We have talked numerous times about our clients’ cybersecurity and how important it is to ensure that your systems are secure. However, we want to stress that it is just as important for your Managed Service Providers and IT Vendors to have robust cyber defenses themselves. Just think about it; your MSP’s and vendors are the ones providing you the service, and often they have access to a variety of personal and sensitive information that could be compromised should they experience a breach.
Today, most businesses are interconnected in a web of IT providers, software vendors, and cloud services. Think of it like a giant digital domino set; if one falls, the rest are at serious risk of falling as well.
When Security Takes a Holiday
So, what exactly happens if an MSP or IT vendor decides to skimp on their own security measures?
The most obvious consequence is a data breach. If an MSP’s systems are compromised, all the sensitive data they manage for their clients, from financial records to customer information and intellectual property, is at risk.
In addition, cyberattacks such as ransomware can bring operations to a grinding halt. This means your MSP will not be able to manage your environment, offer support, or provide critical services, which in turn creates downtime for your business.
The outcomes of these consequences fall on a business’s reputation as well as their finances. Think about it: would you do business with an MSP or vendor who is known for having security incidents? Probably not, and most other businesses probably wouldn’t either. Along with this, fines, lawsuits, incident response costs, forensic investigations, system remediations, and even ransom payments are all some of the costs that can come out of a security breach, which can be enough to sink even a well-established company.
What to Look for in Your MSP
You will want to ensure that your future MSP has a clear, documented cybersecurity strategy that adheres to recognized industry frameworks. But what exactly does this look like?
Proactive Threat Management
A secure MSP will be actively monitoring for threats 24/7. They will also perform regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing on their own systems, as well as implementing robust endpoint detection and response, and security and event management.
Strong Identity and Access Management
One of the MOST important things to look for when shopping for an MSP or vendor is whether they enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for ALL their internal accounts, especially those with privileged access. You also want to make sure they practice the principle of least privilege, meaning that employees only have access to what they absolutely need.
Incident Response and Disaster Recovery Plans
No matter how cybersecure a business is, accidents and breaches can still happen. Therefor, it is important to know what your MSP’s plan is if they do suffer a breach. Do they have a tested incident response plan to contain, eradicate, and recover, as well as disaster recovery for their own critical systems?
Employee Training and Awareness
One of the biggest factors in having a security breach lies in human error. Because of this, you want to make sure that your MSP’s and vendors regularly train their own staff on cybersecurity best practices, and that their employees can adapt to changing cybersecurity trends.
Data Encryption and Backup Solutions
The way that a company protects its own data is a pretty good reflection of how they’re going to protect your data. You want to make sure that your MSP or vendor uses encryption for data both at rest and in transit, as well as following the 3-2-1 backup rule: Three copies of data, on two different media, with one copy off-site and isolated.
Third-Party Risk Management
Lastly, make sure your MSP vets their own vendors. You want a business that has also assessed the cybersecurity posture of the tools and services they use to deliver services to you.
Cybercrime is constantly evolving and innovating, which means that MSP’s and IT vendors should also be evolving and innovating to stay ahead. For MSP’s and IT vendors, cybersecurity isn’t just another service offering; it’s the foundation of our business and more importantly, the foundation of your trust. When we prioritize our own security, we’re not just protecting ourselves; we’re protecting you, your data, and your business continuity.
