Cyber Security Services and Managed IT Services

Technology is the lifeblood of modern businesses when it comes to communication and customer service, financial transactions, and daily operations. Such a reliance also leads to combined risks in security and operations. An out-of-sync system can cause delays in productivity, and a compromised account or ransomware attack can lead to disclosures of sensitive data.

That's where cybersecurity services and managed IT services go hand-in-hand. They serve different functions, but when combined, companies may be able to achieve more uniform technology management, security, and resilience.

What Are Cyber Security Services?

Cyber security services aim to protect an organization's systems, networks, devices, applications, and information technology assets from cyber threats.

Depending on the business's needs, these services may include:

●     Security assessment and vulnerability testing

●        Endpoint and email security

●        Multi-factor authentication

●        Security monitoring and detection

●        Penetration testing

●        Incident response

●        Security awareness training

●        Backup and recovery protection

●        Compliance and security framework support

It's not just about getting an antivirus program. Requires organizations to take measures against risk exposure, reduce exposure to attack, detect unusual activity, and have an incident response plan should an attack occur.

Organizations in Australia are encouraged to refer to the Australian Signals Directorate's Essential Eight as a baseline mitigation strategy. This strategy prioritizes the patching of applications and operating systems, the implementation of multi-factor authentication, the restriction of administrative privileges, application control, and regular backup of information systems.

What Are Managed IT Services?

Managed IT services generally entail the delegation or outsourcing of some or all of an organization's ongoing technology management and support needs to a third party.

Instead of waiting for an internal employee to raise a ticket and respond to a query or problem, managed service providers can actively manage and monitor the technology environment and proactively address issues as they arise.

These service offerings commonly include:

●        Help desk and technical support

●        Network management

●        Device and endpoint management

●        Microsoft 365 administration

●        Cloud management

●        Software and security updates

●        Backup management

●        User and access administration

●        IT monitoring and maintenance

The exact offering can vary depending on the provider selected. Some businesses may outsource a significant portion of their technology management, or only select certain elements in support of an internal IT team.

How Cyber Security and Managed IT Work Together

Although similar in nature, managed IT services and cybersecurity services are not the same thing.

While managed IT services are typically aimed at ensuring an organization's technology is functioning as intended, cybersecurity focuses on the reduction of security risk exposure.

In practice, the two areas are closely interlinked. For example, maintaining the patching of operating systems is an IT management responsibility, but it also plays a key role in reducing attack surfaces.

User account management is aimed at supporting productivity, but the tightening of privileges can also limit the impact and potential spread of a compromised account.

This integrated approach is useful given that many potential vulnerabilities may arise from regular technology management.

Why Businesses Need Both

While it is possible for businesses to choose to engage two different providers for their technology and security needs, there is no guarantee of close collaboration between the two, and it can also incur additional costs.

An integrated provider may provide

●        A better understanding of an organization's technology environment

●        An improved visibility of overall security posture

●        A faster identification of vulnerabilities

●        Streamlined response processes.

●        A unified approach to technology management

●        Consistent application of patching and access management

●        A single point of accountability

Australian government guidance also notes that organizations may not always have the internal capability or capacity to secure their technology infrastructure adequately. Accordingly, it has created cloud security suggestions to help put the Essential Eight in practice for companies operating in Microsoft 365.

How to pick a provider?

Businesses should look towards so much more than price when selecting their provider. They might also wish to ascertain if a supplier has a structured method for technology management and security.

Security capabilities

Businesses should ask a potential provider to outline its capabilities in relation to the assessment of vulnerabilities, threat detection, endpoint security management, and incident response management. An organization aiming for Essential Eight maturity should consider what kind of help the service provider will be able to provide in terms of helping assess and improve the organization's level of maturity.

Proactive IT management

Businesses should ensure the provider they select is not limited to a reactive support role. They may want to ask about the provider's processes around monitoring, patch management, backup management, device management, and ongoing technology performance reviews.

Clarity of responsibilities

In addition, firms should ensure their contracts and documentation with the vendor clearly state the technology systems and services that are the vendor's responsibility, the response time standards, and who is responsible for escalation.

Business continuity planning

Security is only part of a larger technology management strategy. Organizations should ensure the provider they select has an understanding of how an incident (or even system failure or human error) could impact the business's ability to function and has appropriate contingency planning or disaster recovery procedures in place. Additionally, organizations may want to ensure that their provider understands their requirements in relation to data retention and storage.

Australian compliance considerations

Companies‍‍‍ that handle personal data have a duty to know about their obligations under the privacy legislation. According to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, companies considered 'regulated' under the Privacy Act are required to make reasonable efforts to guard personal information, as well as report eligible data breaches to the regulator and the affected individual under the Notifiable Data Breaches ‍‍‍program.

Questions to Ask Before Signing a Contract

Before signing a contract, businesses may want to ask the following questions:

●        What systems and devices will you be managing?

●        How are you identifying and prioritizing security vulnerabilities?

●        How will you be supporting multi-factor authentication?

●        How often are backup systems tested?

●        How will security incidents be handled?

●        Are you able to assist with the Essential Eight assessment and improvement?

●        How are you monitoring systems outside of business hours?

●        How are responsibilities and response parameters documented?

By asking these questions, businesses can identify whether a provider is able to offer a truly comprehensive service or whether it will have to rely on a number of disparate offerings.

Building a More Resilient Approach to IT

When thinking about both IT management and cybersecurity services, remember that they are two forces in one. Reliable systems, access control, timely software updates, secure backups, and monitoring are all key to developing a robust technology environment.

Businesses can benefit from a consolidated solution that includes cybersecurity services as part of their managed IT services. The approach selected by an organization will likely depend on a number of factors, including the scale of the business, its technology environment, sector, and risk exposure.

Rather than focusing on feature comparisons, businesses should seek out a provider that has a thorough understanding of its environment, can demonstrate awareness of its risk exposure, and is committed to continuous improvement in the management of its technology environment.