Cybersecurity and IT professionals can sometimes operate in a silo. Industry terms are used that seem commonplace when working in the field, but completely obtuse otherwise.
For example, what does the term Managed Services really mean in relation to IT? Managed services refers to the outsourcing of IT tasks to a third-party provider. Managed cybersecurity services follows the same trend as outsources cybersecurity monitoring to a third-party provider.
These outsourced managed services have become an essential part of most organization’s strategy around cyber security and IT, yet many of the specific terms are confusing to non-IT decision makers.
In this post we hope to clarify some of the most commonly asked questions around Managed Cybersecurity Services.
What is a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)?
A managed security services provider is the entity providing the managed services. Generally, these organizations are staffed with experienced cybersecurity professionals and act as a hub for talented individuals to contribute to the security of a large range of organizations.
As with any industry, there are both very large and very small MSSPs. The very large organizations generally deal with Fortune 500 enterprises and Federal Government. MSSPs at this scale can even run the entire security division for many of these firms. Smaller MSSPs specialize in the Mid-to-Small enterprise + state and local government.
How Do MSSPs Work?
MSSPs work by consolidating a team of experienced individuals in a high-demand field, working to centralize the limited cybersecurity resources in order to provide an optimal service.
The cybersecurity field has an extraordinarily low unemployment rate, leading to major shortages of staff at almost all organizations. By centralizing these skilled professionals, MSSPs can fully utilize their staff to provide outsourced security for multiple organizations.
What sized organizations should consider outsourced cybersecurity?
While very dependent on revenue, industry, and customer data – if an organization has more than 10 employees, it is probably time to seriously consider a robust cybersecurity program.
Realistically, all organizations should consider outsourcing security maintenance and monitoring.
The ~10 employee threshold is where a firm can become a very real target due to both revenue and exposure.
Why Do Organizations Use Outsourced IT and Cybersecurity?
Three primary reasons – professional shortages, budget, and quality. Outsourced cybersecurity provides the biggest bang for your buck in the security realm.
An MSSP is effective by providing comprehensive professional experience, strategy, response, and service. All this generally comes at an easy, monthly user cost that can scale with your organization’s growth.
What is the difference between Managed vs Co-Managed Cybersecurity?
Managed cybersecurity services are a situation where the MSSP provides a vast majority of the cybersecurity service for an organization, functionally acting as their cybersecurity division/team.
Co-managed cybersecurity services are a situation where the MSSP provides supporting or ancillary services to an existing IT team, ultimately acting as a trusted partner and resource.
What does a healthy IT and Cybersecurity Department look like?
Cybersecurity and IT should not be exclusively reactive. When you are dealing with an emergency, operations will flow much more smoothly if there was a pre-meditated and tested plan prior to the event.
A solid defense-in-depth plan coupled with strategic direction can help to mature your IT and security from simply reacting to providing genuine value for an organization.
When properly managed, cybersecurity can be a critical advantage in all organizations. The Scarlett Cybersecurity team recommends evaluating local cybersecurity service providers to hear first-hand the benefits of the switch to managed or co-managed cybersecurity services.
The cyber-world is growing more dangerous every day – finding a cybersecurity partner is more important than ever.
Speak with the Scarlett Cybersecurity team for more information regarding Managed and Co-Managed Cybersecurity Services.
