UK Firms Looking to Unified Cyber Approach amid Attack Surge

In an era of escalating cyber threats, UK enterprises are striving to get the big picture on cybersecurity, and a study from consulting firm ISG shows that they are pursuing it through the adoption of various security tools into a unified framework. 

Faced by increasingly frequent and evermore sophisticated cyberattacks, security tools such as Identity and Access Management (IAM), Extended Detection and Response (XDR), and Security Service Edge (SSE) are being harmonised to enhance threat visibility and response times, according to the study by consulting firm ISG.

The ISG report also highlights how this realigning shows cybersecurity is now being considered a strategic component that aligns security measures with overall business goals. 

“A well-defined cyber resilience strategy is no longer optional for U.K. enterprises,” said Jan Erik Aase, partner and global leader, ISG Provider Lens Research. “Businesses need to develop a comprehensive roadmap for cyber resilience that is aligned with business goals.”

A Mayer Brown study showed nearly eight in 10 leaders of financial services firms said they are unable to plan for the future due to concerns about their organisation's ability to withstand cyberattacks.

This detraction from digital transformation, which is looking increasingly important in a world that is using more services like the cloud, is pointed to as why business and cyber leaders have begun working together on cyber-related topics.

Scattered solutions

The cybersecurity landscape is currently fragmented, with numerous vendors specialising in distinct elements such as exposure management, firewalls, Extended Detection and Response (XDR), network security, and more. 

While this specialisation allows organisations to benefit from best-of-breed solutions in each category, it also presents significant challenges. The proliferation of vendors and tools can make it difficult for businesses to maintain a cohesive overview of their cybersecurity posture. 

This fragmentation often leads to a complex web of solutions that can be challenging to integrate, manage, and monitor effectively. As a result, organisations may struggle to keep track of all their cybersecurity elements, potentially leaving gaps in their defences or creating inefficiencies in their security operations. 

This situation has sparked a growing interest in more integrated, holistic approaches to cybersecurity that can provide a unified view of an organisation's security landscape whilst still leveraging specialised technologies.

"Providers are developing unified management interfaces that consolidate various security functions into a single dashboard, simplifying administration and providing a more holistic view of the security landscape,” Anthony Drake, Partner and Head of ISG in the UK and Ireland said. 

The report also examines the growing trend toward adoption of cyber risk quantification services among UK enterprises.

Cyber insurance is estimated by insurer Munich Re to increase to around US$29bn by 2027, making it a major insurance market. Yet, insurance for such risks are not cut and dry.

Costs for insurance have been spiralling, and companies have been seeing premiums not cover the full cost of a fallout of a cyber incident.

This is what cybersecurity company Sophos said has pushed organisations to tighten up their security and could be a contributing factor to why organisations are now seeking greater control.

Future of all-in-one 

In response to the evolving threat landscape, major players in the cybersecurity industry are trying to cater to their customers by offering this unified approach. Often, however, this is coming through third-parties providing the system. 

In an atmosphere of competition, where one might not want to concede to rival companies, the winners of this are the attackers. 

But as more businesses begin to ask for it, and as the attack surface grows ever bigger, cybersecurity companies may need to look again at their offering, or interoperability.  

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