For small and medium business owners, getting the most out of your limited budget is essential. There’s often a real cost associated with setting up and managing your own in-house cyber security services. Because of this, many business owners will, unfortunately, decide to go without.
Luckily, there is an alternative.
Investing in outsourced cyber security services can help reduce costs, minimise risks, and increase efficiency while providing the peace of mind that your business data and systems are protected.
When protecting your business, data, and customers you can never be too careful. Cybercrime is on the rise and becomes more sophisticated every day. Smaller businesses are especially vulnerable, as they often lack the resources and expertise to properly protect themselves. Outsourcing your cyber security to a managed service provider can help mitigate these risks.
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What is a Managed Service Provider?
Before we get into the benefits, let’s clarify what a managed service provider is.
A managed service provider (MSP) will remotely monitor and manage your business’s hardware, software and networks. Services offered will usually include:
- Issuing alerts
- Patching operating systems
- Cloud management
- Storage
- Problem resolution
- Proactive risk management
- Help desk and technical support
MSPs generally assume responsibility for preventing business downtime and improving IT performance. In terms of cyber security, managed services often involve providing security, data backups and recovery, and disaster recovery. MSPs are the IT industry experts with knowledge of the latest security trends, technologies, security regulations and best practices that businesses need to follow to protect their data.
Benefits of Outsourcing Your Cyber Security
1. Cost Effective
By outsourcing your cyber security, you can avoid the high costs of setting up and maintaining an in-house cyber security team. You’ll essentially have access to industry experts, without having to hire them full-time.
Economies of scale and industrialised service delivery mean that MSPs are able to meet a lower cost point than many businesses can achieve in-house. Infrastructure and overhead costs for technical staff are shared across multiple customers, meaning great savings for your business.
Of course, there are many IT security tasks that you could do yourself, but this takes time. Often too much time. We live and work in a specialist economy. MSPs specialise in fixing IT issues and addressing cyber security concerns. If someone is capable of fixing IT issues efficiently, for a price, it gives you the time to focus on what you’re good at.
Time is money. And with one study finding that workers waste an average of 22 minutes per day on IT-related issues, how much money are you leaving on the table?
We get it, for many small and medium business owners, it’s the same. You think you need to do every job yourself. But that’s not productive. Leave the IT issues to the experts, and focus on doing the work that only you can do.
We get it, for many small and medium business owners, it’s the same. You think you need to do every job yourself. But that’s not productive. Leave the IT issues to the experts, and focus on doing the work that only you can do.
2. Risk Reduction
One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing your cyber security is the reduction of risk. When you outsource your cyber security, you transfer the burden of protecting your business data to a team of experts. This can help reduce the likelihood of a data breach or other security incidents, as the experts are better equipped to handle these threats.
MSPs have the resources and expertise to identify risks that small and medium businesses may not be able to detect, such as malware or phishing attempts. They can also provide better solutions to address potential security issues, such as implementing two-factor authentication or using antivirus software.
With managed services, you can ensure that your cyber security measures are up-to-date and comprehensive enough to keep your business safe. Additionally, you will have access to specialists who understand the latest trends in cyber security, allowing them to recognize potential threats before they cause any damage. Your MSP will be able to assess the effectiveness of existing policies, implement new measures, and train employees on the best practices for cyber security.
3. Increase Efficiency
By outsourcing their cyber security, businesses can increase efficiency in a number of ways.
One way an MSP increases efficiency is by providing 24/7 monitoring and alerting. With this type of monitoring, businesses can rest assured knowing that any suspicious activity is detected and addressed quickly. This helps reduce the risk of an attack, as well as prevent further damage should an attack occur.
Another way outsourcing your cyber security increases efficiency is through automated patching and updating. With automated patching and updating, businesses can ensure their systems remain up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. This helps keep their systems secure from the latest threats. Additionally, automated patching and updating can help save time and resources, as businesses no longer have to manually check for and install updates.
Thirdly, outsourcing to an MSP increases efficiency by providing comprehensive reporting. This allows businesses to quickly assess the effectiveness of their cyber security measures and identify areas that may need additional focus. Having this kind of visibility helps businesses address weaknesses quickly and take proactive steps to improve their cyber security posture.
Overall, using managed services can drastically improve the efficiency of a small or medium business when it comes to cyber security. By leveraging the experience and expertise of an MSP, businesses can reduce costs, minimise risks, and protect against future threats. Furthermore, they can rest assured knowing that their systems are constantly monitored and updated to ensure they are always secure.
4. Scalability
Another key benefit of outsourcing your cyber security to an MSP is scalability.
As small and medium businesses grow, they need to be able to scale their systems accordingly in order to stay competitive. With an MSP, businesses can easily scale their security operations to fit their current business needs.
MSPs can provide your business with a cyber security solution that adapts as your company grows. This means that your business can easily add or remove services as needed without having to invest heavily in new technologies or personnel. MSPs can also provide your business with an ongoing monitoring service, ensuring that all security protocols are being followed and that any threats are identified quickly.
MSPs can also provide your business with access to more advanced tools and technologies that help you better manage your networks. For example, many MSPs offer advanced analytics and reporting services that provide businesses with an in-depth view of their network’s performance and potential vulnerabilities. This allows businesses to make informed decisions about how they can optimise their security posture while still meeting their goals.
Overall, outsourcing your cyber security needs to an MSP can help you ensure that your business is secure and can handle increased traffic as it grows. With access to the right tools and resources, you can ensure that your business is always protected from the latest threats while staying competitive in today’s digital environment.
5. Protection Against Future Threats
No matter the size of your business you need to be able to protect yourself against emerging cyber security threats. However, small and medium businesses often lack the resources, budget, and expertise to effectively implement a robust cyber security strategy.
That’s why many businesses are turning to MSP for assistance in defending their networks from new threats. An MSP can provide businesses with protection against future threats by leveraging a variety of different security solutions, including next-generation firewalls, threat detection and response technologies, and endpoint protection tools.
MSPs have the experience and knowledge to implement sophisticated security measures that go beyond just basic antivirus software. For example, they can use machine learning algorithms to monitor the network for suspicious activity and detect potential threats before they can cause damage. Additionally, they can provide your business with predictive analytics that can help anticipate and prevent future attacks.
In addition to protecting against future threats, MSPs can also provide other services such as regular security audits, penetration testing, and patch management. All of these services are important for keeping a business’s network secure and up-to-date.
Overall, by utilising the services of an MSP, businesses of all sizes can ensure they are protected against current and future threats. A good MSP will have the knowledge and experience to develop and implement a comprehensive security strategy that meets their unique needs. With the right security measures in place, you can rest easy knowing your business’s data is safe and secure.
6. Peace of Mind
When a small or medium business owner chooses to outsource their cyber security needs to a managed service provider, they can rest assured knowing that their business is being taken care of by experienced professionals. With a managed service provider, businesses can be sure that they’re receiving the most up-to-date information and advice on the best ways to keep their systems secure. Managed service providers also have access to a wide range of tools and resources to help them provide the highest quality of security for their clients.
In addition to providing up-to-date security protocols, managed service providers can also monitor for any potential threats, allowing business owners to stay focused on running their business without having to worry about monitoring their own networks. Managed service providers can also provide round-the-clock support if any issues arise, meaning businesses will always have access to help if needed. This can lead to greater peace of mind for business owners, as they know they’re in safe hands and their cyber security needs are being taken care of.
Overall, outsourcing cyber security needs to a managed service provider can lead to greater peace of mind for business owners. Not only do they not have to worry about monitoring their own networks, but they also have access to the latest information and resources to ensure their systems remain secure. In addition, with round-the-clock support available, business owners can rest assured knowing that any potential issues will be taken care of in a timely and efficient manner.
Conclusion
Outsourcing your cyber security services to an MSP can provide many benefits to your business. It can help you save money, improve your security posture, and access the latest technologies and trends. If you are looking for ways to protect your data and stay compliant with security regulations, outsourcing your cyber security services to an MSP is a great option.
Visit our Cyber Security Services page to learn more about how we can help you with your security needs.