We’ve reached a critical juncture in cybersecurity. Artificial intelligence is evolving with unprecedented speed, making threats more frequent and sophisticated, and enterprises are struggling under the weight of fragmented security ecosystems.
A new IBM Institute for Business Value study, conducted in collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, lays bare a reality that many security leaders already know too well: complexity has morphed from a costly operational challenge to the “biggest impediment to their security operations.” Layer upon layer of disconnected tools have created a patchwork defense, leaving organizations exposed. Platformization is the solution that transforms security into a unified, intelligent system.
Still, today, dozens of organizations respond to new threats and changing needs by layering on additional security tools. The study found that the average enterprise now manages 83 security solutions from 29 vendors. As a result, security operations centers (SOCs) have become inundated with alerts, unable to separate the signal from the noise. This sprawl has created an untenable situation where visibility is fragmented, integration is haphazard, and response times are unacceptably slow.
The research does, however, highlight an urgent shift is underway: 75% of organizations that have embraced security platformization agree that better integration across security, hybrid cloud, AI, and other technology platforms is crucial, with 80% of platformization adopters already reporting they have full visibility into potential vulnerabilities and threats. The time for incremental solutions has passed, and the answer is clear: The future of cybersecurity demands platformization.
Platformization as a Business Strategy
At its core, platformization integrates multiple security functions into a unified system where AI, automation, and real-time analytics work together seamlessly. Platformization not only reduces tool fatigue and streamlines IT operations but also serves as a fundamental reimagining of how organizations secure their digital environments.
According to the study, organizations that have embraced security platformization identify threats 72 days faster and contain them 84 days sooner than their nonplatformized counterparts. They also achieve an average ROI of 101% on their cybersecurity investments — nearly four times the return seen by nonadopters. But this isn’t just about cost savings; it’s about enabling growth, protecting revenue, and ensuring that cybersecurity is a strategic enabler rather than a barrier to innovation.
In a recent podcast, I talked with Mark Hughes, IBM’s Global Managing Partner for Cybersecurity Services, who astutely pointed out that complexity itself is the enemy. The more fragmented an organization’s security infrastructure, the harder it becomes to articulate risk to the board, let alone manage it effectively. This is why cybersecurity must shift from being viewed as an operational necessity to a boardroom priority. The question executives should be asking is not whether platformization is necessary but how soon they can implement a comprehensive strategy.
AI and the Evolution of Security Operations
One of the most striking takeaways from the study is the way AI is transforming security operations. Palo Alto Networks alone blocks up to 30.9 billion attacks daily, with nearly 9 million of those being new and unique threats that didn’t exist the day before. Traditional, siloed security approaches cannot keep pace with this level of dynamism — nor can humans. Organizations that leverage AI-driven security platforms can move 60 times faster in preventing attacks compared to those relying on disjointed systems.
But adding AI isn’t enough — security for AI must be built by design. This means ensuring that AI models are trained on high-quality, diverse threat intelligence, that automation is used to orchestrate real-time responses, and that security teams are equipped with the tools to operationalize AI insights effectively.
This is where platformization delivers true value. Unifying security functions — threat detection, incident response, compliance management — under a single AI-powered system allows organizations to shift from reactive security postures to proactive threat prevention. Instead of SOC analysts manually stitching together insights from multiple tools, a platformized approach provides a singular, real-time view of an organization’s security landscape.
The Board’s Role in Driving Security Transformation
Too many boardroom discussions on cybersecurity have historically been reactive — focused on compliance, risk mitigation, and breach response. But in today’s environment, security must be embedded in business strategy from the outset. As Hughes pointed out, one of the biggest obstacles organizations face is not just the sophistication of attackers but their own inability to articulate risk clearly to executives.
Security leaders must bridge this gap by reframing cybersecurity as a business imperative. The study found that 95% of executives in platformized organizations now view security as a source of value rather than a cost center. This shift in mindset is critical, but, oftentimes, unprecedented. Security should not be viewed as a sunk cost. It is an investment that enhances resilience, accelerates digital transformation, and ultimately fuels revenue growth.
Security for the Future
The future of security belongs to those who embrace transformation – not just in technology but in mindset. Organizations that continue to navigate a labyrinth of disconnected tools will find themselves too slow, too reactive, and ultimately too exposed. Platformization isn’t about consolidating for the sake of efficiency; it’s about better security outcomes and enabling security teams to operate ahead of the speed of threats.
See the full study results here.
