidly. Intended for secondary references purposes only.

Cyberattacks-V1