Fueling MSP Cybersecurity From Within
The current cyber landscape has become sophisticated. Individuals, enterprises, and government organizations are all being targeted for their high-value data.
In addition, cybercriminals have been going after MSPs. Compromising a single MSP cybersecurity could open a powerful gateway that allows criminals to steal data from multiple businesses.
A managed services provider’s security is interconnected with their customer’s security. That said, if the former suffers a data breach, the latter will experience it too. This could result in:
Bad reputation: Some customers come to know MSPs through recommendations. If an MSP loses a client due to data compromise, this could affect referral efforts. Customers may even warn their colleagues to look for other providers instead.
Heavy costs: Restoring systems can use up a lot of time and resources. MSPs that experience a data breach need to pay compliance fines under certain industry regulations.
Losing customers: MSP cybersecurity that has been compromised could affect customer’s trust. Even if it’s caused by an uncontainable industry-wide cyberattack, some customers won’t understand it. Given the situation, they may not renew their contract with you.
How to Implement a Secure MSP Culture?
As an MSP, you need to put security on top your agenda. This means getting the right people, putting in place the right policies, and using the right tools. Here are some things to consider if you want to build a culture of security in your organization.
Practice the Basics
Ensure that you have top-notch MSP cybersecurity by practicing good cyber hygiene. You may use the following tools:
Patch management: Once cybercriminals discover a vulnerability, they can easily exploit it. Make sure to keep computers and software updated with the latest critical patches.
Backup: If your network is breached, you may not be able to support your customers well. You wouldn’t want to leave your customer dealing with a ransomware attack on their own. Backing up your data using a reliable cloud-based solution can ensure that you’ll have the data you need when you need them.
Endpoint protection: Traditional antivirus may not be able to detect new and emerging threats. With endpoint detection and response software, you’ll be able to spot and eliminate them before they wreak havoc in your network.
Email security: It only takes one wrong click of an employee to give away important user credentials. Make sure to keep your business protected using an additional email security solution designed to handle spam and other email threats.
Proper Hiring and Turnover
Even though you want to trust people around you, it’s hard to say if someone applying for the job has a malicious agenda. Conduct background checks, even those who are recommended by people you already know.
Meanwhile, when employees resign from the job, make sure to collect all devices and turn off their account access. You don’t want them logging in your system days after they left and stealing customer data.
BYOD and WFH Policies
Anything that uses corporate resources increase the risks of a data breach, so make sure any device connected to the network has adequate security protections in place. You might want to think about creating a separate wireless network for external devices.
In addition, consider how you'll set up your remote work policies. For instance, to access corporate resources from outside your network, you may require employees to sign in using VPN.
Encourage Staff to Mention MSP Cybersecurity Issues
With the number of tickets your IT team receives every day, some employees in organizations are hesitant to report IT issues they face. Positively encourage staff to speak up when they see any potential security issues. For example, if they receive an email that looks malicious, they should alert security admins to check on it.
Select Tools Wisely
Before software solutions are certified for corporate usage, many security teams try to vet them. Criminals could quickly get a footing in the organization due to poor development methods. If you're looking for an RMM, backup, or password management product for your company, find out as much as you can about the vendor's security policies.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, your MSP cybersecurity should be prioritized. After all, if you get breached, your customers will likely follow. This can significantly impact your business and may prompt you to close it down. Make sure to spend time and resources on your own security just like how you do it for clients.
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