Cybersecurity as a Service: Outsourcing IT Security to Combat Rising Threats

Cybersecurity as a service, which uses a subscription model, provides businesses with on-demand cybersecurity protection. Services related to cybersecurity can range from simple defense against online threats to more extensive protection, proactive planning, and response capabilities. By lowering the cost of recurring security investments, CSaaS may assist companies and free up resources for other priorities. 

“Cybersecurity as a Service,” or “CSaaS,” describes continuous cybersecurity protection offered by a third-party company, usually a specialist cybersecurity firm. CSaaS providers use various technologies, frameworks, and skilled workers to offer ongoing cybersecurity protection for all or a predetermined percentage of an organization’s IT infrastructure.

Cyberattacks and data breaches are becoming common, and any business, regardless of size or sector, is vulnerable. The frequency and sophistication of attack vectors such as ransomware, malware, phishing, social engineering, denial-of-service, and others are rising. The threat landscape is always changing, which makes issues worse since hackers are always coming up with new strategies to fool gullible people and compromise networks. The sole goal of these attacks is to obtain unauthorized access to your business’s data. The ramifications for your company could be disastrous if your data is compromised.

Moreover, investment in cybersecurity is becoming more important to CIOs and CISOs. However, expecting every business to have the means to establish a specialized security operations center (SOC) is unreasonable. A sizable group of cybersecurity experts with the skills and knowledge to continuously monitor, identify, and defeat all cyberattacks is necessary for a well-equipped SOC. These people are highly sought after, making them difficult to locate. Even large and medium-sized businesses find it difficult to keep up with the resources needed to attract and retain the top IT security professionals. It can be totally out of reach for SMBs.

Building an in-house team is not as cost-effective as using cybersecurity-as-a-service.

Few CSaaS providers are the same as one another. There will probably be some variance in the services offered by various suppliers. Nonetheless, most CSaaS providers provide the following essential services:

• Vulnerability assessments: A vulnerability assessment is a common first step in CSaaS engagements to determine an organization’s current cybersecurity posture. It aids in setting priorities for needs and provides information about the necessary degree of service.
• Managed Detection & Response: The CSaaS provider will continuously monitor your systems to identify any security risks. In the case of an attack, the CSaaS provider will identify problems, oversee incident response plans, and look into and fix the breach’s underlying cause.
• Development of Cybersecurity Policies: CSaaS providers will establish cybersecurity guidelines, such as safe password management and access control procedures, for your staff to abide by.
• Infrastructure Maintenance: The CSaaS provider will monitor your important systems, patch security holes, and ensure they have the most recent security updates installed. 
• Endpoint Protection: CSaaS providers ensure that various security technologies, such as host intrusion prevention, personal firewalls, and antivirus software, are installed on all company devices

The greatest CSaaS suppliers go above and beyond these fundamental services, even if they are some of the essential components. Many of the CIS controls are usually included in the architecture of top-tier CSaaS providers’ services. These industry standards outline the top priorities for cybersecurity experts to protect their companies. They are often updated in response to emerging risks and industry best practices. 

There are many advantages to working with a top-notch CSaaS provider, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) who cannot staff an internal SOC. Among the most popular advantages are:

1. Economical Benefits

According to the 2020 CISO Benchmark Study, which polled 2,800 IT decision-makers, the primary justification for outsourcing is cost-effectiveness. Compared to developing comparable cybersecurity capabilities internally, cybersecurity as a service is significantly less expensive. Finding qualified workers has become extremely difficult due to the global lack of IT talent, and the few applicants that are out there in the job market demand high compensation, which is something that not many SMBs can afford. Managed security service providers (MSSPs) can deliver cutting-edge protection at reasonable costs because of economies of scale. The best part is that the cybersecurity as a service model combines significant upfront technology investments with predictable monthly fees, thus eliminating the need for them.

2. Obtaining Experience

Finding the right candidates and assembling a strong security operations team can take time, and growing or shrinking the team presents unique difficulties. In contrast, cybersecurity as a service is instantaneously available and offers easy access to the newest tools, a large team of cybersecurity professionals, and more. In the battle against increasingly skilled cybercriminals, managed security service providers can draw from a plethora of real-world knowledge as they cater to numerous clients in various industries. Furthermore, they are usually accessible around the clock, which is uncommon for small internal security operations teams, let alone a lone cybersecurity specialist.

3. Retained Concentration on Main Business

Regretfully, the frequency of cybersecurity events is rising, and even tiny businesses with small staff can no longer escape the attention of cunning cybercriminals. It’s become harder to stay focused on essential business operations under this constant strain, which lowers productivity and degrades customer satisfaction. Organizations may stop worrying about time-consuming tasks like software update installation, network monitoring, log management, and other related tasks essential to thwarting cyberattacks when using CSaaS. Alternatively, they might devote their time and energy to expanding their company and improving client satisfaction.

Cybersecurity threats are more common than ever and impact all types of enterprises, from start-ups to large conglomerates. It is your responsibility as an IT leader to make sure your company is adequately protected. However, as we’ve seen, a lot of SMBs find it difficult to accomplish this with their current internal resources and are increasingly using outsourced CSaaS solutions. Top notch providers like Axtrics Australia can help you with this. Get in touch with our experts today.

Investing in a CSaaS platform can benefit your IT staff, including cost savings and peace of mind. The ideal CSaaS provider will become a long-term strategic partner, collaborating closely with your team to enhance your IT infrastructure and safeguard your company from dishonest individuals.