Businesses of all sizes are beginning to understand the importance of prioritising cyber security, due to the increasing threat of cyber-attacks. Unfortunately, many still lack the time or money to implement sufficient measures to protect their data. This is where cyber security services can be useful, by allowing companies with limited expertise or resources access to the same security as other businesses.
Why Cyber Security Matters
Before discussing specific services, you must understand why cyber security is so vital for your success. Cyber threats can come from anywhere, from suspicious links to trusted vendors and even your own staff. The impact of a cyber-attack can mean financial loss, reputational damage, operational disruptions, or legal action. The cost of recovering from such an attack is often too much for companies to handle, and so it is desperately important to prevent them from ever occurring.
Cyber Security Services
Managed service providers (MSPs) will often provide a broad range of cyber security services designed to keep their clients safe. Some of the most common include:
1. Risk Assessment and Management
Risk assessment and management are often core services provided by MSPs. They will typically begin by assessing your company for potential vulnerabilities, so they can gain a better understanding of your risk profile and properly prioritise security measures.
Then they will develop a risk management plan based on the insights gained during the assessment. This may include implementing security solutions and controls, developing an incident response plan, and continuously monitoring for potential threats.
2. Managed Incident Response
Most MSPs will also provide help with your incident response, in the event that a cyber-attack does occur. They will assist with steps such as isolating the threat, determining what caused the incident, and providing advice on how to prevent similar occurrences in future. However, the business will still need to take steps such as informing affected individuals of the breach.
3. Endpoint Security
As work systems are increasingly being accessed on devices other than office computers, endpoint security is being offered as a service more often. Endpoint solutions are designed to protect individual devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, to prevent them from being used as attack vectors.
Endpoint protection will often involve mobile device management (MDM), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and managed updates and patches, and antivirus/anti-malware software.
4. Network Security
Network security services are designed to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data as it travels across your network. This will typically include solutions such as next-generation firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), and intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS). The goal of all of these is to monitor network traffic and deploy additional security where needed.
5. Cloud Security
Cloud security services ensure that your data and applications are protected within the cloud. Encryption and identity and access management (IAM) are two ways in which MSPs will protect your data. Encryption converts it into an unreadable format, whereas IAM ensures only authorised users can access it.
6. Backup and Disaster Recovery
These services are focused on backing up your data, and quickly restoring it in the event of a cyber incident. They may use cloud-based solutions or data loss prevention (DLP) tools, and they will often provide a business continuity plan to help you return to normal operations.
7. Security Awareness Training
Human error remains one of the largest threats to your business’ data security, and many MSPs are responding by offering security awareness training. This, combined with a strong cyber security policy, will help your staff recognise and stop cyber threats.
Why Use Managed Services?
Partnering with an MSP can provide several important benefits. The first and most obvious is that, without an MSP, many businesses would find the security measures listed above unattainable. Managed security services are often more cost-effective than hiring your own team, and provide you with access to far more expertise. They are also easy to scale, growing with your business.
For some companies it is worth hiring their own staff – for example, if their IT use is very low and only requires one staff member – but in many cases, an MSP is the better option.
Secure Your Business with Expert Support
Cyber security services can provide businesses with many valuable ways to protect their data and avoid the consequences of cyber-attacks. If you are able, and it aligns with your business goals, then it is worth taking advantage of the opportunity to drastically improve your security posture without significantly increasing costs.
If you’re considering cyber security services for your business, iCare Cyber’s dedicated team of experts are here to help. We understand the threat presented by cyber-attacks all too well, and so we offer comprehensive security services designed to prevent breaches, help you recover, and transform your staff into a strong defensive force. Learn more about our cyber security services and how they can protect your business.