Modern companies face a constant threat of cyber attacks. From phishing scams to ransomware attacks, hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in company networks. That’s why companies must invest in a managed cybersecurity service. But what is a managed cybersecurity service, and how can it benefit your business?
Simply put, these services provide comprehensive protection against cyber threats. These experts will monitor your company’s networks and anticipate potential business security risks. They’ll also implement strategies to prevent attacks.
Basically, by investing in a managed cybersecurity service, you can safeguard your business and ensure the safety of your sensitive data. Here’s what to know about these kinds of services and how they can protect your business.
Common Digital Threats
The digital world has evolved a lot over the past few years. Technological advancements now enable businesses to operate more efficiently.
However, these advancements come with a set of challenges. Digital threats have become a common occurrence. They can be devastating for businesses that are not prepared.
Cybersecurity services can help with digital threat defense. However, understanding the most common cyber threats businesses face today is the first step towards security. Doing so ensures you know what to look for when comparing cybersecurity services.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams rely on email or text messages to trick people into sharing sensitive information such as:
- Usernames
- Passwords
- Credit card details
Hackers usually develop these scams. This makes them look legitimate by impersonating legitimate organizations or businesses.
To protect your business from phishing scams, you must educate your employees on identifying them. They should always avoid clicking on suspicious email links or downloading unknown attachments.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of harmful software that holds someone’s files hostage. It’ll typically ask for money to unlock them. This can be bad for companies with important information they can’t access anymore.
So, how does it happen? Ransomware usually gets into computers through sneaky emails or taking advantage of software weaknesses.
The best way to safeguard your business against ransomware is to:
- Ensure that your software is up to date
- Have a solid backup system
- Educate your employees on the best practices for avoiding malicious emails
Sound like a lot of work? A managed cybersecurity service would take care of this for you.
Malware
An umbrella term, malware encompasses all types of malicious software created to harm devices, networks, or servers. It is generally distributed through:
- Infected websites
- Email attachments
- Suspicious software downloads
Some common types of malware include Trojan Horses, Spyware, and Adware. To protect your business against malware, you need to have up-to-date antivirus software. Then, scan all of your devices regularly.
Data Breaches
These attacks involve cybercriminals gaining access to confidential information. They often obtain access through a vulnerability in a company’s security system.
A data breach can result in the theft of sensitive information such as:
- Credit card numbers
- Social security numbers
- Other personally identifiable information
While financially devastating, they’re known to harm a business’s reputation more than anything else.
Advanced Persistent Threats
Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are highly sophisticated hacking techniques. State-sponsored hackers and cybercriminal organizations commonly use these techniques.
The worst part? These attacks can go undetected for months. This allows attackers to steal sensitive information slowly and wreak havoc on a business’s systems.
Are you at risk? It depends, honestly. APTs often target large organizations and can cause substantial financial and reputational harm.
What Is a Managed Cybersecurity Service?
As a business owner, you may have heard the term “cybersecurity services.” However, many aren’t entirely sure what it entails. It’s a holistic approach to safeguarding your business by outsourcing cybersecurity responsibilities to a third-party service provider.
This provider (that’s us, in this scenario) will:
- Monitor your network
- Identify potential threats
- Protect your business from cyberattacks
Now, let’s look closely at some of the specific offerings included in managed cybersecurity services.
Comprehensive Vulnerability Scanning
One of the primary ways managed cybersecurity services safeguard your business is through threat detection. This is sometimes called vulnerability scanning.
This process identifies weaknesses in your IT infrastructure. This includes scanning for outdated software, hardware, and other areas that can put your business at risk.
The idea is that, after, it’s easier to identify and correct any potential vulnerabilities.
Dark Web Monitoring
Another critical aspect of a managed cybersecurity service is dark web monitoring. This service alerts you if your employees’ login credentials are on the dark web. This is critical in preventing cyber criminals from compromising your confidential information.
Managed Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
To add a layer of security, managed cybersecurity services also offer managed multi-factor authentication (MFA). By utilizing MFA, you’re giving access only to those who can verify their identity in two or more ways.
Password Management
Effective password management is crucial to protecting your business from data breaches. Managed cybersecurity services will provide password management solutions. Typically, this enables employees to use encrypted passwords. As a result, all sensitive information will remain secure.
Enterprise Security Awareness
This sub-service typically includes training on cybersecurity best practices for your employees. The goal is to teach everyone how to take precautions collectively to prevent cyberattacks that could jeopardize your business’s reputation.
Compliance
Compliance is essential in today’s business world. Managed cybersecurity services ensure you comply with ever-changing industry regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and HIPAA.
Patch Management
Your business’s software is continually getting updated with new features and bug fixes that render older versions out of date. That sounds great, right? Auto updates, we mean.
Sure. Sort of. However, cybercriminals can reverse engineer these weak spots to launch cyberattacks. Patch management is a crucial service that will keep your system up-to-date, protecting your business from potential cyber threats.
Benefits of Managed Cybersecurity Services
As a business owner, protecting your investment is vital to your success. You ensure your physical office is secure with surveillance cameras and alarms, but do you spend as much time and resources protecting your online data?
Like locking your doors at night, investing in managed cybersecurity services can provide peace of mind and protection against potential threats. Here are some of the benefits that come with this service.
Comprehensive Protection
The primary advantage of managed cybersecurity services? It offers a holistic approach to securing your data. As evidenced above, cyber threats are:
- Widespread
- Sophisticated
- Constantly evolving
With this service, you can count on a team of skilled professionals to:
- Keep your network and applications up to date
- Detect any vulnerabilities
- Prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data
It also means that you can safeguard your brand by preventing cyber attackers from accessing and damaging your reputation.
Reduced Risk and Costs
Data breaches can cause significant financial harm to organizations. This is especially true for small businesses. In fact, according to a report by the Ponemon Institute, the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 million.
Managed cybersecurity services alleviate the risk of significant financial loss by proactively identifying and mitigating potential threats.
Moreover, the payment model of this service allows businesses to plan their budgets accordingly. This can alleviate concerns about costly one-time investments.
Peace of Mind
Running a business is no easy feat, and with all the challenges that come with it, worrying about cybersecurity vulnerabilities can feel overwhelming.
Thankfully, when you trust managed cybersecurity services to safeguard your business, you can take comfort in knowing your data is monitored and secured 24/7.
What are you left to do? What you do best! Focus on growing your business rather than worrying about cybersecurity risks.
Compliance and Regulations
Governments and regulatory agencies update cybersecurity guidelines to minimize vulnerability and prevent data breaches. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in heavy penalties and fines.
Managed cybersecurity services keep pace with these updates and ensure your organization complies with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Rapid Response and Recovery Time
Even with the best cybersecurity measures, no system can be 100% immune to cyber threats.
In the unfortunate event of a cyber attack, these service providers offer recovery and response services that aim to minimize the damage. Their expertise and resources help your organization:
- Respond quickly
- Reduce operational downtime
- Repair any damage caused by an attack
Don’t think that rapid response time is worth paying for? The average cost of downtime is $5,600 per minute for most businesses.
5 Tips for Finding the Right Cybersecurity Services
Ready to get started? Choosing the right cybersecurity service can be overwhelming, but by following these tips, you can make the best decision for your business.
1. Evaluate Your Business Needs
Evaluating your company’s security needs is essential before you start looking for a cybersecurity service. Look at your current security measures and identify any gaps that need filling.
Determine the type of sensitive information your business stores and handles and the potential risks associated with a security breach. Knowing your security needs will help you find the perfect cybersecurity service for your business.
2. Reputation and Experience
When it comes to cybersecurity, experience matters. Look at the company’s track record first. Determine if they have successfully safeguarded businesses like yours.
Consider their reputation in the industry, and read user reviews. Choose a company with a proven track record. If you work in a specialized industry, ensure they have experience in this industry.
3. Customization
Cybersecurity isn’t one-size-fits-all. Look for a service provider that customizes their approach to your business’s unique security needs.
A good cybersecurity provider will work with you to identify risks and develop an exclusive security strategy that aligns with your business needs.
4. Proactive Measures
A great cybersecurity service provider will not only react to cybersecurity threats but also take proactive measures to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Your service provider should monitor your networks, detect potential threats, and address them before they become full-fledged attacks.
5. Ongoing Support
Cyber threats evolve, and so should your cybersecurity strategy. Look for a service provider that offers ongoing support. The cybersecurity landscape is ever-changing, and your cybersecurity service should keep up with any changes that may impact your business’s network.
EMPIST’s Managed Cybersecurity Services
Ad-hoc cybersecurity solutions may seem like the most cost-effective option, but they come with risks that could cost you more in the long run. Fully managed cybersecurity services provide a proactive and comprehensive approach to protecting your business from cyber risks.
At EMPIST, we offer a bundled security service that combines five essential services to provide your business with complete cybersecurity coverage. Our bundled services promise a more practical and affordable option for your business, costing just $20/user per month.
Our bundled security services consist of the following:
- Compliance
- Managed multi-factor authentication
- Dark web monitoring
- Enterprise security awareness
- Password management
With these five core services, you can rest assured that your business’s security needs are adequately met. How does it all work? It ultimately depends on your business, but it typically looks like this.
First, we ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards. This ensures your business is always updated with the latest security protocols.
Our managed multi-factor authentication provides additional security to your network. This offers more protection than traditional authentication methods. And by continuously monitoring the dark web, we can identify threats to your business in real-time.
With our enterprise security awareness training programs, we equip your employees with the necessary skills to detect and avoid cyber threats. We also provide password management solutions that enable you to securely manage passwords across all your accounts.
Get Started With EMPIST
Ensuring the security of your business’s sensitive information and data is paramount to preventing costly and reputation-damaging security breaches.
Partnering with a reliable managed cybersecurity service can give your business the expertise and resources to proactively address potential cyber threats.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact us today to learn more about our managed cybersecurity services and start safeguarding your business from cyber attacks.
Let us help you ensure the security and continuity of your business operations so you can focus on achieving your business goals with peace of mind.