Router Security Hardening Steps for 2026: From Default Credential Audits to Automated Firmware Risk Monitoring

Network edge devices are now among the most targeted entry points in cyberattacks. Recent intelligence shows that threat actors are focusing more on routers, firewalls, and VPN concentrators than on end-user machines, a trend highlighted in multiple 2025 threat intelligence reports . For IT teams responsible for Dutch enterprise environments, that shift makes a structured and repeatable hardening strategy essential before 2026 threat activity ramps up further.