The true cost of fragmented cybersecurity ... and how to fix it

The digital transformation of modern businesses has meant that cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern – it’s a top priority for business leaders. 

With the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks continuing to rise, organizations must ensure their digital assets and reputation remain protected. However, in the rush to defend against evolving threats, many companies have built complex and fragmented cybersecurity ecosystems that create more problems than they solve.

While adding new security tools might seem like a proactive approach, it can lead to inefficiency, increased costs, and a weaker security posture. With the average organization in 2025 managing an eyewatering 83 security solutions from 29 vendors,¹  the challenges posed by fragmented cybersecurity are significant - and costly.

The hidden costs of fragmented security

As businesses adopt more ad hoc solutions to combat specific threats, they unintentionally create a fragmented security infrastructure. This patchwork of tools often lacks seamless integration, increasing complexity and reducing operational efficiency. The more fragmented a security system, the harder it becomes to identify, respond to, and mitigate threats effectively.

The financial consequences of fragmented security are substantial. Organizations with complex security infrastructures face higher breach costs. In 2024, the average cost of a data breach for companies with fragmented security systems reached $4.88 million – a 10% increase from the previous year.² As complexity grows, so does the financial risk.

Managing multiple security tools introduces significant administrative overhead and operational complexity. Each tool often requires its own setup, configuration, and ongoing maintenance, increasing the workload for already stretched security teams. Overlapping solutions can generate a flood of redundant alerts, many of which turn out to be false positives.

This constant stream of noise makes it harder for analysts to identify genuine threats, delaying incident response times and leaving organizations vulnerable. Furthermore, the complexity of managing disparate tools can create blind spots in security coverage, as gaps may emerge when tools do not seamlessly integrate or share data effectively. These inefficiencies not only burden security personnel but also increase the risk of critical threats slipping through undetected.

Another significant challenge is the duplication of efforts that arises from maintaining multiple, overlapping security solutions. When teams must manage similar tasks across different platforms – such as monitoring logs, updating policies, or correlating threat intelligence – it can waste time and resources. This duplication may not only increase operational costs due to the need for additional licensing, training, and maintenance but also hamper overall productivity.

Why businesses are moving toward cybersecurity consolidation

Recognizing the pitfalls of fragmented security, as early as 2022, 75% of organizations are pursuing vendor consolidation³  – a number that was triple the amount two years prior. Consolidating cybersecurity tools can do more than just reduce costs; it can also enhance efficiency and improve overall security outcomes.

By consolidating multiple solutions into a unified platform, businesses can streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and focus on high-priority threats.

This unified approach may also simplify reporting and improve visibility across the entire security landscape, allowing organizations to respond to incidents more swiftly and effectively.

The platformization solution

An effective path forward is adopting a cybersecurity strategy called platformization. Platformization consolidates diverse security functions into a single, cohesive system. This approach not only reduces operational complexity but also enables a more comprehensive defense-in-depth strategy – covering endpoints, networks, cloud environments, and more.

By implementing a unified platform, businesses can:

• Reduce Costs: Minimize licensing fees, cut administrative overhead, and lower breach-related expenses.
• Enhance Efficiency: Streamline operations and automate processes to reduce manual work and error.
• Strengthen Security: Improve threat detection and response by providing a holistic view of vulnerabilities.
• Increase Agility: Enable faster adaptation to evolving threats and new business requirements.

¹“IBM and Palo Alto Networks Find Platformization is Key to Reduce Cybersecurity Complexity,” IBM, January 28, 2025.

²“Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024,” IBM, September 8, 2024.

³“Gartner Survey Shows 75% of Organizations Are Pursuing Security Vendor Consolidation in 2022,” Gartner, September 13, 2022.