Why Engage a Managed IT Company to Improve Your Cyber Security Posture?

A cyber attack can have devastating consequences, causing significant financial losses and damaging your company’s reputation. Cyber security risks are becoming direr, with phishing attacks increasing in sophistication, ransomware attacks regularly making news headlines, and network security becoming a risk as people work remotely. Yet, as the dangers increase, talent is becoming harder to acquire.For these reasons, it is critical to have robust cyber security protections in place to secure devices, networks and data.Working with a managed IT company can be a first step to ensuring that your organisation has the proper protections in place by delivering the following solutions:

Cyber security awareness training

The Notifiable Data Breaches report, covering January to June of 2022, revealed that 33% of reported data breaches occurred because of human error. So, you must ensure that everyone in your team has comprehensive cyber security awareness training covering topics such as identifying phishing emails, creating strong passwords, and spotting signs of malware. This training should provide your team with a protocol for reporting any suspicious activity to the relevant people to rectify issues before they become significant problems.By ensuring that all employees know the risks and how to mitigate them, you can significantly reduce the chances of a successful attack. A managed IT company can provide the expertise and resources necessary to ensure that your employees are up-to-date on the latest cyber security threats and how to prevent them.

Enhancing training with simulated phishing campaigns

Phishing attacks have become a prevalent tool used by threat actors to manipulate people into revealing sensitive information, providing access to systems or sending funds directly to the cyber criminal’s account. You have likely received an email or text from someone posing as a trusted person or organisation, requesting you to click on a link or call a mobile number.While cyber security training gives your team robust knowledge to recognise and protect themselves from cyber attacks, it is sometimes less effective than experiencing an attack. Simulated phishing tests can train your team to identify a threat and test their knowledge.A simulated phishing test is when a managed IT company sends out a fake phishing attack to your team and measures the number of people that clicked on malicious links and shared information. The aim is not to single out employees but to find gaps in their knowledge and fill these.

Threat detection and response to safeguard your business

From January to June 2022, 63% of reported data breaches occurred due to malicious or criminal attacks. So, once you have secured your business' human defense line, you must have the technology and IT support to prevent attacks.Working with a managed IT company gives you peace of mind knowing that you have experts monitoring your systems for any potential threats. If they detect a threat, the IT company can immediately mitigate the problem before it causes any damage.Another benefit of working with a managed IT company is that you can take advantage of their expertise. Managed IT companies have teams of experienced professionals who are well-versed in the latest security threats and how to mitigate them, so you can rest assured that your business is in good hands.

Providing security advisory and consulting

With all of the threats – from malware and ransomware to phishing attacks – it is essential to understand the dangers and any weaknesses in your business and have a solid cyber security strategy.A managed IT company will have a team of security experts who can help you assess your current security posture and identify any areas of improvement. They can also guide you towards the best security solutions for your business, helping you implement them effectively and efficiently.

Staying updated with data privacy and compliance regulations

Whether due to changes in the law, new technologies, or changes to your processes, your company needs to review its data privacy and compliance posture periodically. Doing so can ensure that you take the appropriate steps to protect your data and avoid potential penalties for non-compliance.Regarding data privacy and compliance, working with a managed IT company can be a great way to help keep your business on track. They can ensure you are up-to-date on the latest requirements, especially as you adopt new technologies and processes.

Conducting security audits

A managed IT company will work with you on cyber security audits to identify potential vulnerabilities and any non-compliance with regulations. This can save you a great deal of time, money, and resources in the long run. Their team of experienced and certified cyber security professionals can provide the guidance needed to make the necessary changes to your security posture. Working with a managed IT company can also help you build trust with your customers and clients. When they see that you are protecting their data and information, they will feel more comfortable doing business with you in the future, leading to steady sales and profitability for your organisation.

soma is your partner in cyber security

New and evolving strategies are necessary within the compliance area of any industry, and never before has IT security and risk management been as important as it is becoming now.With our experience in IT security and risk management, soma can become your managed IT service in Australia and support you through a broad range of security-centric services. From mapping baseline compliance and risk mitigation strategies to device management, threat detection and response, we can deliver the solution you need. Visit our Cyber Security and managed services page for more information.