Your guide to managed security services
Managed services of any kind can provide a great boost to your SMB, but managed security services providers (MSSPs) and MSPs that offer security solutions are in a league of their own.
Essentially you’re getting enterprise-level service and expertise without going to the trouble of figuring things out for yourself. They’ll provide you with a dedicated team devoted purely to your network’s integrity.
Consulting
All the same benefits you would get with a consultant and more. Not only is your MSSP responsible for finding problems and advising on solutions, but they are also the folks implementing the solutions that you choose.
This means quicker turnaround as they’ve already figured out the plan and they know what it’s going to cost to implement and how long it will take. Additionally, it’s going to be easier for them to support you after they roll out any improvements to your network – since they’re the ones who set things up, they know exactly how it works. Utilizing their services pretty much removes the discovery period from any new implementations.
More on consulting: What is an IT business consultant (and why should you have one)?
Vulnerability assessments
Your security service provider can conduct vulnerability assessments, which means reviewing your network and identifying spots that could be potential trouble for you.
A breach can occur due to something like a software bug, improper practices or an oversight in the network security configuration itself. Over the course of an assessment, your team will go through your infrastructure looking for signs of potential for a breach. Afterward, you’ll have the information to make decisions on how to resolve the issues and fill the gaps.
Penetration tests
This is an advanced technique that not all MSPs or even MSSPs offer, but it is related to the assessments and worth mentioning. A penetration test involves your security team actively trying to compromise your network.
The idea is that it’s better if your team finds a vulnerability than for anyone else finding it. In fact, a lot of large companies have “bounties” on bugs and exploits to encourage supporters and freelance security experts to test for vulnerabilities to make a little money instead of causing damage.
Compliance monitoring
Another area where your MSP or MSSP can support you regardless of industry is regulatory compliance. With things like HIPAA, for example, you must ensure the integrity of patient records. A breach or even bad practices could be catastrophic to you and your business, with penalties ranging from fines to jail time (depending on the violation and the regulation).
Compliance monitoring involves your service provider keeping an eye on sensitive data and common areas where violations occur to ensure you are staying in compliance.
Product recommendation/implementation
A security service provider can even be useful with some basic recommendations. For instance, they can recommend a business-friendly antivirus and install it on your workstations. Or advise on which Wi-Fi connection point is the most secure and adding it to your network. You don’t have to plan big all the time, sometimes small projects are just as helpful when well planned and implemented.
In summary
These are just a few things to think about when considering what managed security services you might need from your provider.
And, of course, there are always more services that security professionals can deliver for your business – this is just the surface. If you feel like you could use a little boost in your security, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.
