Partnering with a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) is now a necessity for any organisation, given the frequency and complexity of the advanced cyber threats we face daily.
In addition to the cost and complexity of setting up and operating a 24x7 SOC (Security Operations Centre), organisations cannot keep pace with the sophistication, diversity and scale on their own. Teaming up with an MSSP is now a security best practice, helping avoid data breaches (and aiding compliance with GDPR), as well as keeping costs and resources focused on core business objectives.
So, what questions should you ask if you’re outsourcing your Managed Security Services? You’re searching for an MSSP. This is an important decision— a partnership in which both parties will invest time and energy to help safeguard your Enterprise.
Before you start, it is important to remember that partnering with managed security providers provides several ancillary benefits, such as helping remove pressure from your internal IT teams, ensuring they can concentrate on performing core operations, and enabling the business.
In most cases, ongoing business and IT transformation projects go hand in hand with security. As your workforce becomes increasingly mobile, how will this impact your security?
With this simple checklist, you can narrow your search for an MSSP that stands out.
Having full, round-the-clock security monitoring and support is a necessity. Unfortunately, hackers (and other threats) do not just happen between and 5y.
While it may seem like a given, the investment in facilities and human resources required to provide a 24/7 security monitoring facility is significant. For this reason, many security teams operate with “eyes-on-screen” between and -5. If that’s the case, you are at considerable risk— and no better off than an in-house team.
As we’ve seen with WannaCry, attacks can occur anytime; the MSSP you consider must offer 24/7 security monitoring and support.
In particular, with GDPR’s increased compliance requirement, you will want to know that you’ve left your IT security in safe hands— someone who will not just identify, neutralise, and remediate security threats, day or night.
Of course, you’d expect an MSSP to be an expert in what they do. However, you cannot assume an MSSP will have capabilities in all areas. There is simply no substitute for knowledge and experience. MSSPs that employ the industry’s brightest minds, across security monitoring, threat anomaly detection, perimeter security, mobile security, and network and cloud architecture, will be the best placed to assess and protect your digital assets.
The leading MSSPs will also have in-house researchers and industry-recognised specialists on their security operations team. These specialists will have advanced expertise and capabilities in real-life situations and employ the latest tools, technologies and threat intelligence to protect your organisation.
Something that really separates a top-tier MSSP from the competition is one that boasts the resources of a Network Operations Centre (NOC) and a Security Operations Centre (SOC).
While SOCs vary from a small room with a couple of monitors to state-of-the-art cyber incident centres, they’re all set up to detect, analyse and respond to cyber security incidents with a mix of people, processes and technologies. Better resources will indeed lead to a better security outcome.
In addition to providing post-incident analysis to help reduce downtime and revenue loss, if the MSSP you select also has an NOC, you’re significantly improving your security partner’s integration, understanding and capabilities.
A 24x7 NOC provides additional capabilities to call upon, whether consultancy advice or outsourced service, always with security central to the conversation. It is peace of mind that a fully trained expert will always watch your network, whether assisting in patching critical security updates or advising on the security considerations for your mobile workforce.
Not all security technologies are equal. Researching, procuring, and deploying the best security technologies is a constant challenge and investment (in £ and resources) for any organisation.
The advantage of an MSSP is its efficiency of scale and a dedicated focus on implementing and integrating the best and newest security technologies with well-honed systems and processes. Cybercriminals will always show ingenuity and agility in altering their attack tactics to exploit new vulnerabilities. So the MSSP you consider must have a highly tuned and proven mix of established and new security technologies.
Today, security has moved beyond AV and the firewall. A SIEM (Security Incident & Event Management) platform will be at the heart of any SOC. With a SIEM, the more data you can filter and analyse, the greater intelligence and visibility your security monitoring operations can obtain.
What is the relationship between customer focus and security? An effective cyber defence strategy should not compromise the overall business objectives.
More than a defence strategy, a secure IT infrastructure will help you achieve your ambitious business goals, whether acquiring and integrating new business units, rolling out new mobile apps, or building an online customer portal.
Atop-tierr MSSP should be highly qualified in every area of security, but should also understand the unique needs of your organisation, your customers, your business goals and outcomes, and any concerns you have.
So, atop-tierr MSSP should offer flexibility in customising any solution, rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all ’ approach, always with your overall business goals in mind.