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Defenders on Demand: Best Practices for Cybersecurity Outsourcing
Editor’s note: Dmitry reviews the key benefits of outsourcing cybersecurity and explains how to choose a good service provider. If you need a trusted partner to protect your company’s IT assets against cyber threats, don’t hesitate to contact ScienceSoft for our cybersecurity services.
Cybersecurity outsourcing refers to the practice of hiring third-party vendors or experts to handle various aspects of a company’s cybersecurity operations. This can cover a wide range of services, including managed security, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, incident response, compliance management, and cybersecurity consulting.
Key Reasons to Outsource Cybersecurity Services
Access to expertise. Cybersecurity service providers have the practical knowledge, skills, and experience to effectively address various cyber threats and vulnerabilities. By outsourcing, you can tap into their pool of competencies and benefit from access to the latest industry insights.
Smooth implementation of advanced techs. Cybersecurity providers know how to effectively deploy and manage the advanced software solutions used for security monitoring and incident prevention. Regular IT specialists aren’t proficient in these tools, but an experienced vendor can seamlessly integrate such complex software into your company’s security infrastructure and provide training for your internal team.
24/7 coverage. Cyber attacks are not limited to regular business hours; they can happen anytime. Many cybersecurity service providers offer around-the-clock monitoring and support, ensuring immediate and proactive response to potential incidents. 24/7 coverage helps mitigate security risks and significantly reduces the impact of cyberattacks.
Independent assessment. Outsourced cybersecurity auditors can provide an unbiased evaluation of your security posture. This outside perspective can help uncover security issues or weaknesses that have gone unnoticed internally. Moreover, it is considered a best practice to conduct regular independent audits of your infrastructure — it is a common requirement for compliance with global security standards such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
Flexibility. Outsourcing cybersecurity means you can get exactly the resources you need without going through the long and costly process of hiring and training an in-house cybersecurity team. As your organization grows, you can easily modify the scope of cybersecurity services or expand the talent pool you outsource.
Improved compliance. With a deep understanding of industry regulations and data protection laws, cybersecurity service providers can help ensure your company meets all necessary compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA, PCI DSS) and protect you from potential legal and financial consequences.
Reduced burden on internal teams. By outsourcing cybersecurity services, you can free up your in-house IT team’s time to let them focus on supporting your primary business operations.
Cybersecurity Outsourcing Best Practices
Clearly, outsourcing cybersecurity has both pros and cons. Common risks associated with hiring an incompetent vendor include communication issues, hidden costs, and, worst of all, security breaches due to overlooked vulnerabilities or inadequate security measures. To fully enjoy the benefits of outsourced services and avoid potential drawbacks, it's essential to carefully choose your cybersecurity partner. Here are a few tips.
Define your goals and requirements. Before outsourcing, clearly define your cybersecurity objectives, expectations, and requirements. This includes the scope of services, budget limits, reporting metrics, team members’ locations, etc. By approaching each vendor with clear conditions in mind, you’ll shortlist them quicker and be able to get precise quotes.
Check experience and reputation. Evaluate each provider’s expertise and ability to handle your target cybersecurity challenges. To see if they’re proficient in the service you’re looking for, look at their project portfolio and check client testimonials. If you operate in a highly regulated industry such as finance or healthcare, also check if they’ve had similar engagements in the past and have experience with your unique compliance requirements.
Look for a comprehensive service offering. Choose a provider offering a wide range of cybersecurity services (penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, incident response, security awareness training, etc.) to cover your cybersecurity needs. A vendor with a large pool of experts would be able to quickly provide additional resources if needed – say, to fix insecure code in your software or help with urgent incident response.
Check certifications and industry accreditations. Verify that the provider holds relevant certifications such as ISO 27001, CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), or other recognized industry credentials. These certifications validate their expertise and commitment to adhering to industry standards.
Ask for examples of deliverables. Having examples of the provider’s reports will help you check whether they meet your expectations, how thorough and detailed they are, and if they include actionable recommendations for improving your cybersecurity.
Evaluate communication. A good provider will also be a good communicator. The team should be transparent about its services, quickly answer your questions, use simple, non-technical language, and be proactive in learning about your needs. Another green flag is when the vendor is willing to adapt its SLAs and other procedures to your needs.
Build a Winning Partnership to Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Posture
Outsourcing cybersecurity allows businesses to tap into advanced security technologies, tools, and practices that may otherwise be impossible to implement in-house. If you are looking for a reliable partner with a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity services, feel free to contact ScienceSoft.