Why Security Tool Sprawl Is Making Organizations Less Secure

74% of repeat ransomware victims juggle too many security tools. Discover how security sprawl creates vulnerabilities rather than providing protection.

Organizations are drowning in security solutions, and paradoxically, this abundance is making them less secure. Research from multiple Black Hat 2025 sessions reveals a troubling pattern: companies with the most security tools often experience the worst security outcomes.

Adam Khan, VP of Global Security Operations at Barracuda, presented findings from their 2025 Ransomware Insights Report showing that 74% of organizations hit by multiple ransomware attacks say they're "juggling too many security tools," while 61% report their tools don't integrate properly.

The Repeat Victim Problem

Among the 57% of organizations that experienced successful ransomware attacks in the past year, 38% were hit multiple times. This isn't random misfortune—it's a pattern revealing fundamental architectural issues that persist even after initial compromises.

"The findings make it clear that ransomware is an escalating threat, and fragmented security defenses leave organizations immensely vulnerable," said Neal Bradbury, Barracuda's chief product officer. "Too many victims are juggling an unmanageable number of disconnected tools, often introduced with the best intentions to strengthen protection."

The Tool Sprawl Reality

Ryan Fetterman, Senior Security Strategist at Splunk SURGe, noted that Fortune 500 companies often manage 70+ security solutions. "Because of the extensibility and customization of platforms like Splunk, you can build custom dashboards, integrate with APIs, and eliminate the need for certain categories of problems," he explained, highlighting how platform consolidation can reduce tool sprawl.

Email Security: The Fundamental Gap

Despite the proliferation of security tools, basic protections remain inadequate. Only 47% of ransomware victims had implemented email security solutions, compared to 59% of organizations that avoided attacks entirely. This gap is particularly concerning given that 71% of organizations that suffered email breaches were also hit with ransomware.

The Multi-Dimensional Attack Evolution

Modern ransomware has evolved beyond simple encryption. Barracuda's research reveals that only 24% of successful attacks involved data encryption, while 27% included data theft, 27% involved publishing stolen data, and 29% saw attackers install additional malicious payloads.

Attackers now employ psychological pressure campaigns that extend well beyond initial attacks. They threaten to expose confidential information, contact customers and partners directly, and even threaten individual employees—tactics experienced by 22%, 21%, and 16% of victims, respectively.

The False Promise of Ransom Payments

Despite expanded attack surfaces, 32% of victims paid attackers to recover their data, with rates rising to 37% among organizations hit multiple times. However, 41% of organizations that paid ransoms failed to recover all their data. Sometimes decryption tools don't work, attackers provide only partial keys, or files become corrupted during the encryption process.

AI-Powered Consolidation

Shannon Murphy, Senior Manager of Global Security & Risk Strategy at Trend Micro, advocates for using AI to consolidate security functions rather than adding more tools. "Organizations need integrated and multilayered security that protects their ever-expanding attack surface," she explained.

Trend Micro's approach involves using AI to help security teams focus on proactive risk management rather than reactive firefighting. "You have to know what you have, assess the risk, and then—most importantly—prioritize," Murphy emphasized.

The Platform Solution

Several vendors are addressing tool sprawl through platform consolidation:

Splunk's Approach: Fetterman demonstrated how their platform can reduce tool needs through customization and integration. "If you have Splunk, you can build custom dashboards, integrate with APIs, and eliminate the need for certain gaps or categories of problems."

Rapid7's Strategy: Samani's team focuses on providing "threat-informed remediation" that cuts through alert noise. "Instead of drowning security teams in volume—what I call 'the fool's errand'—we eliminate noise and highlight actionable threats."

The Human Factor

Jim Dolce, CEO of Lookout, highlighted how mobile security illustrates the platform approach. "If you did nothing, you'd have to secure both the device and the human," he said, referring to their comprehensive approach addressing phishing, smishing, and vishing through a single platform.

Strategic Recommendations

Based on insights from multiple security leaders, organizations should:

1. Audit Current Tools: Understand what you have and identify overlaps

2. Focus on Integration: Prioritize tools that work together over point solutions

3. Measure Effectiveness: Track security outcomes, not just tool deployment

4. Invest in Platforms: Consider comprehensive solutions over multiple niche tools

5. Train Teams: Ensure staff can effectively use fewer tools rather than struggling with many

The Business Case

The financial impact of tool sprawl extends beyond licensing costs. Organizations with fragmented security experience:

• Longer response times to incidents

• Higher false positive rates require manual investigation

• Increased training and operational overhead

• Gaps between tools that attackers exploit

Looking Forward

As Chuck Herrin, Field CTO at F5, noted: "You fundamentally can't skip the fundamentals. You can have complete cybersecurity mastery on the 10% of interfaces you're aware of, and you're going to get burned because of the 90% you don't know about."

The most effective defense remains a combination of solid fundamentals—email security, network monitoring, endpoint protection, and regular backups—implemented as an integrated system rather than a collection of point solutions. In the war against sophisticated attackers, coordination beats accumulation every time.