Consolidation is a key consideration in achieving cyber security maturity. While reducing vendor count can be a good thing, it also can lead to security problems. Security solutions must be able to integrate well and provide single-pane-of-glass visibility and shared threat intelligence.
Importance of product integration capabilities for cybersecurity
Increasingly, cybersecurity teams are looking to integrate multiple security tools into a single platform to improve cybersecurity and simplify security operations. Cloud services are a great way to accomplish this. They integrate multiple security features into a single platform, replacing multiple tools that were previously scattered across an on-premises IT environment. According to a recent survey, more than half of organizations have purchased or plan to purchase a security technology platform in the near future. Consolidation also leads to operational efficiencies and improved threat detection.
However, cybersecurity consolidation can be challenging given the speed of technological advancement and the ongoing cyber arms race. Rapid integration is critical to staying ahead of ever-changing threats. To achieve this, cybersecurity vendors need to be able to easily integrate their tools based on open APIs. Not all security tool vendors are created equal, which makes it critical to consider a vendor's product integration capabilities before selecting a product.
Consolidation of security products can benefit a business in many ways, but the benefits of a single platform depend on a well-thought-out plan. It should include protection, features, and the cost of ownership. As a result, companies should seek approval from the CFO and IT teams before finalizing a single security solution. Ensure the plan is backed by financial analysis and clearly articulates how the consolidation will benefit the business.
Problems with multi-vendor approach
Increasing the number of security vendors is beneficial for organizations, but it can also present a variety of problems. While a multi-vendor approach is not a bad idea, it is best to use only the best vendors in the security space. This way, organizations can control costs and maximize their cybersecurity spending, while addressing the challenges of multi-vendor security solutions.
One of the biggest problems with multi-vendor security solutions is their complexity. Using different security vendors for each component of a company's cybersecurity strategy can increase the complexity and increase the amount of application switching and management needed by the IT team. Additionally, overlapping tools create blind spots that attackers can exploit.
Security leaders have increasingly recognized the need for vendor consolidation and have started implementing security stack consolidation. According to Gartner's 2020 CISO Effectiveness Survey, 78% of CISOs have sixteen or more cybersecurity tools in their arsenal. This leads to a complicated security operation and increased vendor costs.
Benefits of a consolidated security platform
Consolidated security platforms provide organizations with a single point of control for managing security systems. They can reduce the number of separate tools used for security and can also streamline network management. Consolidation can also reduce training and maintenance costs by eliminating the need to manage multiple separate security platforms. Because a single security platform provides a unified security experience, security operations will become more flexible and efficient. Furthermore, fewer personnel are required to manage a single security platform, allowing organizations to focus on improving service.
Consolidated security platforms are especially helpful when it comes to regulatory compliance. They also simplify integration with other departments. Consolidated security platforms also reduce IT admins' time spent tracking down different vendors. They also help businesses minimize their attack surface, the total number of vulnerabilities within their network.
Consolidated security platforms allow organizations to better manage and protect sensitive data. They also provide visibility into sensitive data and allow security and privacy issues to be resolved more quickly.