A recent survey from Gartner reveals that organizations are increasingly adopting a multitude of cybersecurity tools, with an average of 45 tools per organization in 2024. This trend further illuminates the increasing difficulty IT and security operations have in keeping security operations effective, yet low overhead. At the same time, a report from the IBM Institute for Business Value highlights that organizations exhibiting higher security platform maturity can identify and contain incidents more swiftly. This complexity presents significant burdens for many affected businesses. In reality, 52% of executives point to it as the top obstacle to optimal security operations.
With each release, companies are increasing the pressure to build better security frameworks. Today, 62% are already in the process of consolidating their suppliers, with an additional 36% intending to do so over the next three years. This move to reduce the number of suppliers is yet another indication of relentless desire to simplify, simplify, simplify. It pierces through the noise of too much cybersecurity tooling.
The Challenge of Complexity
The intricacy of today’s cybersecurity operations creates a serious obstacle for enterprise organizations. IT departments manage on average 45 different tools. This frequently prevents them from being able to keep their security measures dynamic, proactive and effective. The impossible-to-sort array of tools creates a huge uptake confusion and inefficiency. This complicates a team’s ability to align around driving the right outcomes.
Duncan Mills, Senior Director of Product Marketing & Go-to-market at Bitdefender, underlines the crux of the matter. Organizations whose security teams consist of only one or two generalists will be seriously outmatched by this model. He notes that generalists really don’t have the time and expertise necessary to juggle such a broad toolset. Each shortfall has the potential to increase vulnerabilities rather than mitigate them.
With those challenges come an opportunity for mid-market IT leaders to take the lead. Fortunately, the landscape for implementing a security platform is clearer now than ever before. As organizations navigate through the complexities, they can leverage resources such as Bitdefender’s Buyer’s Guide: Security Platforms for Mid-Market Businesses to make informed decisions about consolidating tools and enhancing their security posture.
Supplier Consolidation Trends
The wave of supplier consolidation isn’t limited to the automotive sector, it is sweeping across multiple industries. As evidenced from a recent 2025 Gartner survey where we found 62% of the enterprises today are consolidating suppliers to simplify their cybersecurity operations. By taking a more proactive approach, they hope to simplify complexity while increasing efficiency and effectiveness within their security frameworks.
For many, the choice to consolidate their suppliers can be traced back to a desire for a more unified approach to security. Third, organizations know that the more vendors they deal with, the more difficult communication and resource allocation becomes. With fewer suppliers, enterprises can build deeper relationships and gain better alignment on their security objectives.
36% of nonprofits intend to merge in the next three years. Unfortunately, this trend is unmistakably headed for even more drastic growth. As these companies grow, they take a more proactive approach by searching for vendors. They prefer the ones that offer holistic, integrated, multimodal solutions addressing multiple cybersecurity objectives.
The Importance of Security Platform Maturity
One key factor in minimizing incident impact is associated with security platform maturity and the degree to which organizations can detect and contain incidents quickly. The 2025 IBM Institute for Business Value study has some great news. Businesses that utilize sophisticated security platforms are able to identify breaches in a timelier manner and are better equipped to contain them.
Yet, doubt continues to reign as to whether identity management truly is the critical piece that today’s de-perimeterized environment demands. Most industry professionals would back that idea up. Identity makes the world go round. Yet, the questions still remain about how organizations can effectively work identity solutions into their larger security landscapes without adding to sprawl.
Interestingly, some industry observers express concerns that mega-platforms could evolve into cumbersome “Frankenstein” environments as they attempt to incorporate multiple functionalities. This risk of chaos underscores the need for ensuring functionality doesn’t overshadow usability in security platforms.