With the rapid growth of cloud services, software as a service (SaaS), and virtualised infrastructure, IT teams have become increasingly methodical in their security practices – and with good reason. 80% of UK organisations suffered a successful cyber-attack over the last year, and need to look into better protecting their systems and network.
In addition to leveraging endpoint security solutions and monitoring activities, more companies are now outsourcing their IT security needs to managed service providers.
However, while most managed service providers offer IT security solutions, these services usually only cover basic cyber security needs. That’s where managed security services come in: IT providers who specialise in advanced cyber security.
But how do you know which IT service your business needs?
What is a managed service provider (MSP)?
A managed service provider (MSP) is a company that provides services across a wide range of IT and technology departments, including IT support and consulting, network design, cloud infrastructure, and data center operations. In addition to providing these services, MSPs also provide customers with specialised tools to help manage the entire process.
Services offered:
Helpdesk support: the process of providing technical assistance to end users who are making IT-related requests, or logging IT-related issues.
Remote monitoring and management: the umbrella term that describes the process of monitoring and managing a computer system over a communications network. It allows IT professionals to monitor systems from a distance and to take action if issues arise, such as by restarting servers or removing malware.
IT support: a service to maintain and improve the operational efficiency of computer systems.
Hardware and software: procurement, installation, upgrading, and patching of hardware and software.
Cloud management: the process of managing a cloud infrastructure. It includes tasks such as provisioning, migration, configuration management, deployment, and monitoring the performance of cloud resources like storage, servers, and network connectivity.
Cyber security: the protection of a computer network from cyber-attacks. This can include antivirus and antimalware, network monitoring, data encryption, user access management, incident management, disaster recovery, and more.
Digital transformation: solutions that use technology to automate existing business processes and enable them to become more efficient and responsive to changes in the external environment.
Network management: the process of ensuring that devices and services are working properly. It includes things like monitoring network traffic levels, configuring hardware and software settings, and performing routine maintenance tasks.
Microsoft Office 365: working with Microsoft 365 customers to help them improve their productivity and business processes. This can include monitoring and managing Microsoft 365 applications and platforms, or training new users.
Business VoIP: the process of overseeing and optimising Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) performance, resource utilisation, and overall business efficiency.
What is a managed security service provider (MSSP)?
A managed security service provider (MSSP) is a company that provides advanced IT security services and solutions. An MSSP typically offers a variety of services such as cyber threat intelligence, network monitoring, network security services, cloud security, threat hunting, and more.
The goal of an MSSP is to protect your business’s infrastructure and data by providing the right tools, technology, and expertise. MSSPs work with customers to identify their requirements, and then provide them with cyber security services to meet those needs.
Services offered:
Advanced security solutions: a wide range of capabilities and expertise, including traditional threat intelligence gathering, automated incident response, and policy compliance.
Security information and event management (SIEM): used to monitor network activity for signs of violations or unauthorised access, or they can be used to help IT professionals respond to security incidents on their networks.
Threat hunting: the process of identifying and prioritising malicious IT threats. IT threat hunting is a proactive approach to security that involves identifying and eliminating risks before they cause significant damage.
Incident response: the process of rapidly identifying and responding to security breaches, viruses, malware, or other cyber-attacks. Incidents can range from a simple data breach that exposes personal information, to one that takes down an entire organisation’s systems.
Security training: the process of educating employees about how to keep their organisation’s IT systems and data safe from threats. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including awareness and prevention, compliance, incident response, and auditing.
Compliance: identifying regulatory issues, evaluating the risks they pose, and taking appropriate steps to mitigate or eliminate them. For example, healthcare organisations must ensure they comply with CQC or NHS.
Which managed service does your business need?
MSSPs are ideal for businesses who handle sensitive data, or want to ensure their infrastructure and digital assets remain secure. MSPs, on the other hand, offer a much wider range of general IT services, and can manage everything from system uptime to cloud environments.
The IT experts at NetworkIQ can help you determine which managed service is right for your business, advise you on your specific service needs, and take management of your systems and network. Talk to them today and optimise your IT environment for maximum security.
Comments (3)
Peter
10/19/202280% of UK organizations suffered a successful cyberattack last year!? WOW!? This number is incredible. 4 in 5 UK companies have be successfully hacked! It just goes to show that the protective measures in place are not enough and much more needs to be done to lower this number.
Tyler
10/25/2022I am still shocked to learn that there are still businesses that don’t know what MSPs are. In 2022. It’s no wonder so many companies (worldwide) are being hacked. If you don’t even know what a MSP is, it’s clear you are not ready to deal with cyberthreats and are a sitting duck.
Edward P.
10/28/2022A good MSP can change a business from top to bottom. And I mean this in a good way, improving almost everything in a company. This is what happened last year, at the company I worked for. Changes were so big, it was like we were going from the 80s to 2021!