With the rise of cloud services, the number of IT tools organizations now juggle has skyrocketed. On average, companies manage more than 70 security tools<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
IT tool sprawl<\/a> refers to a situation where organizations accumulate several tools, applications, and technologies over time, often resulting in a complex and disorganized IT environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over time, this decentralized approach results in a complex and fragmented IT landscape, making it challenging to manage, integrate, and maintain the various tools effectively. IT tool sprawl eventually increases your total cost of ownership (TCO)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IT tool sprawl isn\u2019t always caused by neglect or poor planning but rather as the natural result of several factors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, the rapid pace of technological advancements leads to the continuous emergence of new tools and solutions. As a result, businesses may feel compelled to adopt multiple tools to keep up with the latest trends or to address emerging needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another reason for IT tool sprawl is the inheritance of legacy systems and applications. Over time, as technologies evolve, new tools are introduced while older ones are retained, leading to a mix of outdated and modern solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
IT tool sprawl also occurs as a result of shadow IT. Shadow IT refers to the use of unauthorized or unapproved technologies by employees to address their specific needs. This can happen when organizations grow, and individuals within the organization acquire or create technology that is outside the visibility and control of the IT department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employees often turn to familiar tools to solve problems, even if they are not officially sanctioned, leading to an increase in the number of tools in use and a lack of centralized decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the most common security risks associated with IT tool sprawl<\/a> that organizations should safeguard against include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tool sprawl contributes to an expanded attack surface for cybercriminals. When you deploy multiple applications and systems without proper integration, it increases the footprint available for attackers to exploit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These applications, particularly those with entitlements in core infrastructure and servers, can serve as entry points for attackers to gain unauthorized access within the organization’s network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, siloed applications that are not fully integrated with security controls and monitoring tools further exacerbate the risks by evading detection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Failure to reverse IT tool sprawl<\/a> often results in applications existing outside of a universal identity and access management (IAM) system, making user access management challenging. This fragmented approach to user access increases the risk of unauthorized access to IT resources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each new third-party component introduced through tool sprawl presents a potentially compromised supplier, expanding the threat landscape for an organization. These third-party components may have poor security practices or vulnerabilities, which threat actors can exploit to gain unauthorized access or compromise the organization’s systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, the lack of visibility and control over these components makes it difficult to assess their security posture, increasing the potential for security breaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n