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IS YOUR DATA SECURE? 8 BEST PRACTICES FOR VETTING CYBERSECURITY VENDORS

November 23, 2022
Like a wild bull, a cybersecurity breach will take your business for a wild
ride. Call in the experts before the rodeo ever starts.

An effective way to bolster your business’s data security is to work with a
Managed Service Provider (MSP) or I.T. Service Provider (ITSP). They address
network vulnerabilities to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting them.

Besides monitoring and organizing your servers, a Managed Service Provider (MSP)
or I.T. Service Provider (ITSP) plays a pivotal role in the cybersecurity
program of your business. They implement several strategies to shield your
network from attacks and protect your data. 

For instance, many providers use email authentication protocols to monitor your
server’s vulnerabilities. They can keep users from accidentally accessing
malicious websites by determining spam emails containing malware or viruses.
This results in enhanced system security. 

Another common practice is training your employees to ensure they follow the
highest security standards. This is especially important if you have remote team
members since there’s no way to keep track of their activities. To tackle this
issue, an MSP or ITSP teaches your staff how to operate safely to avoid harm to
your company’s infrastructure and reputation. 

On top of that, an MSP or ITSP can neutralize various threats due to their
proactive approach. They offer several tools such as firewalls and endpoint
detection to control the traffic and stave off cyberattacks. Also, they can
install antivirus software and email security to stop intrusion attempts. 

Needless to say, an MSP or ITSP can shield you from a wide array of
cybersecurity issues. But it’s vital to work with the right provider. 

To ensure this happens, you should look for and abide by the best practices for
an MSP or ITSP in the cybersecurity space. This article will examine what they
are. 


THE 8 BEST PRACTICES


PRACTICE #1 - ENFORCE MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (MFA)

Cybercriminals are becoming proficient at accessing your credentials, so it’s
critical to enable MFA for all your users. 

It consists of three elements: a password, security token, and biometric
verification. Consequently, if attackers breach one security layer, they’ll
still have to do a lot of digging to access your information.


PRACTICE #2 - MAKE PATCHING A PRIORITY

Application and operating system exploits are common. Hackers target them to
access your system and compromise your data, but you can prevent this through
regular patching. 

Making sure your system is up to date with the latest security standards
decreases the risk of exploitation. 


PRACTICE #3 - CONDUCT REGULAR CYBERSECURITY AUDITS

An MSP or ITSP must be aware of onboarding, offboarding, and lateral movements
within an organization. This warrants frequent cybersecurity audits to assess
the competency of your team. 

Many MSPs or ITSPs hire third-party companies to perform their security audits.
They can detect if a person who no longer needs access to the network still has
it. It’s something that can endanger the client’s information, especially if the
individual is a former employee. 

Conducting regular audits mitigates this risk. It enables an MSP or ITSP to
implement some of the most effective access privilege limitations: 

 * IP restrictions – These security measures ensure that only users who can
   access your local network can utilize remote administration tools. 
 * RMM software updates – Software vendors typically dispatch updates to fix
   vulnerabilities and patch numerous security gaps. 
 * RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) Security – This Windows native administration
   tool reduces the chances of ransomware attacks in your organization. 


PRACTICE #4 - HAVE AN OFF-SITE BACKUP

Backups are crucial for tackling malicious activities and ensuring operational
continuity after cyberattacks. 

They also help address whether the company and its clients can access the latest
version of their data and applications. This feature is vital for enterprises
that must adhere to compliance requirements, including PCI-DSS and HIPAA. 

But besides implementing on-site backups, your MSP or ITSP should also set up
off-site versions. If attackers compromise your RMM software, they can most
likely reach on-site backups, too. 

So, to avoid disasters, businesses should have an off-site backup accessible to
only a few people. It should also be offline for greater security. 


PRACTICE #5 - INCORPORATE LOG MONITORING

Log monitoring is analyzing your logs for potential glitches. As an MSP or ITSP
scrutinizes your records, they can detect traffic from harmful sources and
provide a clear idea of threat patterns. And over time, they can deploy
countermeasures to seal these gaps. 

For example, cybersecurity experts use reliable security information and event
management (SIEM) tools. They facilitate scanning through piles of information
to enable faster threat detection. 


PRACTICE #6 - LAUNCH PHISHING CAMPAIGNS

Phishing cybercriminals target your team members with emails or text messages,
posing as legitimate institutions to steal your data. Unfortunately, most
attacks succeed because of human error, meaning your MSP or ITSP should be aware
of and monitor employees’ behavior. 

Setting up fake phishing campaigns is a great way to test your team’s ability to
respond to phishing attacks. It allows you to pinpoint and improve inadequate
responses, bolstering data security. 


PRACTICE #7 - CHOOSE YOUR SOFTWARE CAREFULLY AND SECURE ENDPOINTS

From small browser plugins to large-scale business systems, be sure your
providers take data protection and cybersecurity seriously. Learn about their
commitment to these aspects before purchasing their application. 

Furthermore, employ web filtering tools, antivirus software, and email
authentication to fend off ransomware attacks through malicious emails. Ensure
each endpoint and your virus definition library are secure and up to date with
the latest standards. 


PRACTICE #8 - SET ALERTS AND DOCUMENT EVERYTHING

An MSP or ITSP that configures their systems to receive alerts upon system
changes can work proactively and tackle threats early on. Many platforms
automate this process through rules templates, personalization, and direct
tickets to the PSA. This eliminates manual digging, saving precious time. 

Another useful strategy is to document your cybersecurity information, such as
your defense mechanisms, emergency guidelines, and disaster recovery plans. You
should also review it regularly to help pre-empt cyberattacks. 


CYBERSECURITY IS PARAMOUNT

While digitalization has significantly streamlined your operations, it’s also
made you more susceptible to data theft. 

To ensure cybercriminals don’t get their hands on valuable information and ruin
your reputation, your MSP or ITSP needs to adopt well-established security
practices. 

But if your provider hasn’t introduced off-site backups, regular patches, and
employee training, you’re not getting your money’s worth. Hence, you may be
frustrated since your provider isn’t delivering the necessary results. 

This makes you a sitting duck for cybercriminals. You need to resolve the issue
as soon as possible. 

We can help you do so. Reach out to us for a quick 15-minute chat, and our tech
experts will do their best to show you a way out of your cybersecurity dead end.




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