Where Should You Focus Your (Limited) Cybersecurity Budget?

Large organizations with over 10,000 employees often maintain 100+ security tools for various use cases. Yet, despite this arsenal, even the most well-established companies continue to fall victim to cyberattacks. On the other hand, smaller businesses, with an average of 11 security tools, according to Frost & Sullivan, often need an in-house IT team to keep pace. This raises an important question.

Are we equipping ourselves effectively or just adding more tools to the pile?

Now, take a step back and consider this: Every enterprise allocates a chunk of its IT budget toward cybersecurity, usually between 2% and 10.7% of its total IT spending. 

For context, this equates to around 0.2% to 0.9% of their revenue, comparable to the U.S. government’s proposed cybersecurity budget for FY2023, which is 0.45% of GDP.  Yet, while businesses and governments spend billions on defense, cybercriminals stole a staggering $6 trillion in 2021 alone.

This disconnect suggests a deeper problem. The number of tools and the rising cybersecurity budgets aren’t necessarily translating to better protection. 

However, the nature of information security means that many organizations are instead faced with “tool bloat,” a situation where the use of multiple tools, some overlapping, some underused, or simply ineffective, causes waste and increases costs beyond their utility in delivering the sought-after security benefits.

Hence, what niche strategies and marketing plans can businesses use to get it right? 

In what ways can they realize cost optimization for cybersecurity spending, ensure optimal returns on investments, and avoid the trap of tool proliferation? 

In this blog, we will look at how organizations can understand what they require in terms of cyber security and what the industry needs, learn how to fine-tune these tool ecosystems and ultimately get a better bargain for their money. 

Are We Spending Smarter or Just Spending More on Cybersecurity?

Designer: Create a circle with the above question and add the three priorities below

It’s common for companies to stack up on cybersecurity tools to detect threats and reduce risks. 

But there’s a tipping point. Too many tools usually make them redundant, unintegrated, and unproductive. Instead of adding more strategies, it is about time to start looking for better ways to do them. 

Too many tools usually make them redundant, unintegrated, and unproductive. Instead of adding more strategies, it is time to start looking for better ways to do them.

Priority One: Base investments on risk

Risk-based investments should always take precedence. This is because they act as an early warning system and help detect and prevent data breaches. 

Without this foundation, your cybersecurity strategy is incomplete.

Priority Two: Base them on automation

The next step in spending smarter is leveraging automation. Many cybersecurity processes, such as threat detection, control monitoring, incident analysis, and compliance tracking, must be automated to prevent tedious work that’s often unproductive and inaccurate when done manually.  

When used strategically, automation tools can free your team to focus on complex tasks that require human intervention.

Priority Three: Consolidate wherever possible

Many organizations need to improve as they accumulate tools with overlapping features, leading to inefficiencies and unnecessary expenses. Instead of adding tools to your arsenal, consider consolidating. Ask yourself:

• Are there tools that provide similar functionalities?
• Can a single platform handle multiple aspects of your security needs?

For example, invest in a compliance automation tool where control monitoring, integrated risk management, or evidence collection is all in one place.

Top 5 Types of Tools To Help Maximize Your ROI

Your security stack is both an inventory of tools and a roadmap for your cybersecurity strategy. It should give you a clear view of the tools you have available, their primary functions, and how they collectively address your security needs.

However, no matter how diverse security stacks may be, one truth remains constant: using the right tools is critical. With the overwhelming number of options available, it’s easy to overbuild your stack, leading to unnecessary complexity and overspending. 

To get the most out of your investments, focus on these essential types of tools:

Here are 3 things that experts deem worthy to maintain your cybersecurity posture:

1. GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) Platforms

Why is GRC so critical to an organization’s cybersecurity strategy? Lisa McKee, Director of Governance, Risk, Compliance, and Privacy at American Security and Privacy and a member of ISACA’s Emerging Trends Working Group, succinctly states, “GRC is overarching. It sets the tone and strategy, defines the policies and procedures, and outlines the expectations.”

Now, how can organizations manage GRC efficiently without getting buried under the sheer volume of manual tasks? Managing governance, risk, and compliance by hand is not just inefficient; it’s risky. The complexity of today’s regulatory environment is unpredictable, with new daily updates and threats. 

Hence, manual processes are an unsustainable option.

This is where GRC automation tools step in. These platforms help keep things organized and fundamentally transform how organizations approach compliance, risk assessments, and governance. Automating repetitive tasks and offering real-time insights allow teams to focus on strategic decision-making instead of firefighting.

Which Tools Should You Be Looking At?

If you’re exploring GRC solutions, here are some of the top contenders:

• Sprinto: Tailored for compliance automation, it ensures controls are continuously monitored and audit-ready.
• MetricStream GRC: A comprehensive platform for enterprise-wide risk and compliance management.
• Hyperproof: Known for its collaborative approach to compliance tracking and workflow automation.
• Riskonnect: Specializes in connecting and managing risks across different business silos.
• ServiceNow: Integrates GRC functionalities into broader IT operations for seamless workflows.

2. Vulnerability Scanners

At its core, a vulnerability is a weakness in an application, whether due to an implementation bug or a design flaw, that attackers can exploit to cause harm, compromise user security, or gain unauthorized privileges. These vulnerabilities pose a significant risk to systems, networks, and applications.

Vulnerability scanning is a proactive defense mechanism. Using automated tools, organizations can detect weaknesses before attackers can exploit them. Regular scans reduce the risk of cyberattacks and help maintain compliance with regulations like NIS2, which emphasizes the criticality of vulnerability management.

Interestingly, even NIS2 highlights the importance of vulnerability scanners. Section 58 of its preamble states:

“Since the exploitation of network and information systems vulnerabilities may cause significant disruption and harm, swiftly identifying and remedying such vulnerabilities is an important factor in reducing risk.”

In essence, vulnerability scanning is not just a technical necessity, it’s a regulatory imperative for organizations operating under frameworks like NIS2.

Top Vulnerability Scanning Tools to Explore:

You can read more about the tools here:

1. Semgrep Vulns Scanning provider
2. Rapidfort Vulnerability 
3. Qualys Vulnerability 
4. Google Security Center 
5. Halo Security 
6. Azure Defender 
7. Codacy 
8. Socket 
9. DeepSource 
10. Intruder 
11. Tenable 

3. Risk Management Tools

According to a report by Gartner, where buyers were asked about their risk management practices, the responses painted a telling picture:

• 38% still rely on manual methods like spreadsheets.
• 29% admit they have no system in place.
• 13% use third-party tools such as PowerBI, ERP systems, or help desk software.

While spreadsheets might work for small organizations, they’re prone to errors and inefficiencies as risks grow. Similarly, third-party tools often lack the depth needed for robust risk management, leading to costly misalignments from multiple licenses and integrations.

Which Tools Should You Be Looking At?

1. Sprinto
2. Riskonnect
3. OneTrust
4. Mitratech 
5. LogicGate Risk Cloud
6. Alyne

4. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Tools

EDR tools are designed to catch what traditional endpoint protection (EPP) might miss. While EPP focuses on preventing and blocking threats at the perimeter, EDR picks up where EPP leaves off, detecting advanced threats and bypassing these front-line defenses. These threats often exploit zero-day vulnerabilities or use stealth techniques to infiltrate environments unnoticed.

The reality is simple: no EPP can block 100% of threats. That’s why a holistic endpoint security strategy requires both EPP for prevention and EDR for detection and response. EDR tools continuously monitor endpoints, analyze suspicious activity, and provide the tools needed for swift investigation and remediation. 

Together, these capabilities ensure that your endpoints remain secure even against sophisticated attackers.

EDR is a critical investment. Without EDR, your organization faces blind spots, leaving advanced threats free to operate until detected (often too late). 

Which Tools Should You Be Looking At?

If you’re exploring EDR solutions, here are some top recommendations:

• CrowdStrike Falcon: Known for its lightweight agent and robust threat-hunting capabilities.
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Integrates with Windows ecosystems for advanced protection.
• SentinelOne: Offers autonomous detection, response, and rollback features.
• Palo Alto Cortex XDR: Provides extended detection and response across endpoints, networks, and servers.
• Carbon Black: Focuses on continuous monitoring and attack visualization.

5. Identity and Access Management (IAM) Tools

Microsoft recently made headlines by tying security directly to employee performance reviews. In an internal memo, Microsoft Chief People Officer Kathleen Hogan highlighted CEO Satya Nadella’s directive: “Security above all else.” This bold stance underscores a critical truth: security is an organizational priority.

Access control is often the first point of defense. Research from Google reveals that valid account compromises—often caused by weak or leaked credentials account for over half of all cloud security incidents. IAM tools mitigate this risk by verifying login attempts against an identity database, ensuring only authorized individuals can access critical resources.

IAM systems go beyond authentication; they’re dynamic, adjusting access rights as employees join, change roles, or leave the organization. Organizations risk outdated access records without these tools, exposing critical systems to insider threats or unauthorized access.

Why IAM Belongs on a CISO’s Optimization List

For CISOs, optimizing the cybersecurity budget means investing in tools that deliver maximum protection and efficiency. Here’s why IAM tools should make the cut:

1. Strengthens protection against phishing, password leaks, and unauthorized logins.
2. Simplifies the management of permissions as teams grow and change.
3. Helps meet access control requirements for frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, a