Cybersecurity Consolidation Gains Momentum Across the Middle East
While diversification can provide broader threat coverage and vendor redundancy, it often introduces operational inefficiencies, increased costs, and security blind spots.
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[Image source: Chetan Jha/MITSMR Middle East]
In an era where digital transformation is accelerating innovation, cybersecurity has emerged as a strategic priority, and a growing challenge for enterprises across the Middle East. As regional businesses invest heavily in digital infrastructure, they are simultaneously grappling with increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and a complex, often fragmented, array of security tools and vendors.
In the UAE, a nation at the forefront of digital adoption, this balancing act is especially evident. According to a recent study by Kaspersky, 86% of companies in the UAE currently operate within multi-vendor cybersecurity ecosystems, reflecting a broader regional trend. Across the Middle East, this figure remains high, with an average of 79% of organizations relying on multiple cybersecurity providers.
While such diversification can provide broader threat coverage and vendor redundancy, it often introduces operational inefficiencies, increased costs, and security blind spots. Kaspersky’s report, “Improving resilience: cybersecurity through system immunity,” surveyed organizations across the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META), along with Europe, Russia, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. The study sheds light on the growing complexity and cost of managing siloed cybersecurity systems—an issue regional organizations are beginning to address head-on.
A Region Rethinking Its Cybersecurity Strategy
Despite widespread multi-vendor adoption, 41% of Middle Eastern organizations, closely mirroring the UAE’s 42% believe that a single cybersecurity provider could meet all their security needs. However, actual adoption remains cautious: only 12% of Middle East-based companies have moved to a fully integrated, single-vendor approach, slightly below the UAE’s 14%. The hesitancy stems largely from concerns around vendor lock-in and reduced flexibility.
Nevertheless, the momentum toward consolidation is unmistakable. In the Middle East:
- 91% of organizations plan to reduce the number of cybersecurity vendors they work with.
- 19% have already started unifying their tools onto a single platform.
- A further 68% intend to consolidate within the next two years, aligning with the UAE’s broader shift, where 72% of firms are actively planning similar transitions.
This regional pivot reflects a strategic response to growing threat complexity and the desire for more manageable, cost-effective security architectures.
Complexity Is the Enemy of Resilience
Ilya Markelov, Head of Unified Platform product line at Kaspersky, notes, “The data from our research indicates that many organizations rely on multiple vendors by default, rather than through deliberate strategic planning. While diversification of security solutions can offer certain benefits, an unchecked increase in complexity often leads to significant resource drain and operational inefficiencies. Moreover, this complexity can create critical blind spots, making it harder to maintain comprehensive threat visibility and respond effectively to emerging risks.”
His observations resonate across the Middle East, where many enterprises are now seeking to simplify and automate their cybersecurity operations.
Solutions for a Consolidated Future
To support this shift, Kaspersky has introduced Kaspersky Next XDR Expert, a centralized, AI-driven platform designed to aggregate, correlate, and respond to threats across diverse environments. With built-in automation and integrations, the platform helps organizations in the Middle East streamline operations, reduce manual workload, and enhance real-time visibility into their security posture.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, the Middle East, particularly innovation hubs like the UAE are well positioned to lead the regional charge toward smarter, more resilient cybersecurity strategies. By embracing consolidation and intelligent automation, businesses across the region can unlock not only stronger protection but also greater operational efficiency and agility in a rapidly shifting threat landscape.
