Managed IT Services is certainly not a new invention. Managed Service Providers began making an impact in the late 1990s and continued to change the way organizations monitor their systems, provide IT support for their employees, manage mobile devices, and the ever increasing need to secure their critical business information. The jump to Managed Security Services has picked up steam in recent years, and today, outsourced security services such as a Security Operations Centre (SOC) are becoming a viable and important consideration for the modern business.
As hackers and data thieves step up their game, IT leaders need to meet these evolving threats head on or risk financial loss and damage to their reputation. Antivirus and basic firewalls are no longer enough, and IT leaders require the advanced security presence afforded by a SOC, Security Information and Event Monitoring (SIEM) platform, and the added protection of a Unified Threat Management (UTM) device. Below is a basic outline of the evolution of information security and where Managed Security Services fit in today.
The Developing Security Model
Once upon a time, a firewall and antivirus on your local PCs was about the best you could do for securing your business. Add a proper patching cycle for your servers and everything was locked up tighter than Fort Knox. Today, as employees have multiple devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops for work, there are more vulnerabilities and ways to attack your network. Up-to-date software and a basic level of compliance are a great start, but it leaves a lot to be desired.
The Experienced Security Model
The next steps towards an airtight front are increased security procedures, more advance security appliances and a dedicated Security expert on your team. Most large companies today realize that security is indeed a full time job, and having employees and systems monitoring your systems 24/7 is a necessity and not just a nice-to-have.
The Advanced Security Model
Advanced Security or Managed Security Services provide around the clock protection and monitoring for your systems. Backed by enhanced reporting capabilities, Managed Security Services can help you continuously improve your security footprint by analyzing data and making decisions in real time.
How Secure is your organization? Download out IT Security Checklist to find out.
