Businesses can fall into the trap of deploying multiple-point solutions to address specific security issues. But this is an approach that is fraught with peril, particularly as the global security talent gap and other factors limit the availability of skills to run these solutions, and their siloed nature impedes a comprehensive view of threats. In this blog, we examine some of the reasons why managing multiple security technologies can hurt your security posture.

Anyone that manages an organization’s security knows that there is a technological solution for every security issue. Because these address a specific need, such as firewall or endpoint protection, organizations often have multiple point solutions at work within their environments. But without backend integration of these technologies and the range of skills to manage them, the point solution approach can actually hurt the organization’s security posture, not strengthen it.

Here are 5 downsides of managing multiple-point solutions: 

• Security Fatigue. Too many security controls, applications, and policies can create security fatigue within the user ranks. Navigating these takes time and mental energy as users go about their daily activities and security becomes a barrier to their productivity. To alleviate the “extra steps,” users may create workarounds to bypass vital security processes, leaving gaps in security that can be exploited by bad actors to gain access to the organization’s networks and data. Integrating point solutions can help streamline user access and other security processes, resulting in fewer user “workarounds” and therefore, less exposure. 
• Alert Fatigue. Multiple security alerts from multiple systems that are not correlated or validated for legitimacy or criticality result in a lot of “noise.” Overwhelmed and fatigued by the constant din of alerts, teams can miss true threats that are hidden amid the flood of false positives, exposing the organization to a greater potential for attack. 
• No Single Source of Truth. Point technologies from multiple vendors work independently of each other, making it difficult to correlate activities and assess the kinds of threats the organization faces, where threats are coming from, and what systems are likely to be attacked. Consolidating and normalizing the data from these disparate security sources can help the organization gain a more singular view and understanding of its threat landscape. 
• Inefficiencies. Managing multiple point solutions, portals, and reports from multiple vendors is inefficient and time-consuming for teams and takes valuable focus away from day-to-day activities such as addressing alerts and vulnerabilities. In addition, point solutions often require specific skills which can vary among team members. The cadence of vacation, sick time, and employee churn create periodic gaps in this technology-specific expertise. 
• Inconsistent Response. Siloed point security solutions increase disparities in how teams collectively monitor, assess, prioritize, and respond to threats across the organization. A cybersecurity playbook helps standardize these efforts organization-wide and allows teams to prioritize – and more effectively mitigate – threats and vulnerabilities. 

While the downsides of in-house point security solutions can actually hurt the organization’s security posture rather than help it, there is an alternative. 

Today, there are more than 3,500 vendors that deliver a range of outsourced security services that address specific security needs and augment in-house cybersecurity efforts. 

Through these services, organizations can access advanced, integrated technology stacks and expert resources that effectively and efficiently correlate data; monitor the environment; consolidate, tune, and filter alerts to minimize false positives and surface critical threats; and escalate detected threats based on a custom security playbook. The result is simplified and affordable cybersecurity and improved security posture – without the downsides associated with maintaining point solutions in-house.

Eliminate the downsides of in-house point solutions. SilverSky makes it simple to improve your security posture. Learn more about our comprehensive security services here.