The Importance of Cybersecurity and How an MSP Can Help

Hacking is on the rise: a quick look at the news can confirm this disturbing trend. Recent attacks include those made on Tyler Technologies (a Dallas-based software company that provides software to schools) and UHS (one of the largest hospital systems in the U.S.).  But not only large organizations are being attacked. As small to medium-sized businesses shift to remote workplace solutions they are being heavily targeted. In 2020, if you're only "doing your best" when it comes to cybersecurity, we hate to break it to you, you're not doing enough. Fortunately, there's a simple and cost-effective way to improve your cybersecurity profile: partnering with a dedicated Managed Service Provider (MSP). In honor of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, taking place this October, we're detailing all the ways working with an MSP can make you safer.

ADDING EXPERTISE

Talented cybersecurity professionals are at a premium these days. And with new threats emerging every day, it is nearly impossible for small or medium-sized business owners and managers to stay on top of all the latest cybersecurity trends by themselves. But if you're working with an MSP, you have an entire team of cybersecurity professionals watching over your entire cybersecurity setup, top to bottom. You also gain access to years of knowledge by merely picking up the phone or sending an e-mail. Additionally, hiring an MSP saves you the time, effort, and money it would take to seek out in-demand talent with the appropriate level of training and experience to create a similar team of experts in-house.

SECURING YOUR SETUP

If you've had to make a dramatic shift towards remote working due to COVID-19, the attack options available to hackers will have significantly expanded. As such, it's essential that you carefully assess every log-in, device, and platform you're using to determine its vulnerability. For many companies, this is a daunting task at a time when resources are spread thin. MSP's come to the rescue by using their expertise to identify and close system vulnerabilities before they are exploited. A dedicated MSP can also help you implement essential security features like multi-factor authentication, single-sign-on capabilities, and strong password management to ensure your remote setups are as secure as your office setup.

ADDRESSING SHORTAGES

Most small or medium-sized businesses cannot have a team of professionals for every specialized IT area, as the costs would put too big a drain on limited resources. MSPs can help fill in the gaps by allowing a small business to offload monitoring, maintenance, and support. This, in turn, can help free up badly needed capital and help refocus it towards main business objectives. An MSP can also help you identify wasteful use of bandwidth, hardware, or software to streamline workflow, cut costs, and increase efficiency. 

MANAGING COMPLIANCE

Finally, as hacking has continued to proliferate, concerns around data security have led many government agencies to add new or strengthen existing compliance laws surrounding sensitive data. Whether HIPAA, DFARS, or CMMC, an MSP can help you manage the complex and strict documentation protocols you need to comply with to avoid hefty fines.

Looking to find out some more specifics about how an MSP can assist you in protecting your business? Contact us now to learn more about how we can help.