Digitalization has transformed the way we do business today – nearly everything is done on the network. As beneficial as it is, it has brought certain concerns to the business world as well. Namely, the issue of network security has been a „thorn in the eye“ of the companies who’re considering undergoing digital transformation.
Should you be outsourcing something as important as network security or should you hire your own experts from the get-go?
Here, we’ll discuss this topic in more detail by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing network security services, so keep on reading to learn more about it.
The pros
Cost-efficiency
Building your own cyber security system can be quite expensive. You won’t only have to pay for various types of hardware and software, but you’ll also need to employ an entire team of experts. You’d want someone who’s experienced to take care of your network security, which means you’ll need to provide them with a proper salary. If you’re running a small business, there’s a chance you won’t be able to afford this very soon. A lot of your finances are probably going towards improving and developing your products or services – employing one to three IT experts is probably out of the reach for your current budget.
Professional network security services usually have plans that are suitable for smaller companies like yours. Make sure you do your research until you’ve found something that suits your needs and your budget – it’s out there somewhere!
Constant support and protection.
Cybercriminals don’t have office hours – they can attack at any time from any corner of the world. Professional network security services are fully aware of this – they can provide you with 24/7 protection and support for your business needs. As long as a potential issue arises, they’ll be there to deal with it before it leads to a breach or worse.
It’s something you can’t expect from an in-house team – unless you hire someone to cover night shifts as well (which is, again, extremely expensive). So, all things considered, the 24/7 access to support and protection is probably one of the biggest advantages of outsourcing network security services.
Positively affects your image and trustworthiness.
Working with a reliable network security management agency shows your future customers and partners that you take care of your sensitive data. Companies from the public sector are more likely to hire you if you have a cyber security system in place – it’s a big competitive advantage, especially for smaller businesses!
Either way, outsourcing these services can help you build your reputation as a company that cares about cyber security. This promotes business growth, which is crucial for a company in development.
Saves time and provides expert assistance.
Building your own cyber security team is not just costly, it’s also quite time-consuming. If you’re a small business owner, time is probably a limited resource for you. So, instead of pouring your energy into finding the right solution for your business, you can simply ask the industry experts to do it for you!
If you’re interested in learning more about managed network security services, you can do so at ConsoleConnect.
The cons
Not all network security companies are reliable.
Cyber security is a vast industry – there are many companies offering these types of services. Unfortunately, not all of them can provide you with everything you need. You have to do your research before you pick a cyber security provider you’d want to work with – this process can take a bit of your time.
Making the mistake of choosing an untrustworthy security service can cost you your entire business. Be extremely careful about it.
You’ll have no control over your security system.
Putting something as important as cyber security in the hands of strangers can be quite daunting. This especially goes if your company handles sensitive data – even the smallest of breaches can completely ruin your reputation. As you can probably guess, this is not something every company will deem acceptable. You won’t have any control over the network security protocols in your company – the safety of your most valuable data will be in someone else’s hands.
Managed network security services work with many companies at the same time.
Even though most cyber security companies offer 24/7 support, you won’t always be their first priority. They manage dozens of other networks apart from yours. So, if you have a question or a concern that’s not incredibly urgent, sometimes they’ll take a while to respond to your request.
If your industry requires you to be on top of things when it comes to cyber security, this could be a deal-breaker for you. Make sure you inquire about their responsiveness and customer support system before you decide to hire them.
You’ll still need an in-house expert in most cases.
If you’re serious about keeping your confidential data secure in the future, you can’t rely solely on MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers), especially if they’re based remotely. You’ll still need someone who can coordinate with them and who can ensure everything’s going as smoothly as it should be – your in-house IT expert.
All of this can be seen as a slight disadvantage to some who’re planning on outsourcing their data security services to save money. However, having a single expert on your team is much cheaper than having to hire multiple cyber security professionals for your business – the cost-efficiency aspect of it all still stands.
The bottom line
All in all, outsourcing network security services comes with its pros and cons. In this article, we’ve briefly analyzed some of them to help you make the best decision for your company – no matter if you’re a small business owner or you’re running a bigger operation. There’s an option out there for everyone!
With that being said, we hope you found our article to be useful and we wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.