Partner Content: The pros and cons of going solo on security

Cybersecurity has long been of paramount importance to businesses, and it only becomes more complex every year as threats multiply. 

Gone are the days when strong passwords and rudimentary firewall software would suffice to protect your business’ networks, communications, and applications from damaging cyber-attacks. 

As networks and digital environments mature, malware becomes far reaching and supremely deceptive. Data theft and ransomware makes international headlines. 

When stock exchanges and oil pipelines are disrupted for days on end it hammers home the reality that every organisation is at risk, from SMBs to government. The local and global scope and penetration of malicious actors is enough to have any IT department on the ropes.

It is essential for companies to have a clear view of their cybersecurity 24/7, and many choose to manage security themselves inhouse. They usually do this because they believe the cost is cheaper compared to outsourcing the work.

In some cases, it’s also because the organisation doesn’t deem cybersecurity important enough to prioritise financially and so instead does the bare minimum.  

This dangerous attitude can result in a company’s IT staff adopting a generalist security approach, or worse, seeing cybersecurity as a chore or burden. That’s when mistakes can happen, and when bad actors strike. 

Rather than try and take all that responsibility inhouse, businesses should consider the specialised expertise of a managed security provider. 

According to security firm Kaspersky, 69% of businesses planned to use either a managed service provider (MSP) or a managed security service provider (MSSP) in 2021. 71% of those businesses said they thought outsourcing to a MSSP specifically would reduce security-related costs. 

Those costs aren’t always financial. Data published by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association shows 61% of enterprise businesses’ cybersecurity teams are understaffed, while 55% say they have unfilled cybersecurity roles.

When enterprises with inhouse cybersecurity teams are struggling this much, the problem can be even harder for SMBs. This is when outsourcing cybersecurity makes sense.

Outsourcing to a managed security provider frees up time for IT staff in any organisation and lets them focus on high priority projects internally, rather than becoming burned out when they are saddled with the responsibility of cybersecurity too.

Evolving landscape

Managed security providers offer a full range of cybersecurity services that includes security management services, enterprise-grade firewall solutions, secure application publishing, and remote access products.

When businesses find the right combination, a managed security partner can promise on-going peace of mind. 

They adopt a proactive, not reactive approach to security, which means they handle the fundamentals in addition to having the know-how to tackle the most advanced, up to the minute threats to businesses.

It’s true that outsourcing does not work for every organisation. Having to grant third-party access or committing to new physical data storage locations could end up being a cost commitment too far.

But for many, adding up the benefits of working with a managed security partner leaves you with an equation to which there is only one answer.

These providers understand that network security extends far beyond traditional on-premises networks. They ensure your organisation is set up to conduct business safely over modern cloud networks and the intricate technologies of digital enterprise.

Managed security providers inherently understand that data security is not just about encryption, it’s about constantly monitoring every aspect of data storage and transit to assure your organisation is safe to go about its businesses.

When data is increasingly stored and moved in a multicloud environment, it’s all too easy for IT departments to become swamped. Offloading this hard graft to a managed security partner will give your organisation the freedom to use its digital tools to the fullest.

Cover all bases

It’s worth ensuring a managed security partner has local and global visibility of potentially damaging network events. Without this level of scrutiny of all network activity, your business could be the next to suffer a data breach or crippling malware attack.

That risk is hardly worth it just to save on monthly outsourcing costs, particularly when the financial and reputational damage of a breach is always far greater. On top of that, organisations with inhouse security must frequently pour money into their cybersecurity products to keep them up to date.

The cost of hiring, training, and maintaining training of staff, as well as the cost of cybersecurity software and measures, is a never-ending plate-spinning task that puts a strain on personnel as well as the bottom line.

It often makes sense to offload the stress to a 24/7 focused, expert team who continuously update and upgrade their cybersecurity systems to keep all threats at bay for their customers.

Such teams are trained to quickly but effectively onboard new customers with a tailormade selection of security services and service level agreements to suit specific needs. This approach ensures businesses are not overspending or - more worryingly - underspending where resource is needed and when they are most vulnerable.

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