After years of adding tool after tool, many organizations are asking: do we really need all of these?

Why consolidation is rising

– Cost pressure: subscription prices are climbing, and overlapping tools waste money

– Security complexity: every extra platform is another console, login, and set of settings to secure

– Skills: small teams can’t master dozens of products

– Integration: fewer vendors usually means smoother data flow

– Bundling: big vendors increasingly include security, collaboration, and AI features in base plans, so separate tools become redundant

Examples of consolidation

– Using the security tools in Microsoft 365 Business Premium instead of separate antivirus, mobile device management, and email filtering

– Standardizing on one collaboration platform

– Moving from many point solutions to one remote monitoring and management platform

Benefits

– Lower total cost

– Simpler management and training

– Better visibility and reporting

– Fewer integration gaps that attackers can exploit

Risks

– Lock-in: switching later becomes harder and pricing leverage declines

– Concentration risk: one outage or breach has bigger impact (see our article on cloud outages)

– “Good enough” trade-offs: bundled tools may be less capable than best-of-breed products in some areas

– Pricing changes after you’ve committed

A balanced approach

1. Inventory all tools and what they do

2. Map overlaps and identify what could be retired

3. Compare the bundled option’s capability against what you use now

4. Keep data portable and negotiate exit terms

5. Retain independence where it matters, such as backups stored outside your main vendor

6. Review annually

Measure the result

Track total cost, number of vendors, number of consoles, and incidents.

DBR Soft can review your stack and recommend sensible consolidation. Contact us for more information.