In the NBA Playoffs, the Shot Clock Is 24 Seconds. In Cybersecurity, You Get 29 Minutes.
Thought Leadership Credential Risk May 2026 · 8 min read Once an attacker gets a stolen credential, the average time before they've moved through your entire network is now just 29 minutes — down 65% from last year. The NBA shot clock gives teams 24 seconds to act or lose possession. Your business has 29 minutes. Most don't know the clock has started. Right now, somewhere in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, a coach is drawing up a play with less than 24 seconds on the shot clock. Every team in the league has practiced this moment hundreds of times. The play is already scripted. The roles are already assigned. The decision about who gets the ball and where they go has already been made — because when the clock is running, there is no time to figure it out from scratch. Now consider what your business does when someone's work credentials get stolen. In February 2026, CrowdStrike released its annual Global Threat Report — the m...