Organisations are grappling with alarming levels of cybersecurity complexity, juggling an average of 83 different security solutions from 29 vendors. The research, jointly sponsored by IBM and Palo Alto Networks indicates that 75% of respondents pursuing a consolidated security approach believe that better integration across security, hybrid cloud, AI, and other technology platforms is essential for effective defence against cyber threats.
The study, Capturing the Cybersecurity Dividend: How Security Platforms Generate Business Value, highlights that over half (52%) of executives feel that fragmented security solutions hinder their ability to tackle cyber threats. Mark Hughes, global managing partner for Cybersecurity Services at IBM, remarked, “Organisations continue to be challenged with updating their security posture to address new threats, while simultaneously being pressed to reduce complexity and decrease spend.” He emphasised the need for security executives to enable innovation and derive real value from their cybersecurity investments.
Surveyed organisations estimate that the fragmentation of security solutions costs them an average of 5% of their annual revenue—a staggering potential loss that can reach up to $1 billion for a company generating $20 billion in revenue. The ramifications extend beyond financial losses, encompassing reputational damage, stalled digital transformations, and diminished customer trust.
Among Singapore respondents to the study 78% of executives cite complexity as the primary barrier to effective cybersecurity operations. Steven Scheurmann, regional vice president for ASEAN at Palo Alto Networks, stated, “Singapore’s organisations are rapidly embracing a platformised approach to security, recognising its ability to enhance efficiency, strengthen cyber resilience, and simplify operations.”
The benefits of adopting a platformisation strategy are substantial. The research found that organisations using a platformised approach experienced mean times to identify and contain security incidents that were shorter by an average of 72 and 84 days, respectively. Furthermore, platformisation can yield nearly four times better return on investment (ROI) from cybersecurity efforts, driving both revenue generation and operational efficiencies.
The integration of AI into security platforms is also crucial, with 90% of surveyed executives expecting to scale or innovate with AI within the next two years. A unified platform can enhance data ingestion and analysis, providing actionable insights that bolster security preparedness.
To achieve success in platformisation, organisations are advised to evaluate their technology partners critically, stage incident response drills, and prepare their teams through immersive training experiences. IBM and Palo Alto Networks now offer a joint Cyber Range in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where organisations can refine their response strategies against the latest cyber threats.
In a landscape marked by increasing complexity and evolving threats, the call to action is clear: organisations in Asia must embrace platformisation to streamline their security operations and enhance their resilience against cyber attacks.