5 Signs You Should Outsource

Your IT Security

Cyber threats have grown in size and sophistication, and it’s clear that no business is completely safe. Almost 50 percent of small businesses have experienced a cyberattack. 

Protecting your digital assets, from servers to applications to files, is multi-layered and complex. You need constant threat management, network monitoring and intrusion detection to confidently protect your business.

Do you have the resources and experience needed to secure your sensitive data? Most SMBs don’t, making them especially attractive targets for hackers. Here are five telltale signs you should outsource your IT security to a professional.

1. You’re in a High-Risk Industry

Any industry that deals with sensitive customer data, confidential research or IP-related information is a prime target for hackers. Industries that top the list include:

• Finance
• Healthcare
• Government
• Manufacturing
• Legal

Even if your business doesn’t directly fit into one of these industries, you’re not completely in the clear. If you share tangible business ties with any of these industries, you’re still an ideal target for malicious attacks.

Benefits of Outsourcing Cybersecurity if You’re in a High-Risk Industry

Specialized IT consultants are experts at what they do. They have access to the latest knowledge and technology, and they’ll know which security solutions are necessary to protect your sensitive information.

Look for a security company that specializes in your industry. There will be less of a learning curve if they have experience with your industry regulations and requirements.

2. You’re Dealing With BYOD Issues

Whether you have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy in place or not, you can bet your employees are using personal devices for work purposes.

They might be checking company email on their smartphones or using an unsecured laptop to store company files. Most employees don’t have bad intentions – they just don’t understand the implications of using personal devices without proper security protocols.

Allowing different devices, software and operating systems in the same corporate environment will make you more vulnerable to attackers, which is why a BYOD policy is so critical. It gives you more control over company resources while letting employees work on the devices they’re comfortable using.

Benefits of Outsourcing Computer Security if You Have BYOD Concerns

Creating a BYOD policy can drain time and resources. Most small IT teams don’t have the expertise to implement a policy that covers all the necessary security bases.

An outsourced IT security company can help you create and enforce security controls, password requirements and acceptable use guidelines for your BYOD policy.

3. You’re Planning a Cloud Expansion

Investing more resources in the cloud is a smart business move. But with greater dependence on the cloud comes greater security risks.

The average company is using 4.8 private and public clouds to run applications and services. Spreading your data and resources across multiple clouds can get disorganized fast. It can be incredibly time-consuming to manage different security models and maintain visibility across different cloud models.

Benefits of Outsourcing IT Security if You’re Planning a Cloud Expansion

An IT security firm can help you implement a consistent infrastructure and set of operations to unify and protect your growing cloud infrastructure.

4. You’ve Experienced a Cyberattack

Recovering from a breach is not easy or cheap. It can take months or years to recover lost resources and earn back the trust of your customers.

Your security systems need to be continuously updated. You’ll be expected to create new rules, policies and systems to double down on security and prevent another attack.

Benefits of Outsourcing Cybersecurity if You’ve Experienced a Cyberattack

Outsourcing your IT security to a team of experts will take this burden off your in-house IT staff. Your outsourced company can monitor your security systems 24/7 and only escalate important alerts to your team. You’ll have peace of mind that your sensitive data is protected, and your staff can focus on their dedicated job functions.

5. You Don’t Have Any Security Pros on Staff

Your IT staff probably have enough work on their hands, and security needs to be a full-time job. Getting your team to manage security will quickly spread your resources too thin.

Hiring dedicated IT security staff is expensive. As the volume, complexity and severity of cyberattacks continue to increase, qualified security professionals are hard to find – and keep.

As technology evolves, you’ll need to pay for ongoing training, certifications and classes to ensure they have the most current credentials and expertise.

Benefits of Outsourcing Cybersecurity if You Lack In-House Security Pros

When you outsource security, you gain instant access to a team of highly qualified IT security professionals. They will bring years of hands-on experience and will be able to manage all your security needs behind the scenes.

Your engagement with an IT security firm will likely cost much less than the salary, onboarding and training required for an in-house security team.

How to Choose a Cybersecurity Provider

If any of the above situations sound familiar, outsourcing your IT security responsibilities to an expert security provider is a wise investment. But how do you choose a cybersecurity provider that is right for you?

Before you start calling managed service providers, you should know that not every IT services company specializes in cybersecurity. Here are six questions you should ask when vetting potential cybersecurity partners:

“What technologies do you use?”

How do they deal with threat management, firewall and virtual private network technologies? What is their patch management process, and how do they prevent cybersecurity issues? Make sure they offer proactive and constant network monitoring, intrusion detection and advanced threat management to confidently protect your business.

“Do you understand our business?”

Some managed service providers specialize in niche businesses – is yours one of them? If they aren’t familiar with your industry or the platforms you use, you may want to look elsewhere for a provider that’s a better fit.

“What will our security plan look like?”

A good cybersecurity provider will be able to document their policies and procedures, as well as their disaster recovery process, compliance, auditing and reporting methods. Preparing a security plan is crucial, especially if your business or industry has strict compliance standards. Knowing that your provider understands your requirements, takes the time to identify and address security gaps and creates a holistic solution is essential.

“What does your SLA include?”

Having a solid service level agreement (SLA) is key to any potential service partnership. Being clear on which services are provided – and which aren’t – helps to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication, especially during emergencies. 

“What can we expect on a day-to-day basis?”

Will you have specific point people to work with? Can you communicate with a live person 24/7? How often will they share status reports, if ever? Establishing good working relationships with your service professionals keeps the lines of communication open and helps create synergy and trust.

“Can I talk to some of your existing clients?”

Online reviews are a good starting point, but speaking directly to a current client is even better. Any legitimate service provider will be happy to provide professional references when asked.

Outsourced IT Security for Los Angeles Businesses

In-house staff can quickly become overwhelmed by complex, time-consuming security projects. Outsourcing cybersecurity allows your staff to focus on current and long-term business projects instead of technology that isn’t in their wheelhouse.

SugarShot provides managed IT security services for businesses in the greater Los Angeles area. With SugarShot as your expert IT security partner, you gain:

• Comprehensive data security management
• Industry-leading intrusion detection and prevention
• Advanced network security to guard against malware, viruses and malicious users
• On-call IT security services and 24/7 support

  Need help securing your IT infrastructure? Contact us today!