Why Outsourced Cybersecurity is Essential for Your Business

With the increasing number of cyber threats, businesses need to take every possible measure to ensure the protection of their data and assets. Data breaches can be costly both in terms of financial loss and damage to your company's reputation. Investment in robust cybersecurity practices to reduce the risk of data breaches should be a critical strategy for your business as a whole. One of the most effective ways to approach this investment is by outsourcing your cybersecurity needs to an experienced service provider. If your organization’s cybersecurity is managed completely by internal teams and you are considering outsourcing, it is important to consider all benefits and limitations of working with a cybersecurity provider to determine the best strategy for your business.

What is Outsourced Cybersecurity?

Outsourced cybersecurity is the practice of hiring a third-party provider to manage your company’s security needs. These third-party providers are commonly referred to as managed security service providers (MSSP). An MSSP can either implement new or manage existing security solutions your organization leverages to monitor and respond to potential cyber threats. Standard MSSP offerings from these providers include management of fundamental components of your security stack such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, antivirus software, identity management, and data encryption. The goal of outsourced cybersecurity is to supplement the protection of your business from cyber-attacks, data breaches, and other security risks by establishing partnerships with experts who can guide your internal teams on how to best navigate the ever changing threat landscape.

The Benefits of Outsourced Cybersecurity

1. Professional Expertise 

Professional cybersecurity providers have the expertise to recommend, implement, and manage security measures that are tailored to your specific needs. They have a deep understanding of the latest security technologies, as well as the tactics used by cyber criminals.They invest time and resources to stay up to date with new threats, technologies, and strategies in the industry. As with any decision to outsource a fundamental expertise your organization needs to thrive, handing your cybersecurity management to a third-party provider specialized in their field can alleviate the burden of building this professional expertise inside your organization. With your cyber security needs taken care of by a trusted service provider, you can get back to what you do best: running your business.

2. Cost-Effective

Outsourced cybersecurity is often more cost-effective than hiring an in-house team of cybersecurity engineers. Because cybersecurity is an ever-changing industry, there are always new trainings, processes, and tools needed to effectively protect your business. Service providers are expected to invest in continuous education and new skillsets to adequately provide their services, eliminating the need for your organization to invest in this on going education and expensive skillset in-house.

3. Scalability

Outsourced cybersecurity providers can adjust their services to match the needs of your business as it grows and changes. You will not have to worry about investing in additional internal resources as your business expands or downsizing if you experience a downturn when you are working with a trusted provider who can scale with you.

4. Continuous Monitoring

Most MSSPs offer 24x7x365 monitoring to quickly identify and respond to potential threats before they become major incidents. This allows real-time alerting on suspicious activity and eliminates any lag before experts are investigating and minimize the impact of an incident on your environment. Working with a trusted third-party provider allows you to have around-the-clock monitoring while not taking on the operational burden of a24-hour team in-house.

5. Regulatory Compliance

Most industries have strict security regulations that businesses must comply with. This can include compliance standards through HIPPA, SOC 2, SEC, and more. Compliance can be a daunting responsibility on your organization’s shoulders as your use of technology shifts, your business expands and your risk of legal action increases. Outsourced cybersecurity providers who have experience serving clients in your industry can help guide you through compliance requirements and ensure your cybersecurity adapts to changing conditions.

Want to discuss further if outsourcing cybersecurity is right for your organization? Reach out to Entara.  

As an eXtended Service Providers (XSP), Entara delivers exceptional, security-first IT solutions for your business. In addition to our managed IT and security services, we assist companies in breach remediation and recovery, so you don’t have to worry about prolonged business interruption during an incident. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your cyber security needs through our services, like our incident response (IR) retainers or vCISO advisory services.