UK firms face tech fragmentation in cybersecurity by 2025

Research conducted by Palo Alto Networks has identified complex technologies that do not work harmoniously as the primary cybersecurity challenge facing UK businesses in 2025.

The findings highlight technology fragmentation as a significant security issue, with 64% of UK organisations citing tech complexity and lack of interoperability as major impediments to establishing a strong security framework. This percentage exceeds the average for European organisations surveyed, which stands at 55%. The report stresses the need for streamlined security systems to adequately address the evolving cyber threat landscape.

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based threats have been ranked as the biggest cyber risk anticipated in 2025, according to 66% of European respondents and 62% in the UK. In the UK, only concerns about data privacy and regulatory compliance ranked higher, each cited by 68% of respondents. Despite the level of risk posed by AI, 82% of UK organisations have expressed confidence in their use of AI technology.

The research, conducted by Vitreous World for Palo Alto Networks, features responses from over 450 C-Level executives and senior management security professionals from the UK, France, Germany, and Spain. It explores their views on the impact of technology fragmentation, particularly in terms of interoperability and the consolidation of tools, as well as the challenges related to employing sophisticated security solutions.

Beyond technological complexity and the lack of interoperability, managing an excessive number of security vendors and tools was named as the second most significant challenge to developing an effective security posture, cited by 35% of all respondents.

Additional findings indicate that technology fragmentation is an ongoing barrier to effective cybersecurity, with 50% of UK respondents acknowledging that their fragmented solutions inhibit their ability to address threats effectively. The operational consequences of this fragmentation are evident, leading to increased cost inefficiencies for UK businesses, including heightened training costs (48%) and procurement expenses (44%).

The personal impact on staff within organisations is also notable, with 48% of UK respondents reporting an increased workload for security operators due to fragmentation, and 39% indicating it contributes to rising staff attrition rates.

Given the significant cost inefficiencies and poor interoperability associated with fragmentation, 92% of UK organisations have prioritised the simplification and integration of their tech stacks for 2025. While there is an openness to a platform-based security approach among 90% of UK organisations, only 41% have either fully or mostly consolidated their cyber solutions on security platforms, highlighting a disconnect between strategies and implementation.

Scott McKinnon, Chief Security Officer for UK and Ireland at Palo Alto Networks, commented, "Technology fragmentation continues to leave organisations vulnerable to security breaches. With the proliferation of solutions, the task at hand is to simplify and integrate tools to ensure they are interoperable and working within a connected ecosystem. This has become all the more crucial in the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks, with AI creating a powerful toolbox for cybercriminals that's more readily available."

He further emphasised the necessity for businesses to unify their defences and incorporate AI within their security frameworks to protect against threats that exploit this technology.

Palo Alto Networks employs Precision AI, leveraging generative AI to address emerging threats through advanced machine and deep learning techniques. Coupled with a platform-style strategy that integrates security solutions into a singular system, the company aims to ensure rapid incident detection within 10 seconds and resolution within one minute.