In an ideal world, our IT security systems would be so excellent that we’d be able to thwart all manner of cyberattacks. In reality, there’s no way to fully prevent the onslaught of threats hitting networks.
Independent IT security institute AV-TEST registers more than 450,000 new malware and potentially unwanted applications every day. Researchers say the sheer number of threats in the wild creates a 1-in-4 probability that the average company will be successfully attacked.
While traditional preventive security measures remain critical, organizations today are focusing more on cyber resilience — a security philosophy focused on detecting attacks as quickly as possible and responding decisively to limit disruptions. Cyber-resilient companies understand that some attacks will succeed despite their best efforts. They take precautions to minimize the impact of those breaches, ensure business continuity and protect critical data and operations.
However, achieving resilience can be challenging due to several factors, including the constantly evolving nature of threats, expanding attack surfaces, increasing IT complexity and the ongoing cybersecurity skills gap. In a new Accenture report, 74 percent of CEOs say they are concerned about their organizations’ ability to avert or minimize damage to the business from a cyberattack.
Benefits of Managed Services
For most companies, working with a qualified managed services provider (MSP) represents the most efficient way to enhance cyber resilience. Following are some of the ways MSPs enhance an organization’s ability to withstand and recover from cyberattacks:
- Access to expertise. MSPs are staffed with experienced and certified cybersecurity professionals who have expertise in a broad range of IT disciplines. They continuously monitor the threat landscape to stay abreast of new and evolving threats. They also understand how to design, implement and manage robust security solutions.
- Proactive security measures. Managed services include regular vulnerability assessments, patch management and security updates to ensure that an organization’s systems and software are up-to-date and protected against known vulnerabilities.
- Faster threat detection. With around-the-clock monitoring and threat detection services, MSPs can identify suspicious activities and vulnerabilities in real time, enabling rapid response to potential threats.
- Rapid response. When a threat is detected, MSPs follow well-defined incident response plans to rapidly isolate affected systems, contain the threat and initiate mitigation strategies. This can include isolating the systems or network segments that are under attack, shutting down applications or services, and implementing temporary fixes to prevent further damage.
- Advanced tools. Managed service providers leverage state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools and technologies. For example, leading providers use security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) solutions that orchestrate multiple security technologies such as intrusion detection systems, endpoint security solutions and advanced threat intelligence platforms.
- Scalability and flexibility. With a greater pool of resources, MSPs can rapidly scale their services to meet changing needs or to accommodate geographically distributed operations. Services can be tailored to an organization’s specific needs, taking into account factors such as the company’s size, industry, existing infrastructure and unique security requirements.
- Compliance and reporting. MSPs can help businesses comply with industry regulations by implementing and monitoring the necessary controls and providing detailed reporting for audits.
- Disaster recovery and business continuity. One of the most important ways an MSP can enhance resilience is by working with organizations to create tailored strategies that encompass data backup, redundancy and failover mechanisms. This is critical for maintaining operational integrity and minimizing downtime and business interruptions.
As cyber threats continue to evolve and increase in sophistication, managed services play a pivotal role in strengthening an organization’s ability to withstand and recover from an attack. Contact us to discuss how the cybersecurity specialists at Verteks can help your company improve its cyber resilience.
