Small businesses may think they won’t be targeted by cybercriminals, but they would be wrong.
With the increase in the number of cyberattacks, chances are that small and medium businesses (SMBs) will suffer their share of attacks. According to the IT Governance USA Data Breaches and Cyber Attacks – USA Report 2024, 6.8 million known records were breached in more than 2,700 publicly disclosed incidents within a 5-month period.
Hackers that use ransomware, one of the most popular attack vectors, sometimes target SMBs because they think smaller businesses are more likely to pay a small ransom than to shell out the big bucks for remediation. During December of 2023 and February of 2024, ransomware accounted for approximately 50% of cyberattacks.
To combat today’s advanced and pervasive threats, small businesses need to use managed security services to strengthen their cybersecurity.
Why Small Businesses Need Managed Cybersecurity Services
Some small businesses worry that working with a managed security service provider (MSSP) means they are putting their IT staff out of work. However, managed security services are designed to augment internal IT resources, not replace them.
Small businesses need managed cybersecurity services because they may not have the budget to hire security experts or staff a security operation center (SOC) to monitor the network 24/7. SMBs tend to be hit hard by the overall cybersecurity skills gap and can benefit from the deep bench of experts at an MSSP.
What Are Managed Security Services?
Managed security services are a way to outsource your small business’s cybersecurity processes to a third party. With managed security services, SMBs can get help with everything from monitoring and security management to developing a security strategy.
The types of managed security services offered vary from MSSP to MSSP, but typically they are offered at a monthly rate, and your company can choose from a wide range of services. The MSSP may also provide security assessments to find and bridge gaps in your strategy.
Managed security services help small businesses develop proactive and comprehensive approaches to security, as well as take advantage of SOC capabilities.
Some of the key components of managed security services are:
Network Security for monitoring and protecting network traffic
Endpoint Security to secure devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, and IoT devices
Data Security to ensure data integrity and confidentiality
Compliance Management for keeping up with regulatory requirements regarding authorized access
Benefits of Managed Security Services for Small Businesses
Managed security services have many benefits for small businesses. Some of the key advantages of working with an MSSP when you are an SMB are:
Getting help developing a comprehensive security strategy
Working with the latest security tools
Accessing cybersecurity services at an affordable rate
Gaining cybersecurity expertise without paying the salary of a full-time hire
Leveraging SOC capabilities
Uncovering security blind spots
When small businesses work with an MSSP, their IT staff can focus on the core business instead of routine monitoring. Continuous monitoring enables SMBs to manage threats proactively instead of reactively.
How to Choose the Right Managed Security Service Provider for Your Small Business
When you look for a managed security service provider for your small business, choose one with a proven track record of working with companies like yours. Evaluate the provider’s customer support and response times and watch out for red flags, such as hidden costs and an overall lack of transparency.
Pegasus Technology Solutions is a trusted partner, providing enterprise-level Managed Security Services for small businesses in a range of key industries. Our Managed Security Services Include:
Network Inspection
Log Analysis & Search
Advanced Threat Detection
Cloud Security
24x7 Monitoring
Managed Containment
Endpoint Visibility
Incident Response
We can also conduct security assessments and develop a custom security strategy that fills any gaps.
Find out what managed security services can do to protect your small business. Ask for a proposal for managed IT services from Pegasus.
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