Finding the right cybersecurity solution that fits your business

Finding the right cybersecurity solution that fits your business

From COVID-themed phishing scams to highly sophisticated ransomware attacks, businesses have had their hands full with cybersecurity this year. And it doesn’t help that the cybersecurity landscape is constantly changing and grows more confusing by the minute, either.

One major source of confusion is figuring out what the best security solutions are for your company. There’s no shortage of security products on the market, and given the plethora of providers and vendors offering them, it’s easy for any company — whether they be in Kansas or Oklahoma — to make the wrong cybersecurity investment. Purchasing a subpar solution is the fastest way to a security incident comparable to the major data breaches that have made the headlines.

To avoid this predicament, you need a more methodical approach to finding the right cybersecurity solutions for your business. We’ve compiled a few tips that will help you do just that.

1. Understand your security vulnerabilities

To make informed decisions about your cybersecurity investments, you must be fully aware of your company’s weaknesses before signing any contracts. For all you know, you may have powerful malware defenses already in place, but don’t have sufficient protections against network intrusion and internal attacks.

Vulnerability assessments from an objective managed IT services provider (MSP) will give you valuable insight into your infrastructure’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to threats. Whatever your biggest threat may be, top-notch MSPs compile reports on your company’s risk exposure and provide suggestions on how to best minimize them.

Summit Advisors, in particular, will fully assess the source, motivation, and likelihood of various attacks so you know how to improve your company’s overall security. If your business is vulnerable to phishing scams, for instance, we’ll recommend email filtering solutions and a customized security awareness training program.

2. Consider industry-specific needs

Many industries that manage personally identifiable information are governed by a specific set of regulations regarding data management and privacy. Healthcare organizations, for example, must comply with HIPAA rules, which are concerned with ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health information. They accomplish this by implementing specialized solutions like end-to-end encryption, strict access restrictions, multifactor authentication, and secure off-site backups.

Meanwhile, companies who manage financial information must abide by state financial data privacy laws, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and PCI-DSS, and those who do business with European clients are subjected to the EU’s GDPR.

Any cybersecurity vendor you interact with should be familiar with these compliance regulations and know the solutions necessary to achieve and maintain compliance. The easiest way to find these partners is by looking at their customer portfolios and case studies. Generally, if they have years of experience working with similar companies in your industry, they’re in a good position to serve your business.

3. Opt for a robust security framework

There’s no single product designed to defend against every conceivable threat. You should have access to a wide selection of security solutions that allow you to protect your business from various threats. Crucial security solutions to consider include:

  • Next-generation firewalls
  • Advanced threat protection
  • Email filtering
  • Anti-malware software
  • Endpoint protection
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Cloud backups

In addition to these protections, you need internal security measures to address the risks that employees may inadvertently (or deliberately) cause. Identity and access management tools not only make it difficult for cybercriminals to hack into accounts, but they also prevent rogue employees from abusing their access privileges and tampering with sensitive information.

More importantly, security training solutions like KnowBe4 allow you to simulate phishing attacks and help employees develop good security habits so they’re no longer a liability.

It's a good idea to review how each of these solutions fit into your company’s IT infrastructure. With the help of an MSP’s vulnerability assessments, you’ll be able to determine which solutions are best for customizing a strong security framework.

4. Select a reputable and experienced security partner

Cybersecurity companies will assure you that they only employ the most talented experts, but don’t just take their claims at face value. Make sure to investigate their team’s capabilities.

Checking reviews on websites like Google My Business, Better Business Bureau, and even Glassdoor is a great place to start. It gives you an idea of how a particular security company operates and how they manage their clients’ problems, so you know what you’re getting into.

The most reliable providers will also have recognized qualifications like CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Security Manager, and ethical hacking and forensic investigation certifications. Notable awards in the IT industry and a detailed record of past security incidents they’ve addressed are also great indicators of a trustworthy security partner.

Ask these six questions when looking for a cybersecurity partner.

Ask these six questions when looking for a cybersecurity partner.

5. Beware of third-party security risks

Entrusting the safety of your systems and data to a third-party can leave you open to significant risks if their own cybersecurity standards are subpar. Cybercriminals can infiltrate your partner’s servers to gain administrative privileges, giving them unfettered access to your data. If this happens, you’re just as guilty for the breach as your partner is.

It’s therefore important to know how a security provider manages client data before partnering with them. This involves asking what network and data the provider will have access to, who is responsible for looking after your assets, and the level of protection they employ.

The best security providers will also guarantee your company’s security with 24/7 network monitoring, full data redundancy with cloud backups, and highly secure servers.

Selecting cybersecurity solutions can be a daunting task, but an experienced MSP like Summit Advisors can simplify the process for you. We’ll conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to figure out what solutions you need and use our connections with cybersecurity leaders to help you deploy a strong cybersecurity framework. Consult with our experts today to keep your systems, data, and business out of harm’s way.


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