Today’s businesses rely on connected systems, cloud applications, employee devices, and digital data every day. That convenience also opens the door to more security concerns. One suspicious login, one compromised endpoint, one overlooked vulnerability can become a serious business concern if not identified and addressed quickly. That’s why managed cybersecurity services can be a key part of a company’s technology strategy. Rather than viewing security as a periodic task, organizations may utilize continuous surveillance, threat detection, response planning, and security expertise to deliver superior ongoing protection.
What are managed cyber security services?
Managed cybersecurity services are when a company receives ongoing security monitoring and protection from a technology vendor that specializes in this space. Rather than rely on staff to notice any suspicious activity, a business can have security professionals and dedicated tools constantly monitoring their environment. Depending on the provider and the requirements of the business, services can include security monitoring, endpoint detection and response, threat hunting, incident response, vulnerability management, control of access, and compliance support.
The goal isn’t just to install security software. In a managed approach technology, monitoring, investigation and response are put together so that potential security events can be detected and handled as part of an organized process.
The Importance of Continuous Security Monitoring
Cybersecurity doesn’t happen on your schedule. Suspicious activity can occur during business hours, overnight, on weekends, or while employees are working remotely.
This makes ongoing surveillance an invaluable instrument for organizations heavily dependent on technology. Security monitoring can detect abnormal activity, suspicious connections, compromised accounts, and other indicators that require investigation. Without ongoing visibility, an organization may not be aware that something out of the ordinary is happening until it has already impacted users or business systems.
RRG Networks says it offers 24/7 security monitoring for businesses in South Florida, and its team responds when an alert fires. Its managed cybersecurity product offers monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and compliance.
What is a Security Alert?
A security alert does not necessarily mean a major cyberattack against a business. Security systems can generate alarms for many different reasons, and each event needs to be investigated. A security team may look at the source of the activity, what devices were impacted, user accounts, system behavior, and any other information they have. The event could be classified as a normal activity, a possible threat, or an incident that requires further action depending on the investigation. This investigative process is important because businesses want more than just a notification. They want to know what happened, and what to do about it.
RRG Networks provides incident response as part of its managed cybersecurity service, detailing how it reacts when an alert triggers.
Securing Endpoints Across the Business
Computers, laptops, servers and other connected devices of employees can be critical entry points for attacks. Endpoint security enables businesses to monitor and protect these devices. Endpoint detection and response tools can provide visibility into activity on devices and help security teams investigate suspicious behavior. An alert may be triggered, for example, by unusual processes, software activity that comes as a surprise, or other abnormal behavior. Security experts may then look into the event and decide whether any further action is required.
Endpoint protection is especially important for companies with employees working in multiple locations, as devices may be connecting to company resources across different networks and environments.
Threat Hunting Is More Than Waiting for Alerts
Traditional security monitoring is often alert-centric – alerts generated by security tools. Threat hunting is more proactive, looking for signs of suspicious activity that may not have generated an obvious alert.
Security experts can look for potential threats by analyzing patterns, system behavior, and other information available. This can be useful because not all security problems manifest precisely the same way. There are likely to be many security controls operating across a business environment, and analyzing information from these systems can provide a broader view.
According to the company, RRG Networks’ Managed Cybersecurity Services are aligned to the MITER ATT&CK framework and include threat hunting.
Incident Response Needs Clear Process
A security incident is already a difficult situation. Confusion can make it worse. Employees may not know who to contact, what systems need to be isolated, or what information needs to be preserved. Having a defined incident response process allows for a structured response to security events. Response activities may include investigating the incident, containing affected systems, identifying the source of the problem, removing malicious activity, and supporting recovery, as appropriate to the situation. The exact response will depend on the nature and severity of the incident. A ransomware event, a compromised account, and suspicious endpoint activity may require different actions.
Having an established response capability in place before an incident occurs can help businesses avoid making critical decisions in a vacuum.
Why Security and IT Support Aren’t the Same
Some companies mistakenly think that IT support includes cybersecurity. The two areas cooperate closely but have different responsibilities. IT support typically is about keeping technology up and running. This can include helping employees with applications, devices, networks, accounts, cloud services, and other technology needs. Cybersecurity is the protection of systems and information from threats. Security monitoring, threat detection, incident response, endpoint security, and security investigations each require a different set of tools and processes.
RRG Networks also offers managed IT and cybersecurity services, allowing companies to meet day-to-day technology management and security requirements through the company’s broader technology services.
When to Use Managed Security Services
As the technology environment becomes too complex to monitor effectively with available internal resources, businesses may start to explore managed security services.
Growth can mean more devices, applications, cloud services, users, locations, and data. Each new component may generate a new area that requires proper security controls and visibility. Smaller businesses may also suffer from the lack of dedicated, around-the-clock cybersecurity professionals. A managed security provider can augment an internal team with monitoring, specialized expertise and proven security processes.
Meet compliance requirements
Cybersecurity is also related to regulatory and contractual requirements. Depending on the industry, organizations may be required to show they have the right security controls and processes in place. For example, healthcare organizations may have HIPAA requirements, and educational organizations might have FERPA considerations. Aerospace organizations may have ITAR, EAR, FAA Part 145, AS9110 or other industry specific requirements.
RRG Networks provides compliance support as one of its technology services and supports organizations in the healthcare, aerospace MRO and K-12 industries. Security is not compliance. But good security can help an organization achieve its compliance goals.
Cloud Security
Today’s business operations depend heavily on cloud applications. Employees can use Microsoft 365, cloud storage, business applications, and other online platforms to communicate and collaborate. Security management is still required for cloud environments. You will need to address user permissions, account security, authentication, data access, and configuration. Businesses need to know who can access sensitive information and whether the permissions match their roles. Reviews can identify unnecessary access and configuration problems.
Greater visibility into the organization’s security environment is a benefit of a managed cybersecurity approach, which can also support broader cloud and IT management efforts.
Security Awareness Still Counts
Technology can’t address all cybersecurity risks. Employees interact with email, websites, applications, documents, and business systems on a daily basis, so security awareness is still an important part of an organization’s overall approach. Employees should be able to recognize suspicious messages, safeguard account credentials, manage sensitive information, and report strange activity. Security policies have to be clear enough for employees to use them in everyday situations. Employees who know what is expected of them become a vital part of the organization’s security process.
Picking a Managed Cybersecurity Provider
Choosing a cybersecurity vendor is not simply about checking off a list of tools. Companies need to develop a good understanding of how the provider monitors, investigates, and responds to security events.
Good questions to ask include:
- Do you have 24/7 security monitoring?
- How fast are alerts investigated?
- Provides a response to a security event:
- Is incident response part of it?
- Does the vendor offer Endpoint Detection and Response?
- Can you hunt for threats?
- How do you report security incidents to the business?
- Does the provider support compliance requirements for specific industries?
- How does the provider collaborate with an existing IT team?
- What if something serious happens?
Grasping these areas can assist businesses in determining whether a cybersecurity service will work for their environment and operational needs.
Why Every South Florida Business Should Have a Realistic Security Plan
South Florida businesses are operating in a technology environment with remote employees, cloud applications, multiple offices, connected devices, and industry-specific systems. It is essential to point out that a cybersecurity strategy must be based on the actual technology landscape of the organization, not just a generic checklist. RRG Networks is proud to service South Florida businesses like Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. It provides a blend of managed IT, cybersecurity, compliance, AI, and professional IT services to assist companies with various technology needs.
This more encompassing approach can help businesses address security, and the systems and infrastructure security are designed to protect.
Building a More Resilient Security Environment
Cybersecurity isn’t a one-and-done project. Technology changes, business changes, and threats change.
When a company grows its number of employees, deploys new cloud applications, opens a new office, or changes its infrastructure, it might need to reconsider its security strategy accordingly.
Continuous surveillance, regular security assessments, employee awareness, incident response planning, and the implementation of appropriate technology controls can help build a more resilient environment.
Managed cybersecurity offers businesses continual security expertise and monitoring without the necessity for each company to develop a large security operation in-house.
Summary
Security isn’t about installing security software and hoping it catches everything. Businesses require visibility, monitoring, investigation, response capabilities, and security practices that evolve along with their technology environment.
Managed cybersecurity services give organizations a more structured framework for protecting systems, users, and business data. With ongoing monitoring and a process for response, organizations will be better positioned to investigate suspicious activity and manage security events.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are Managed Cyber Security Services?
Managed cybersecurity services are a dedicated cybersecurity provider that provides continuous security monitoring, threat detection, investigation, and response. Services can also comprise endpoint protection, threat of hunting and compliance support.
- Why is Cyber Security Monitoring 24/7 Important?
Security incidents can occur at any time. 24/7 monitoring means you’ll have ongoing visibility and potential security alerts that can be investigated outside of business hours.
- What is Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)?
Endpoint detection and response are a security capability that monitors endpoint activity and assists in identifying and investigating suspicious behavior on devices like computers and servers.
- Are Managed Cybersecurity Services Right for Small Business?
They can be. Managed cybersecurity services provide small and growing businesses with security monitoring and specialized expertise, without the need to build a large internal cybersecurity team.
- How can managed cybersecurity help with compliance?
Managed cybersecurity can help organizations maintain the security controls, monitoring, response processes, and documentation necessary to comply with applicable requirements. Compliance obligations can be very specific to an industry or organization.
