Recent months have seen an increase in the number of businesses that are outsourcing their cybersecurity services and processes. Many business leaders believe outsourcing to be a viable solution to the spike in cyberattacks that began with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
However, there are still those who are on the fence about leaving their company’s cybersecurity infrastructure in the hands of a managed IT services provider (MSP). Some worry that the costs would leave their business, already reeling from the economic effects of the pandemic, in an even worse financial position. Others feel they can’t entrust their critical systems and sensitive information to a third party. What they fail to realize is that outsourcing cybersecurity has many business benefits, including the following:
Round-the-clock proactive support
Cyberattacks can strike at any time. They can happen in the dead of night or during the weekend, when your in-house IT team is off the clock and can’t do anything to address the issue. The longer the cyberattack goes undetected, the more damage it can cause to your systems. This results in a longer recovery period, which could have knock-on effects on other aspects of your operations.
An MSP that specializes in cybersecurity services offers 24/7 proactive monitoring and support. This enables them to spot potential threats and deal with them immediately, keeping damage to a minimum. In the event of a breach or an attack, they will help you implement an effective response strategy so your organization can get back up and running in no time.
Related reading: What does proactive cybersecurity entail?
Lower costs
Cybersecurity solutions don’t come cheap — and neither do the people you need to install, run, monitor, and maintain them. Unfortunately, cybersecurity isn’t something you can afford to skimp on. Data breaches, phishing attacks, and other cyberthreats are steadily increasing in frequency, and they show no signs of letting up anytime soon. It’s therefore vital to have defenses in place to keep out threats from and detect weaknesses in your systems before they turn into costly problems.
Outsourced cybersecurity services will give you access to comprehensive solutions that fit your needs and your budget. With their partnerships with leading brands, your MSP will be able to provide you with top-of-the-line software and network security appliances at great prices. And for a flat monthly fee, their team of cybersecurity specialists will watch over your systems and regularly update your software to keep attacks at bay.
Access to a wide range of expertise and cutting-edge solutions
According to a 2020 report, the global cybersecurity skills shortage is getting worse. This shortage, coupled with a lack of resources for cybersecurity, makes it difficult for small- and medium-sized businesses to keep pace with today’s ever-evolving threat landscape.
By outsourcing to an MSP, your business will get to work with teams of world-class specialists. Aside from having years of experience and certifications in various areas of cybersecurity, these professionals undergo continuous training, so they’re always updated on the latest security trends and technologies. As experts in their field, they can recommend and implement the best security tools to ensure all-round protection against current and emerging cyberthreats.
Reduced strain on in-house IT staff
Ensuring that your business’s network and devices are free of threats and vulnerabilities is a full-time job. Updating software, running malware scans, and conducting security awareness training on top of fixing technical issues and working on IT projects can leave your in-house team overwhelmed. They may find themselves unable to cope with the scope and volume of their workload, which can leave your systems less than optimized.
An MSP can take over the management of your organization’s cybersecurity infrastructure, freeing up your IT personnel to focus on activities that drive business growth. Your internal team will also benefit from working alongside cybersecurity consultants. They can gain new knowledge and skills as well as learn about best practices from the experts, making them better equipped to deal with cyber incidents as they come.
Insights into your business’s cybersecurity posture
It’s not enough to have a cybersecurity strategy in place; you must also assess how effective it is at protecting your business against attacks. An assessment will help you identify the weaknesses and inadequacies of your current policies, processes, and solutions, giving you an idea of what needs to be changed, improved, or added to ensure your strategy works.
Ask your MSP for a full assessment of your cybersecurity posture, wherein they will run a series of scans, tests, and simulations to gauge your business’s cyber defenses. They will also check if you’re meeting relevant regulatory compliance requirements, especially those relating to data collection, storage, and use. The results of the assessment will enable you to better understand your organization’s risk exposure and, in turn, make better, more informed decisions regarding its security.
As Vancouver’s leading managed IT services provider, Quicktech offers best-in-class cybersecurity solutions to safeguard every aspect of your business, from servers to applications to mobile devices. We also offer 24/7 monitoring and support, so you can rest easy knowing your systems and data are always secure. Learn more about our services by calling us at 604-373-4768.