#None #Managed Service Providers #Security Tools #Heimdal

Overburdened Managed Service Providers Face Daily Challenges Due to Tool Overload

In a stark revelation for the cybersecurity landscape, a recent study conducted by Heimdal highlights the detrimental effects of tool overload impacting Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The findings suggest that the very security tools intended to safeguard these providers are instead overwhelming them, leading to fatigue and missed threats.

The Extent of the Problem

The survey evaluated 80 MSPs across North America, and the results are alarming. A staggering 89% of respondents reported difficulties with integrating their tools, while over half (56%) experienced alert fatigue on a daily or weekly basis. This paradox shows that as MSPs become inundated with alerts and management tasks, they inadvertently create blind spots, making them vulnerable to actual security threats.

According to the data, the average MSP manages about five different security tools. However, 20% of those surveyed are juggling between seven to ten tools, and approximately 12% handle more than ten. Worryingly, a mere 11% reported that their systems and tools are seamlessly integrated, whereas the overwhelming majority must switch between fragmented dashboards, consuming invaluable time on manual workflows.

The study further uncovered that one in four security alerts generated proves to be meaningless, with some MSPs claiming as many as 70% of alerts are mere false alarms. Among MSPs managing upwards of 1,000 clients, every single respondent reported experiencing daily fatigue from these alerts.

Jesper Frederiksen, the CEO of Heimdal, expressed concern, stating, “MSPs are drowning in complexity, not from threats, but from the tools meant to stop them. Every new point solution adds another agent, console, and alert stream. That noise exhausts people and quietly degrades protection.”

Beyond Security Operations

The consequences of agent fatigue extend beyond just managing alerts. Disconnected platforms cause slowdowns in billing processes, complicate client onboarding, and create significant challenges in compliance reporting.

Jason Whitehurst, CEO at FutureSafe, emphasized the risk, stating, “Agent fatigue isn't just a tech issue. It's a business risk.” He highlighted how MSPs continually contend with multiple tools that fail to work cohesively together.

A Simple Solution Hiding in Plain Sight

Despite widespread recognition of the issues at hand, only 20% of the surveyed MSPs have taken the initiative to consolidate their security solutions. Those who have made this move reported a notable reduction in alerts, enhanced response times, and improved employee satisfaction.

Key Survey Findings

• - 56% of MSPs experience alert fatigue daily or weekly, while 75% report it at least monthly.
• - Only 11% enjoy seamless tool integration.
• - MSPs utilizing seven or more tools reported almost double the fatigue levels compared to those with fewer.
• - High rates of false positives drastically increase the likelihood of genuine incidents being overlooked.
• - The 20% of MSPs that have consolidated their tools reported better outcomes across several key metrics.

Research Methodology

The report titled The State of MSP Agent Fatigue 2025 was conducted during the first half of 2025, utilizing a mix of quantitative analysis and thematic coding from over 300 responses. Organizations and interested individuals can access the complete report free of charge at Heimdal’s website: heimdalsecurity.com/msp-agent-fatigue-report.

About Heimdal

Founded in Copenhagen back in 2014, Heimdal has been at the forefront of empowering security teams and MSPs with unified cybersecurity solutions. Their offerings span a comprehensive suite that includes endpoint to network security, vulnerability management, threat prevention, and ransomware mitigation.

About FutureSafe

FutureSafe stands as the exclusive provider of Heimdal services within the United States, aiding MSPs in navigating tool sprawl and promoting a consolidated cybersecurity approach.