Managed Security Services: Cost-Effective Access to the Security Skills You Need

Most organizations are keenly aware of the current cyber threat climate. They see the headlines about large enterprises and government agencies being hacked, and they’re making major investments to upgrade their security infrastructure and strategy.

Unfortunately, they’re having trouble finding the talent needed to monitor and maintain their security infrastructure and respond to threats.

According to Fortinet’s 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, 90 percent of organizations suffered a security breach within the past year that they can attribute in part to a lack of security skills. That’s up from 84 percent in the 2023 report.

The consequences of this skills gap are dire. More than half said that breaches cost more than $1 million in lost revenue, regulatory fines and penalties, and other expenses. Increasingly, corporate leaders are being held personally accountable for security incidents. More than half of survey respondents said that directors and executives have faced loss of employment, loss of position, fines and even jail time. Not surprisingly, 97 percent of boards of directors view cybersecurity as a business priority.

It’s easy to see these numbers and feel concerned for your own digital landscape. Partnering with a managed security service provider is a fantastic way to ensure your company doesn't fall victim to cyber attacks, even if you lack the in-house resources to keep up with the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. A managed security service provider offers companies of all sizes a comprehensive suite of security services, including continuous monitoring, threat detection, and rapid incident response. Partnering with a company like this provides you with the expertise and advanced tools needed to protect your digital assets. 

By leveraging the specialized knowledge and state-of-the-art technologies of a managed security service provider, you can achieve a robust security posture, minimizing risks and ensuring your business remains resilient against cyber adversaries.

What Are Managed Security Services?

Because of the challenges mentioned above, more and more organizations are turning to managed security services to reduce security risks without breaking the bank. Managed security services allow you to outsource some or all cybersecurity tasks and management responsibilities to a third-party provider. The basics typically include 24x7  monitoring, firewall management, intrusion detection and incident response. Additional services can include threat intelligence, risk assessments, and security system changes and upgrades, including the implementation of systems and controls required for regulatory compliance.

The primary advantage of managed security services is that it provides organizations with access to a broader range of expertise and high-end security tools. This is especially valuable for small to midsize enterprises that don’t have the resources to pay for top talent or purchase and manage new technology. Managed security services are also highly scalable. Instead of hiring more people as the business grows, you just update your service level agreement.

How to Choose the Right Managed Security Service Provider

Whether your managed security service provider is your fully outsourced security team or an extension of in-house resources, more expertise and better tools translate to reduced risk. Managed security service provider teams are trained to use security technology and monitor a wide range of devices from multiple vendors. They have the controls and reporting mechanisms to satisfy compliance requirements and quickly respond to audits. They have access to the latest threat intelligence from reliable sources and can quickly correlate events to identify new threats. By documenting and implementing repeatable security processes and automating workflows, your managed security service provider can help you detect and address issues before they become serious problems.

Organizations are facing a significant cybersecurity skills gap, with 90% having suffered security breaches due to this issue. Partnering with a managed security service provider can help fill this gap.

Of course, not all managed security service providers offer the same capabilities. When you evaluate potential partners, you should ask for proof of expertise and ensure their capabilities are aligned with your business and security needs. Make sure they have experience with your infrastructure and, ideally, with your industry. Find out how accessible they are and how frequently you should expect to communicate with them. Ask for references. Find out about their reputation and the quality of their services from actual customers.

Trust GDS for Expert Managed Cyber Security Services

Cybersecurity is clearly a business imperative, but many organizations lack the skills, resources and visibility to combat security threats. If issues are flying under the radar, cyberattacks can go undetected for weeks or even months, compounding the damage to the organization. 

GDS is here to help you close the security gills gap. Our cloud-based tools are designed to prevent network intrusions, protect email and end-user devices, block malicious websites and files, and analyze user behavior to detect compromise. Beyond that, ongoing maintenance and management from our team of experts ensures that these tools are kept up-to-date and ready to combat emerging threats. Our continuous monitoring identifies emerging threats and provides the contextual data needed for rapid, effective response.

Not sure exactly what you need? No problem at all. Our experts have decades of experience spanning the full spectrum of security disciplines. They will help you select the right solutions and services to boost your security posture and provide around-the-clock monitoring, management and incident response. You gain cost-effective access to the skills needed to minimize the risk of a devastating cyberattack.

We’ve gotten to the point at which in-house security management is only feasible for medium- large enterprises. Let us show you how managed security services can improve your defenses and keep security costs under control.

For more information on cyber security and how GDS can improve your digital workplace, download our free whitepaper Security Concepts for a Digital Workplace. In it, you’ll get an in-depth look at cyber security issues your business will face, and how to protect yourself.

Benefits of Managed IT Services from Global Data Systems

• Strategic Managed IT: We help you solve your technology related business problems.
• Connectivity: We get you reliable, secure connectivity anywhere in the western hemisphere in 48 hours.
• Support: When you need help simply call our 24x7x365 support number.
• Billing: Instead of managing hundreds of vendors - get one, easy to read bill from GDS.

Contact Managed Services Provider, Global Data Systems >