5 Reasons Smart Companies Outsource Cybersecurity

Today’s consumers demand their private information remains secure. But as we learned from the 2017 breach at Equifax that exposed the personal information of 145 million, even what should be the most secure companies fall under attack.

Fearing the loss of consumer trust and revenue, senior executives demand protection against attacks like last year’s infamous WannaCry ransomware that impacted over 300,000 machines in 150 countries running outdated Windows software.

These fears and expectations are heavy burdens for IT teams that may lack the training, skills or tools to respond effectively to security breaches or prevent them from happening in the first place.

Business Security Challenges

The growing complexity and frequency of cybercrime make cybersecurity a full-time job. But at smaller companies, security is often spread among members of an over-taxed IT team or put squarely on a CIO’s desk along with hundreds of other responsibilities.

The widening IT talent gap just exacerbates the problem, with CSO reporting cybercrime will more than triple the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs, predicted to reach 3.5 million by 2021. With cybersecurity spending expected to exceed $1 trillion from 2017 to 2021, managing costs can also be a struggle.

Benefits of Outsourcing Cybersecurity

For many overwhelmed companies, a viable solution for addressing the costs and complexity of cybersecurity is outsourcing it to a managed security service provider (MSSP). They find relief with these benefits:

1) Improved protection at less cost.

Outsourcing shifts increasing costs to providers better suited to meet them. MSSPs can spread costs across a wide client base. By scaling solutions that meet varied needs,  businesses get security protection without the attendant costs.

2) Improved efficiencies with less cost.

Outsourcing significantly expands your access to security experts while saving hiring costs. It also frees IT to work on initiatives focused on increasing your bottom line.

3) The latest developments at your doorstep.

MSSPs can bring beneficial advancements to your door. Artificial intelligence and blockchain technology show real promise in the future of security, and MSSPs are at the forefront of integrating these and other technologies into top-notch security solutions.

4) Protection around the clock.

MSSPs are incessantly vigilant in protecting all systems and access points — a nebulous undertaking as businesses maximize efficiencies in the Internet of Things (IoT).

Round-the-clock protection greatly improves threat prevention. Monitoring security across a variety of clients and industries also helps MSSPs detect new threats and risks before they develop into catastrophes.

5) Layered protection against human error.

Security providers can offer layered protection with extensive security checks and procedures that are far more likely to prevent the types of internal employee mistakes that cause massive data breaches.

Selecting the Right Security Partner

Your MSSP is a partner who helps grow your business securely. When evaluating providers, consider these recommendations:

• Make sure you feel confident in the provider’s ability to understand your business, anticipate your needs and align solutions to your goals.
• Look for a provider committed to investing in the ongoing skills and education of its employees.
• Look for expertise in transformative solutions such as cloud, big data management and analytics.
• To optimize your partnership, make sure the provider you choose can meet your expectations for communication, teamwork, transparency and leadership.

OneNeck^® IT Solutions is a trusted business partner for developing customized solutions to protect against cybercrimes. Learn more about our Virtual CISO Services.

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