Cybersecurity Tool Chaos in SMEs: The Process-Driven Approach

The Cybersecurity Crisis in German SMEs: Too Many Tools, Too Little Strategy

"95 percent of the market is bullshit. The biggest challenge is separating the wheat from the chaff." These stark words from an IT manager in mechanical engineering, quoted in the SchwarzDigits Cybersecurity Report 2025, pinpoint a fundamental problem currently paralyzing German medium-sized enterprises.

A CISO from the energy sector adds: "It's a labyrinth. Everyone has a solution for a problem we haven't even identified yet."

These statements are not isolated opinions. They reflect a systemic challenge affecting companies of all sizes: The cybersecurity market is oversaturated with tools, while genuine solutions remain scarce.

The Problem: Tool Sprawl Instead of Strategic Security

The Symptoms of Tool Chaos

Medium-sized companies today face a paradoxical situation. While the threat landscape from cyberattacks continues to intensify and regulatory requirements like NIS2 add additional pressure, confusion about the right security measures grows simultaneously.

The market is flooded with:

Hundreds of security tools, each covering specific aspects
Contradictory promises from vendors selling "the ultimate solution"
Complex integration requirements that overwhelm IT teams
High licensing costs without visible added value

The result? Many companies invest in tools they neither fully understand nor can effectively use. Instead of more security, they get more complexity.

The Hidden Costs of Tool-Thinking

The tool-driven approach doesn't just cause direct licensing costs. The indirect costs are often even more severe:

Integration problems: Different tools don't communicate with each other
Training overhead: Every new tool requires onboarding
Data silos: Security-relevant information remains fragmented
Lack of overview: Nobody has visibility into the actual security posture
Audit issues: Evidence for compliance becomes an administrative nightmare

The Solution: Process Over Tool

Why a Paradigm Shift Is Necessary

The fundamental insight is: Cybersecurity is not a product, but a management process. Tools are merely supporting instruments, never the starting point.

A process-driven approach means:

1. Start with Business Processes

Before even a single tool is evaluated, fundamental questions must be answered:

Which business processes are critical for our company?
Which information and systems are truly worth protecting?
Where are our greatest vulnerabilities?
Which regulatory requirements must we fulfill?

2. Transparent Risks and Responsibilities

Functional cybersecurity management requires clarity:

Who is responsible for what?
Which risks have we identified?
How do we prioritize measures?
How do we measure success?

This transparency cannot be bought with tools. It requires structured processes and clear governance.

3. Integration Instead of Addition

Rather than adding new tools, the focus should be on intelligent use of existing systems:

Which tools do we already have in use?
Which functions are we not fully utilizing?
Where can existing systems be better integrated?
Which gaps actually remain open?

The Benefits of the Process-Driven Approach

Measurable Efficiency Gains

A structured, process-oriented approach offers concrete advantages:

Halved implementation time: Instead of months of tool evaluation and integration, implementation happens focused and goal-oriented
Reduced costs: Existing investments are optimally used, unnecessary new purchases avoided
Improved compliance: NIS2 requirements are systematically met, audits run smoothly
Higher acceptance: Employees understand the purpose of measures, instead of just operating more tools

Controllability and Measurability

Process-driven cybersecurity management creates:

KPIs and metrics that are actually relevant
Dashboards that give decision-makers real insights
Reports that are audit-proof and traceable
Continuous improvement through structured review processes

NIS2: Necessity Becomes Opportunity

Leveraging Regulatory Requirements

The NIS2 Directive significantly tightens cybersecurity requirements. But this pressure can become a catalyst for positive change.

Instead of viewing NIS2 as a burdensome obligation, companies should seize the opportunity to:

Question existing processes
Modernize governance structures
Establish cybersecurity as a strategic topic
Clearly define responsibilities

The Quick Check as an Entry Point

An NIS2 Readiness Quick Check offers companies a structured entry:

Where do we currently stand?
Which gaps exist regarding requirements?
Which measures have priority?
How do we design the implementation path?

Practical Action Recommendations for SMEs

Step 1: Take Inventory

Begin with an honest assessment:

Inventory all existing security tools
Evaluate their actual benefit and usage rate
Identify redundancies and gaps
Document existing processes (or their absence)

Step 2: Define Processes

Develop clear cybersecurity processes:

Risk Assessment: How do you identify and evaluate risks?
Incident Response: How do you respond to security incidents?
Access Management: How do you control access rights?
Compliance Monitoring: How do you ensure continuous conformity?

Step 3: Clarify Responsibilities

Establish clear accountabilities:

Who bears overall responsibility for cybersecurity?
Which roles and tasks must be defined?
How are decisions made and documented?
What escalation paths exist?

Step 4: Use Tools Sensibly

Only now comes the tool question:

Which tools optimally support the defined processes?
Can existing tools be better configured?
Where are targeted additions truly necessary?
How do we ensure integration and interoperability?

Conclusion: From Tool Chaos to Strategic Cyber Resilience

The quotes from the SchwarzDigits Cybersecurity Report 2025 are a wake-up call. The cybersecurity market is oversaturated with solutions that often create more problems than they solve. SMEs don't need another tool zoo, but strategic cybersecurity management.

A process-driven approach is the key:

It starts with business processes, not tools
It creates transparency about risks and responsibilities
It uses existing resources intelligently
It makes cybersecurity measurable, controllable, and audit-proof

The time is ripe for this paradigm shift. NIS2 and the increasing threat landscape leave no other choice. Companies that act now and establish cybersecurity as a strategic management process secure a decisive competitive advantage.

The question is not whether you will act, but when. The sooner you switch from tool-thinking to process-thinking, the faster you achieve genuine cyber resilience.

Are you ready to end the tool chaos and approach cybersecurity strategically? How do you experience the challenges in your company? Exchange with other decision-makers shows: You are not alone with these challenges. Together, we can pave the way to effective cybersecurity.