Defending against cyber threats is a complex undertaking for organizations of all sizes. Hiring highly skilled cybersecurity professionals and keeping up with a variety of technological tools requires a substantial investment. In addition, building and operating a security operations center in-house can be difficult for small and medium sized businesses (SMBs).
To combat the growing number of attacks, companies turn to managed cybersecurity services, which offer a complete outsourced solution that protects businesses from imminent threats and provides expert support when an incident occurs. But how do you know which provider to trust? Here are 5 essential elements to look for when evaluating an MSSP.
24/7 Monitoring
A defining element of an MSSP is its ability to monitor network activity in real time. This ensures that any threat is detected immediately, and the necessary countermeasures can be deployed to limit or eliminate damage. It also helps to detect recurring or ongoing security incidents and attacks that may not be obvious based on individual event data.
Intelligence-driven Protection
As part of a comprehensive threat detection strategy, MSSPs use advanced technology and expertise to create a network for sharing security intelligence. This can include information about the most common attack vectors and techniques used against their clients. In addition to sharing this information with their customers, the MSSP can use this intelligence to develop more effective defenses against emerging threats and other vulnerabilities.
MSSPs can also help keep a company up to date with industry standards. This can be particularly helpful for companies that store sensitive data like credit card numbers or client information. This can minimize the risk of breaches, as well as help to reduce the cost associated with repairing infrastructure or restoring data from a breach.