Besides monitoring and organizing your servers, a Managed Service Provider (MSP) or I.T. Service Provider (ITSP) plays a pivotal role in the cybersecurity program of your business. They implement several strategies to shield your network from attacks and protect your data.
For instance, many providers use email authentication protocols to monitor your server’s vulnerabilities. They can keep users from accidentally accessing malicious websites by determining spam emails containing malware or viruses. This results in enhanced system security.
Another common practice is training your employees to ensure they follow the highest security standards. This is especially important if you have remote team members since there’s no way to keep track of their activities. To tackle this issue, an MSP or ITSP teaches your staff how to operate safely to avoid harm to your company’s infrastructure and reputation.
On top of that, an MSP or ITSP can neutralize various threats due to their proactive approach. They offer several tools such as firewalls and endpoint detection to control the traffic and stave off cyber attacks. Also, they can install antivirus software and email security to stop intrusion attempts.
Needless to say, an MSP or ITSP can shield you from a wide array of cybersecurity issues. But it’s vital to work with the right provider.
To ensure this happens, you should look for and abide by the best practices for an MSP or ITSP in the cybersecurity space. This article will examine what they are.
The 8 Best Practices
Practice #1 - Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Cybercriminals are becoming proficient at accessing your credentials, so it’s critical to enable MFA for all your users.
It consists of three elements: a password, security token, and biometric verification. Consequently, if attackers breach one security layer, they’ll still have to do a lot of digging to access your information.
Practice #2 - Make Patching a Priority
Application and operating system exploits are common. Hackers target them to access your system and compromise your data, but you can prevent this through regular patching.
Making sure your system is up to date with the latest security standards decreases the risk of exploitation.
Practice #3 - Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Audits
An MSP or ITSP must be aware of on boarding, off boarding, and lateral movements within an organization. This warrants frequent cybersecurity audits to assess the competency of your team.
Many MSPs or ITSPs hire third-party companies to perform their security audits. They can detect if a person who no longer needs access to the network still has it. It’s something that can endanger the client’s information, especially if the individual is a former employee.
Conducting regular audits mitigates this risk. It enables an MSP or ITSP to implement some of the most effective access privilege limitations:
- IP restrictions – These security measures ensure that only users who can access your local network can utilize remote administration tools.
- RMM software updates – Software vendors typically dispatch updates to fix vulnerabilities and patch numerous security gaps.
- RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) Security – This Windows native administration tool reduces the chances of ransomware attacks in your organization.
Practice #4 - Have An Off-Site Backup
Backups are crucial for tackling malicious activities and ensuring operational continuity after cyber attacks.
They also help address whether the company and its clients can access the latest version of their data and applications. This feature is vital for enterprises that must adhere to compliance requirements, including PCI-DSS and HIPAA.
But besides implementing on-site backups, your MSP or ITSP should also set up off-site versions. If attackers compromise your RMM software, they can most likely reach on-site backups, too.
So, to avoid disasters, businesses should have an off-site backup accessible to only a few people. It should also be offline for greater security.
(Databranch is a proud Datto Diamond Partner and can help your organization implement a true business continuity/data protection solution for your organization.)
Practice #5 - Incorporate Log Monitoring
