Calling fellow Florida business owners! It’s time to cover a topic we’re sure is never far from your mind: cybersecurity.
Owing to developments in AI and ever pervasive relevance on tech, digital threats to businesses are growing more sophisticated by the day. And with that, the responsibility of keeping your business IT infrastructure and data safe is becoming more challenging and stressful.
It seems like every other day a news story about a data breach is being reported in the media, the repercussions of which are felt for many months, even years post event. Don’t deny it, stories like that have kept you up at night on more than a few occasions.
So with IT threats evolving at breakneck speed, how do you stay on top of your IT security whilst respecting your core daily business tasks – that are completely unrelated to IT?
The answer is, YOU don’t.
How can you possibly maintain top performance in your own discipline whilst keeping a handle on one of the fastest moving and sophisticated subject areas such as IT security?
Don’t even try, you’ll end up doing a half (and likely bad) job at both.
The answer, instead, is outsourcing your cybersecurity tasks – to actual experts.
Utilizing a managed IT service like Rapid IT is like having a team of digital superheroes by your side at all times.
But instead of Tony Stark, Steve Rodgers and Carole Danvers, it’s Isiah, Chris and Alex, watching over your network and IT infrastructure remotely, all day, everyday.
However, before we delve deeper into the benefits of managed (or outsourced) cybersecurity, let’s just talk a bit about what it actually is and means.
Understanding Managed Cybersecurity
First things first, what exactly is managed cybersecurity?
Imagine hiring an expert team whose sole focus is to protect your business from online threats. Whilst you go about your daily business, they are silently watching guard over your business network and devices.
While they might not be physically sat in your office with you, these professionals are on the clock 24/7, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity and jumping into action the moment they spot trouble
Unlike traditional in-house IT security, or the CEO managing the best he can himself, this outsourced team comes with all the bells and whistles: threat detection, incident response, compliance management, you name it. Covering all bases, including those you probably didn’t even know existed.
From identifying potential phishing schemes targeting employee mailboxes to guarding against sophisticated malware attacks designed to cripple operations, they keep your business world a safe place, so you don’t have to.
Benefits of Outsourcing Cybersecurity
So you now know what managed cybersecurity means, but what are its’ true benefits to businesses?
Expertise and Specialization
One of the biggest perks? Access to a pool of experts (geek/nerds/tekkies?) who eat, sleep, and breathe cybersecurity.
These peeps are up-to-date on all the latest threats and defense mechanisms surrounding cybersecurity, something most of us simply don’t have the bandwidth to keep up with. Plus, they’ve got a variety of specialized skills that can be hard to find (or afford) in individual employees.
It all means that you have the best possible people working for you on this critical task – which is how it should be with something as important as this.
Cost Efficiency
The second benefit relates to affordability. Outsourcing can actually save you a ton of money in the long run.
Building and maintaining an in-house IT team isn’t cheap, not to mention the investment needed for state-of-the-art security tools on top of everything else. Employing a Managed IT Services team is a much more cost effective solution to the problem, supplied as a predictable monthly expense.
Your fixed costs for the task go down dramatically and you can take out a subscription plan that suits your needs and budget without skimping on protection. Then, when you need to, you can scale your requirements as your business grows too. It’s win/win.
Scalability and Flexibility
We briefly touched upon this in the last paragraph. You know very well yourself that your business isn’t static, so neither should your cybersecurity strategy be.
Managed IT Providers can scale up or down services based on your needs at the time, adapting quickly to changes in your business or the threat landscape. Gone are the stresses of hiring and managing in-house IT staff. If you need to adapt the service to suit your new business developments, a quick phone call to your provider and a package upgrade can normally be arranged in an afternoon or less.
Proactive Threat Management
Ever heard the saying, “The best defense is a good offense”?
Managed cybersecurity teams live by this mantra, employing advanced tools and strategies to detect threats before they become full-blown disasters. Quite regularly managed IT service providers are batting away threats before they’ve even got out the blocks, so you, as a business owner, don’t even know about them.
This proactive approach can not only save you a lot of money but also the reputation you’ve worked hard to build.
Compliance and Risk Management
If you’re in an industry with strict regulatory requirements – such as healthcare, education and legal services – you know how tricky (and tedious) compliance can be.
Managed cybersecurity providers are well-experienced in the regulatory requirements of sensitive data sectors and can not only help ensure you’re protected, but also compliant.
Outsourcing a task like this means one less headache to worry about, and in today’s complex legal environment, that can be a big relief to many business owners.
Choosing the Right Managed Cybersecurity Partner
Alright, so you’re convinced that outsourcing is the way to go. Now, how do you pick the right partner?
First and foremost, look for providers in your local area that you can meet in-person. With a lot of services provided online nowadays, the thought of entrusting your company’s reputation to a faceless organisation can be daunting – especially if they are based out in Alaska or Hawaii, and you’re in Miami.
Rapid IT, for example, is based in Boca Raton, FL, and serves businesses across Palm Beach and Broward County (West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, FL etc),
We believe it’s important to work with clients who are close by so we can see them in person regularly and better understand their day-to-day challenges (and join them for lunch occasionally too).
Next you should ask them about their level of experience and the additional IT services they provide. A good IT support partner should be offering a range of data protection (backup and recovery) and Helpdesk IT services for the needs of small/medium sized businesses. A range portfolio of services that you can access from one supplier will likely save you tons of money in the long run.
You also want to know how their support is structured – what’s in the SLAs? How do you get hold of them in an emergency? Is the service 24/7? Etc.
And don’t be shy about asking for references or case studies too. After all, you’re entrusting them with the safety of your business, you want to make sure they’re doing a good job for others already.
Implementation and Ongoing Management
When you’ve chosen your new cybersecurity partner, service implementation is usually pretty straightforward.
Your new provider will start by assessing your current security posture, identify any gaps, and propose a plan of action. From there, daily tasks include verifying backup procedures, handling system updates (remotely and in person), installing and monitoring anti-virus software on networks and individual devices and continuously monitoring your network for compliance and efficiency.
Going forwards, the client/partner relationship is all about collaboration. Stay engaged, ask questions, and make sure you’re comfortable with the strategy they’ve outlined. Remember, to convey information about internal changes or team members you are adding to the business. As with all things in life, open communication is key to success.
Conclusion
So to all the local Floridian business owners out there, we cannot stress enough the importance of being proactive about cybersecurity.
The landscape is evolving rapidly, and the stakes are higher than ever. Outsourcing your cybersecurity can offer not just peace of mind but also a strategic advantage in this digital age. So, take a moment to assess your current setup and consider whether managed cybersecurity services could be the missing piece in your defense strategy. Your business (and your sanity) will thank you for it.
Remember, it’s not just about protecting your data; it’s about safeguarding your business’s future. And in a world where threats never sleep, having a team of dedicated experts on your side can make all the difference.
If you would like to learn more about cybersecurity and how best you can protect your business against the many threats it poses, talk to a Rapid IT solutions consultant today on 561-981-2575 or email support@rapiditservices.com.