Managed security services—partnering for network security
Security is probably the single biggest concern of IT today. With threats continuing to evolve, as cybercriminals become more and more sophisticated with their tactics, companies and organizations of all sizes need to be concerned about protecting their valuable assets.
The situation is complicated by the growing complexity of e-business models. The more companies expand their mission-critical networks with new intranet, extranet, and e-commerce solutions in an effort to support a growing mobile workforce, the more vital it becomes for them to implement network security technologies.
What are the security challenges for your organization?
They’re numerous and keep growing in complexity:
The increase in security threats as remote access grows: The industries that are most at risk of cyberattacks—financial services, healthcare, real estate, medical and professional services—tend to have a large number of mobile workers who require secure access to home networks.
- The increase in malicious attacks from malware, spyware, new multi-vector “turbo” worms and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks
- The rise in spam: Almost 60% of all e-mail sent is now spam.
- The threat of impersonation: The rapid growth in wireless communications and networking has increased the likelihood that a cyber intruder can gain access to vital network resources and data by assuming the identity of an authorized user.
- Continually evolving e-business models: As more business is conducted over the internet, the types of services and information that are exchanged are increasingly complex and vulnerable to attack.
- Customer concerns regarding security and privacy: Guarding the privacy of your customers’ personal information is of critical importance to keeping their business—and maintain their loyalty. And establishing trust in safeguarding customer privacy is important for your company’s reputation.
- Compliance regulations: Government regulations, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Government Information Security Reform Act (GISRA), require organizations to take measures to protect end users. HIPAA, for example, requires end-to-end encryption of data traveling between medical locations.
The advantages of working with a managed security provider
With IT staffs already working at maximum capacity, organizations are looking to outside resources for help with network security.
Given the high risk and cost of security breaches—and the daunting challenges of staying current on the latest in security threat prevention—managed services providers now offer advanced network security services and consultation. These services can range from simple equipment monitoring to comprehensive security management and remote site support.
The common services provided by a managed security services provider (MSSP) falls under three categories or lines of defense: prevention, detection and response.
Prevention services, such as managed firewalls, are designed to keep intrusions out. Service providers may also offer web portals for reporting, 24-hour-per-day monitoring, service-level agreements (SLAs), high-availability options and customer network management.
Detection services identify when an intrusion is occurring or has occurred on the network. The service provider will monitor normal and suspicious network activities and alert you when a real attack is in progress—saving your organization time, money and heartache.
Response services take action to defend against potential intrusion when it is detected. For example, service provider emergency response teams can provide forensic analysis when attacks occur and when vulnerabilities are assessed.
A key advantage of working with a managed security provider is that they often have the staffing flexibility to scale their services to meet your security requirements. They can also extend your IT staff’s capabilities when your team is busy with other projects. Another advantage is that you stay current on the latest cybersecurity technology and best practices and can provide your team with education and training in that area.
Is the managed security option right for you?
Talk to us at Next Dimension. We can help you decide if it’s the best way to go. We’re also here to help you take the next important steps in safeguarding your organization. Cyberthreats aren’t going away. It’s important that you’re protected.