In expanding its digital landscape, an organization can expect security threats and data breaches to accelerate and become even more unpredictable. This truly unfortunate reality means security has become a much higher priority for businesses to combat these advanced and frequent security attacks. In many cases, internal IT systems may be unprepared to manage these threats. What’s the best-case scenario in these instances? Should enterprises develop and maintain their security in-house, or is it more viable to outsource security to a specialized third party with expertise in this field?
A recent Ab-Initio 2019 conducted by Trasers indicates that 67% of the organizations surveyed actually outsource security operations to vendors because they offer better operational tools & platforms.
One of the most common myths about outsourcing the digital security function concerns whether hosting applications and processes must be on-cloud. Outsourcing may not necessarily mean hosting the service on-cloud; it can be managed in-house by the third party. Depending on the requirement, organizations may choose which solution works best for them among the available managed security services partners (MSSP).
Perceived over-dependence, legal implications, and lack of trust are some other risks associated with outsourcing security. However, selecting an able partner is crucial. Organizations are well-advised to consider the following important factors before finalizing a third-party vendor for data protection:
- Operation model: Depending on the sensitivity of data, check whether the service provider operates within both cloud-based and managed-service models. Organizations might not want to host their confidential data on public clouds, if they are concerned about potential data leaks.
- Number of partners: Before finalizing a vendor, organizations should thoroughly analyze their processes and requirements. Depending on these requirements, organizations can choose a single- or multiple-service providers to manage all services, depending on their expertise.
- Categorization of processes and data: Organizations must give deep thought to type types of applications and data to be hosted on-premises and on-cloud.
- Overall, MSSPs are well-versed with protection implications and maintain proactive awareness regarding potential threats. Hence, they prepare accordingly. Following are some other benefits that come with outsourcing security to an MSS provider:
- An MSS provider constantly monitors the entire system for weak spots that might be prone to attack.
- Security system is always under scan, and in case of any breach, instant action can be taken.
- MSSPs have expertise in managing security portals. This enables them to provide better firewalls and deploy required measures for ensuring that security remains robust.
- An organization’s decision to outsource its threat management or manage its own security in-house is indeed personal. However, in an increasingly competitive and fast-paced business environment, it’s always advisable to outsource your security to an appropriate MSSP that adheres to both best practices and your company’s best interests.
Our report “Ab-Initio 2019” aims at helping you stay updated and able to make informed-yet-quick technology decisions.