The cyber threat environment is constantly changing, with new threats emerging and threat actors growing in sophistication. To keep pace, businesses need to be just as dynamic in their approach to building a high-quality cybersecurity toolset.  

This cyber arms race can lead businesses to adopt a wide swath of cybersecurity solutions that are potentially expensive and lacking in coordination and interoperability. In these cases, consolidating cybersecurity tools into a unified suite can provide both cost savings and enhanced security. 

Still, some companies may feel hesitant to begin consolidation, especially if their current tools seem to be working well enough. They may feel pressure — often driven by factors external to the cybersecurity realm, such as vendor relationships and concerns surrounding employee training — to maintain the status quo. With the right plan of action and partners to support the process, companies can overcome these hesitations and reap the benefits of consolidating their cybersecurity tools, including: 

Roadblocks to Consolidation 

The benefits of consolidating cybersecurity tools can ultimately enhance cyber resilience — the end goal of any cybersecurity strategy. Still, many companies may feel some degree of inertia around beginning the consolidation process. 

In many cases, budgets and other agreements with existing tools vendors are already approved for preset amounts of time. Cybersecurity staff may feel reluctant to alter an agreement that has already been set or reallocate funds that have already been appropriated. They may also worry about potentially jeopardizing relationships with vendors if consolidation requires phasing out certain features or services in favor of others. 

Adding to this inertia are concerns around internal capabilities. New tools may require new training and other staff support, especially during the early stages of adoption. Companies might see new or consolidated tools as a risk in and of themselves, with the potential for downtime or mistakes made during a big transition to introduce more vulnerability. 

Given these apprehensions, it’s understandable that many cybersecurity teams would adopt a mentality of, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” However, in the fast-changing cyber threat landscape, that mentality might not afford a sufficient level of protection. Rather than waiting for a critical failure to prompt a reevaluation, companies should begin preparing for the consolidation process now. 

Navigating the Consolidation Process 

With clear benefits and a pressing need, the case for consolidating cybersecurity tools is strong — and doing so need not be as disruptive as some might anticipate. Tools consolidation is a planned, step-by-step process, not an all-at-once overhaul. Existing contracts, for instance, do not necessarily have to be vacated immediately. The precise steps will vary depending on the business, but there are several key junctures along the way: 

How BDO Digital Can Help 

For companies interested in consolidating their cybersecurity toolsets, partnering with a knowledgeable third party may prove beneficial. BDO Digital can provide help and guidance at any step along the way. Our professionals can help maximize existing investments, integrate both old and new tools into a best-of-suite, and assist with designing ongoing assessments to measure how well your cybersecurity stack can detect, mitigate and prevent cyber threats.