Channel Insider content and product recommendations are
editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links
to our partners.
Learn More
Managed service providers (MSPs) across North America are reporting high levels of operational strain as they juggle an ever-expanding number of security tools.
According to a Heimdal report, which surveyed 80 MSPs in the first half of 2025, more than 75% experience alert fatigue at least monthly. Over 50% of individuals face this strain on a weekly or daily basis, and the numbers increase among larger organizations.
44% of MSPs with more than 500 employees said they deal with alert fatigue every day, and for those managing more than 1,000 clients, the figure reached 100%.
The report defines “agent fatigue” as burnout caused by managing too many tools, constant alerts, and poor integration between systems.
Heimdal researchers note that tool sprawl is strongly linked to fatigue levels, and MSPs with high alert fatigue were more likely to miss or delay responses to genuine threats. The survey found that MSPs who rarely experience fatigue use an average of 4.5 tools, while those facing daily fatigue use 7.4.
Integration gaps not only slow down investigations but multiply the number of alerts analysts must handle, the research found. On average, one in four security alerts is a false positive, and nearly a third of MSPs reported that more than 30% of their alerts were erroneous. The study also found that teams with higher false positive rates were 2.7 times more likely to experience daily fatigue.
Describing how complex the situation can be, a small MSP quoted in the report stated:
“The complexity of configuring and managing all these different tools is overwhelming. It feels like we need a dedicated team just to keep them running.”
The operational impact extends beyond the security function. Billing across multiple tools and clients is a major challenge for 60% of respondents, while inconsistent vendor pricing models and manual reconciliation create further delays.
Onboarding new clients is equally affected, with over half citing a lack of automation as their primary frustration. Rolling out multiple agents, training clients on separate portals, and coordinating vendor requirements all add to the workload.
The Heimdal report also found that false positives have a direct link to security risk, as every unnecessary investigation takes time away from addressing genuine threats. In fact, the data showed that having more tools did not reduce the likelihood of a breach; rather, it increased the risk of missing critical alerts.
Slow consolidation efforts despite proven gains
While most MSPs recognize the need to reduce sprawl, adoption of consolidation strategies remains slow. The survey identified three main groups: the “Pioneers” (20%), who have already consolidated their security stack; the “Contemplators” (56%), who are considering it but have yet to act; and the “Resisters” (20%), who prefer to maintain best-of-breed setups despite the operational burden. The remainder said they were open to learning more.
The benefits of consolidation were consistent among those who had implemented it. Respondents in this group reported fewer false positives, faster response times, clearer visibility across all clients, and improved analyst satisfaction.
“We’ve tried tuning alert thresholds, prioritizing high-fidelity alerts, integrating tools for centralized visibility, and using automation to handle low-risk events, freeing up time for more critical analysis,” one small MSP said.
Despite this evidence, barriers such as sunk costs, vendor lock-in, migration complexity, and fears about losing functionality are slowing change. Some respondents said they were simply too busy managing daily incidents to undertake major platform changes.
Moving from fatigue to resilience
The Heimdal Report outlines several steps MSPs can take to address agent fatigue and strengthen security operations. Consolidating tools into integrated platforms is presented as the most effective way to reduce complexity and improve visibility. MSPs that have taken this approach reported 50% less alert fatigue.
Automation is another underused option, with only 31% of respondents deploying AI or SOAR solutions despite reported reductions in manual alert handling.
The report also recommends investing in compliance platforms that integrate with existing tools to eliminate manual audit preparation.
The authors stress that solving “agent fatigue” depends less on finding the perfect technology and more on making a deliberate, organization-wide commitment to change before fatigue leads to critical security lapses.
Cavelo is also trying to enable MSPs looking to consolidate their tech stacks. Read our interview with Larry Meador to learn more about the company’s channel strategy.
