Selecting the Best Managed Security Provider

The escalating complexity of business IT environments, coupled with an increase in security threats, means companies can no longer ignore taking their security posture seriously. Unfortunately, the worldwide cybersecurity labor shortage continues to grow, adding to the challenge of having an in-house department that can protect and respond to cyber threats.

Furthermore, security needs have become increasingly specialized, requiring expert hands on deck for your company to be fully protected. The complex nature of an organization’s distributed environment today means that cybercriminals have more opportunities to try to infiltrate your network.

In the middle of this turmoil, managed security providers have emerged as an indispensable solution.

Managed security providers are third-party partners that manage your cybersecurity as an outsourced vendor. They offer comprehensive cybersecurity services to ensure that you are fully protected, regardless of your current IT setup.

Choosing the right managed security provider is not just a necessity; it’s a strategic decision. Here are key considerations and guidance for choosing an optimal managed security provider for your business.

The role of a managed security provider

A managed security provider’s role is to take care of every aspect of cybersecurity for your company.

The purpose of a managed security provider is to eliminate most of the cybersecurity burden from your team and give you a single point of contact to deal with. This reduces both costs and confusion and lets you and your in-house team focus on tasks more directly aligned with business growth and strategy.

A managed security provider needs to fit your security needs

An initial internal assessment goes a long way in determining what you need from a managed security provider. Your internal assessment should establish if you need help in one or more of the following areas:

• Expertise: Does your current team lack knowledge of specific threats or newer threats in the market?
• Time and resources: Is your cybersecurity team overloaded? Do you even have a cybersecurity team, or is your IT team expected to deal with cybersecurity priorities?
• Staff: Does your general staff need cybersecurity training, such as learning how to better detect phishing emails? Are you understaffed, lacking the necessary expertise in endpoint security, detection, and response (EDR)?
• Tech stack knowledge: Do you need help in understanding what security tools you need for full protection?

You need to know where the greatest risks lie in your company. This is unique for each company and market sector. For example, a news organization might require stronger DNS protection because journalists often need to conduct research in the dark alleys of the internet, opening the door to malicious websites.

A company with email-based support and publicly accessible email addresses will need the best possible email protection, as well as employee training regarding phishing. Organizations with many remote workers might need sophisticated endpoint protection, as well as on-device encryption and other safeguards in case a device gets lost.

Many cybersecurity tools exist, but your company doesn’t necessarily need all of them. However, not using all the tools that are necessary can leave you vulnerable to an attack. An experienced managed security provider will help you determine the precise tech stack you need to ensure you’re comprehensively protected.

Questions to ask potential managed security providers

Asking your potential managed security provider, the right questions is crucial to choosing the right one. These questions help reveal the provider’s capabilities, reliability, and overall fit with your company.

Potential questions to ask a potential managed security provider include, but are not limited to:

• “What is your security stack?”
• “What does implementation/integration look like?”
• “How do you handle incident response and remediation?”
• “Can you provide details about your security operations center (SOC) and the team managing our security?”
• “Is your solution backed by cyber insurance providers?”
• “Can you provide case studies and customer references?”
• “What is your approach to employee training and awareness regarding cybersecurity best practices?”
• “How do you measure the effectiveness of your security services, and do you provide regular reports on our security posture?”

The value of the right managed security provider

Choosing the right managed security provider can dramatically improve your company’s security landscape. The right one will fortify your cybersecurity measures, help you navigate the labyrinth of digital threats, and ensure business continuity.

Managed security providers also help immensely in sectors where security is a regulatory requirement. Implementing comprehensive protection in these sectors can quickly become financially burdensome because of all the detailed requirements. A managed security provider opens the door to extensive coverage at rates that are competitive and established up-front.

SolCyber is a managed security provider that offers comprehensive protection across the gamut of cybersecurity threats, with a package for every budget and business size. We offer ransomware assessment and training, advanced email protection, threat response services, and a dedicated crew to ensure round-the-clock protection.

Contact us today to learn more about our services.

FAQs

What is a managed security provider’s role?

A managed security provider’s role is to handle all aspects of cybersecurity for your company. They aim to alleviate the cybersecurity burden from your team, offering a single point of contact. This reduces costs, confusion, and allows your in-house team to focus on tasks aligned with business growth and strategy.

How do I determine if I need a managed security provider?

You can determine if you need a managed security provider by conducting an internal assessment. Consider aspects such as expertise, time and resource constraints, staff capabilities, and your tech stack knowledge. Identify the greatest cybersecurity risks unique to your company and sector, such as DNS protection, email security, or endpoint protection, and whether your current setup covers them adequately.

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