What are managed cloud security services?
6/12/2019
Have you thought about the pros and cons of managed services? Is it right for your company?
Internet technology and security are paramount to the success of any business. From retail to IT-specific companies, an in-depth understanding of everything from HTML to computer programs is a must. Yet, IT capabilities and security are changing all the time. Many business owners are finding that they’re better off outsourcing services like computer programming and security rather than trying to keep up in-house.
A failure to adequately stay updated on all things IT leaves companies at risk of both security breaches and a lack of relevance. Malware and loss of data are events companies can’t afford to face. You can protect your business with a reliable outsourced managed security service provider (MSSP).
What are Managed Services?
Managed services refer to the practice of outsourcing specific business functions or IT operations, such as cybersecurity, to a third-party service. This provider takes responsibility for the maintenance and management of those functions on behalf of the client organization.
Managed services can cover a wide range of functions, including network and security management, data backup and recovery, cloud computing, and application development and support.
Typically, organizations use managed services to reduce the burden of managing complex IT operations and to improve their overall operational efficiency. By outsourcing certain functions to specialized service providers, organizations can focus on their core business objectives, reduce their IT costs, and benefit from the expertise and scalability of the service provider.
Of course, letting go of any aspect of a business can be tricky. There are pros and cons to managed services. Let’s review some of them so you can make the best decision for your business needs.
PROS of Managed Services
Many companies are currently using outsourced MSSP providers and there are plenty of significant plus-points including:
Significant savings
Many businesses significantly underestimate their budget for properly managing IT and security. Hiring skilled IT specialists in-house is expensive. Plus, the work of such professionals doesn’t always lead directly to profits. You also need to consider in-house IT expenses updating technologies, malware detection equipment, and new programs.
Employers and software are just two reasons why outsourcing can save you significant money. For cybersecurity alone, outsourcing can save you upwards of 80% of the cost of doing it in-house. The majority of MSPs also have easy access to the latest technologies at no added cost to you. All you’d need to do is pay a set monthly fee and enjoy the benefits.
Wide-ranging expertise
In-house IT teams may have limited expertise and also require ongoing training and education to stay on top of emerging cyber attack threats and compliance laws. This is not something you’d need to worry about when outsourcing your cyber security.
Outsourced MSPs typically hire an extensive array of professionals to meet every need. Ongoing and training and education is always happening because that is what they are in business to provide. Outsourced providers can afford a much fuller range of expertise, no matter what happens in your IT operations.
Immediate implementation
Speed is crucial when it comes to cybersecurity. The installation of new programs or technologies can take weeks when you tackle them in-house. At the very least, saving up for the latest programs could take time. Implementation requires training and updates can lead to downtime and security weaknesses.
By comparison, an MSP can implement new procedures and programs immediately. Outsourced services are already trained and up to speed with the tools and techniques they use. They focus on this alone rather than trying to fit it in with every other task during the working day. As simple as that, you can cut wait times for new technologies in half.
We’ll help explain the services we offer and how they can be customized to your exact needs.
CONS of Managed Services
Many companies do find that there are some cons to using an MSP, including:
The loss of a dedicated IT team
Your dedicated IT team knows the nuances and priorities of your particular business. An outsourced managed service will never know your business as well as you and your employees do. However, since cyber security is so important and ever-changing, your in-house team might not have the resources to solely dedicate all their time to it. If you decided to go with a managed service, be sure to hire a company who is interested in working with your existing IT team. They will act as an extension of your team, not a replacement of them.
Potential limitations
When you manage your own IT, your team is always aware of new challenges and services you are adding, such as overseas online business. However, a good managed service will maintain regular communication with you and stay informed of any changes and updates to your business. If they don’t have the resources to handle a new service they should let you know and work with you to cover your needs. Good communication is vital to any working relationship.
Lack of flexibility
Will the managed service that you choose be flexible in working within the parameters of your IT procedures and technologies? Typically, an in-house IT team will test out a few different programs and options before choosing one. Is your managed service willing to try new things or work with your IT team to test different things? Or are they so rigid that they will only do things their way?
This goes back to how well your managed service team will work with your in-house team to provide a comprehensive security solution. These are questions worth asking each managed service provider you are considering.
Should you use a managed service provider?
After seeing both the pros and cons of outsourcing, it is apparent that thoroughly researching companies and asking a lot of questions is important. You want the best communication and smooth working relationship possible. If you do your best to find an MSP which operates within your needs and priorities, then you may find that you can enjoy the benefits without once having to worry about the cons.
BitLyft aims to provide you with a simple no-nonsense solution to keep your business safe from online threats. If you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today to speak to one of our friendly representatives.
