Can SMBs Benefit from Outsourcing Security?

Featured article by Ben Taylor, Independent technology Author

Almost half of UK enterprises have been the victim of a cyber security breach, hack or attack during the last 12 months, according to the 2018 Cyber Security Breaches Survey, as the spectre of malware, viruses, fraud and scammers becomes more challenging for CIOs to combat effectively.

The good news is that a robust strategy can mitigate the growing number of security threats that companies face each and every day. “Cyberattacks can inflict serious commercial damage and reputational harm, but most campaigns are not highly sophisticated,” National Cyber Security Centre Chief Executive Ciaran Martin says. For a growing number of SMBs, this strategy involves outsourcing their cyber security efforts so that they can access good IT support and monitor and manage the threat landscape on a daily basis.

Threats continue to mature and multiply, so it makes sense to work with a third party who has knowledge and expertise in cyber security. Developing these capabilities in-house is a laborious and expensive undertaking, and often takes the focus away from an enterprise’s core product and service offerings. Rather than having to build a secure IT infrastructure from the ground up, SMBs can access comprehensive managed IT support services with enhanced security, which will protect servers, networks and connected devices from malware, viruses and more.

Cyber security is one of the fastest-changing aspects of IT as new malware tech and threats can emerge and evolve in minutes. If you are forced to rely on in-house security methods, you won’t be able to access the latest cutting-edge technologies that can identify malicious activity and pinpoint vulnerabilities. You will always be a step behind, and this could eventually be disastrous for your business. A managed IT service provider will continue to develop tech and offer bespoke advice and recommendations so that your enterprise can navigate the murky waters of cyber security 24/7.

To protect against security vulnerabilities and attacks, service providers can complete IT assessments to provide you with a holistic view of your IT infrastructure and a technology risk analysis to ensure that your data and security setup is sufficient for your business demands and objectives. This will take factors such as compliance into account and the range of internal and external threats that loom large in today’s business world. You can also get access to market-leading antivirus security so that you have the peace of mind that the servers and devices that underpin your everyday operations are free from malware.

Insider threats are also a growing concern, and outsourcing IT will enable you to finally take control of the growing number of connected devices that are being used in the workplace. IT support can offer full management and monitoring of devices so that you know who has access to data, and can implement real-time patching and updates to keep everything as secure as possible.

To conclude, outsourcing IT will allow you to access better support, lower costs and reduce the complexity of your compliance obligations, but perhaps most importantly, empower you to prevent disasters and downtime that can threaten the continuity of your business.

About the Author

Ben Taylor works in IT and specializes in cyber security. Security for small businesses is a keen interest of his, and he is currently looking to expand his knowledge.