In the first half of 2018, over 4.5 billion records were compromised. Every industry is susceptible to a data breach. Further, small businesses are like low-hanging fruit for cyber criminals. For every organization, cyber security services have become a priority but many struggle how to reduce the risk with limited resources and budgets. However, a managed IT services partner can dramatically reduce the potential for a significant breach while offering cost-effective security aligned with your organizational needs.

So then, why are some companies still relying on one or two freelancers for their cyber security? Perhaps they believe it will cut down on IT and labor costs. Unfortunately, there are risks involved with selecting a lone freelancer over a managed IT services vendor that has the staff, expertise, training, certifications, and offers the latest technologies to monitor your cyber security effectively. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of working with a managed IT services company for your cyber security services instead of a freelancer.

Receive regular assessments

Over time, vulnerabilities will occur within your IT infrastructure. Similar to a home, it needs ongoing health checks and maintenance. By outsourcing your cyber security services, you get access to an expert team who will conduct regular assessments designed to identify weaknesses within your systems. Without an adequate assessment, it’s difficult to determine the shortcomings. After an initial assessment, vulnerability scans are deployed regularly to ensure a proactive cyber security protocol.

Monitor and secure networks

Many organizations already have firewalls to secure their networks, but this is just one of many steps that are necessary for comprehensive protection. Ongoing monitoring is also a necessity in this day and age. Other critical aspects include: Malware protection: A managed cyber security services team will have the latest software and security tools to prevent and mitigate malware. Real-time alerts: A managed IT service partner will offer real-time alerts depicting hardware and software health. Endpoint protection: Every access point to your network is secure.

Ensure compliance

Every industry faces an increase in local, state, and federal regulations. Meeting compliance standards is a full time job and then some. Yet, many companies struggle to do so without proper training or staff in-house. On the other hand, a managed cyber security services partner understands how to maintain a compliant infrastructure while having the expertise and experience to implement IT compliance.

Access to experts and skilled staff

For many businesses, there is one IT director on site considered the organization’s genius. Everyone within the company turns to the “computer whiz” for any technology-related issue. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in a day with more fires to address than one person can handle. In contrast, a managed IT services team provides high-quality support 24/7.

Enhance backup and recovery services

Depending on the size of your business, and industry, the cost of downtime is astronomical. Costs are also associated with loss of consumer trust and the possibility of a public relations disaster. In addition, data loss can lead to a security breach and hefty fines for noncompliance. But, managed services provide offsite storage for all of your data which ensures quick accessibility even if an on-premise server crashes or a natural disaster occurs.

Improve email monitoring

Emails are still a massive component of how a business communicates with the world, and an average team member may receive hundreds of emails each week. Unfortunately, some of those emails will contain malware and are part of phishing campaigns. Managed IT services offer sophisticated tools to monitor for spam and phishing. They also provide spam filtering, archiving, and email encryption.

24/7 Support

If every aspect of your business operates in the digital space, you will need 24/7 support. Nonetheless, your IT team will have to take breaks and have an end to their workday. But, Managed IT services offers a team of experts available 24/7 to help when anything suspicious occurs. Waiting on an issue until the next day can mean the difference between resolving a problem expeditiously or suffering a serious data breach.

Cost control

When you examine IT costs, they are both fixed and variable. At times, it’s not easy to budget for contingencies. As a result, you might have to adjust allocations and put off essential needs. Yet, when you partner with a managed IT services company, you can rely on a predictable monthly billing structure where you only pay for what you use. Therefore, budgeting is straightforward and you can add more services when warranted.

Another component of IT costs is human labor. Instead of paying a team to stick around in case of an emergency, you can depend on your managed services team to be there when you need them. It’s a consistent investment that you pay monthly and costs less than retaining a large in-house team who may not work full-time unless there is an emergency. Moreover, it’s not just a reduction in salary costs but you also save on paid time off, personal days, health insurance, life insurance, and more.

Certified and experienced support team

If you have an in-house team, then you realize that ongoing training and certifications also costs money. Further, some staff are experts in one niche and don’t have time to learn much else. But, when you hire a managed IT services team, you don’t have to pay for continuing education. They already have the experience, background, and certifications to offer well-rounded support. All of this is covered in the monthly billing plan.

Implement the latest technologies

Another perk is access to the latest technologies. A freelancer may have access to one or two technologies, but they can’t compare to an entire team of experts who have multiple certifications and experience with all the latest technological developments. Additionally, your managed IT cyber security services partner can assess your current infrastructure and offer digital guidance around the best tech stack for your business. An infrastructure that aligns with your company’s objectives.

Reliability

Putting all your eggs in one basket is risky. If you work with one or two freelancers instead of a managed IT services team, they might not have the capacity to offer 24/7 support. What if your freelancers get hired by another organization that offers higher pay? In this case, it would make more sense to hire a team of experts.

Set priorities

Some freelancers only want to work part-time for many reasons. Some are retired and do not need to work full-time. Others could be stay-at-home parents who only need a part-time salary. The reasons are endless. Nonetheless, you may never know why your projects are not their main priority. In contrast, a managed IT cyber security services company is invested in your success because this is what they do as a business model.

With managed cyber security services from SSI, you can relax and focus on what you do best while our team of experts ensures your network and data are protected. Are you ready to learn more? Contact us today!