Managed IT services allow businesses to place the management of their IT infrastructure into the hands of experts, allowing directors to focus on their company without being encumbered by regular IT challenges.
A major element of managed IT services are the cybersecurity measures they offer as part of their packages. Networks and data are protected with a higher level of security to suit the high-risk nature of sensitive data being shared. If you’ve been considering outsourcing the management of your IT to an external company, here are some of the benefits you can expect.
Regular Updates to Prevent Cyber Criminals From Taking Advantage of Weaknesses
60% of breaches come as a result of unpatched vulnerabilities that could have been solved by properly updating apps and software. If businesses want to defend against cybercriminals they need to make sure apps and software are managed and are up-to-date (as most patches include updates to security, in line with the latest threats).
While businesses that manage their IT systems independently don’t always take advantage of automatic updates, managed IT services make updates a priority. Once software is installed, it becomes their responsibility to ensure the software is updated, cutting the risk of cybercriminals breaking into a network.
Intelligent Monitoring of Network Activity
There were approximately 5.5 billion malware attacks in 2022, according to Statista. While not all of these were successful, the numbers reinforce the need to carefully monitor networks to prevent these types of attacks.
Traditionally, businesses and cybersecurity professionals have taken a reactive approach to network attacks and responded to the issue after the attack has taken place.
Managed IT Services can deploy and manage intelligent, AI-powered firewalls and network analysis tools that constantly monitor network activity and data, to detect and neutralise a potential breach before it has even taken place – also known as Advanced Threat Detection (ADT). They use complex algorithms and machine learning, which ‘understands’ more about network traffic, over time, through regular, in-depth analysis. That way, when an abnormality appears in the network, the program is able to scan it, identify whether or not it’s a threat, and eliminate it, all within a fraction of a second.
The Protection of Data Shared or Stored on the Network
It was once the case that files could only be shared via physical drives, but now thousands of terabytes of data are shared every day across the internet.
Cloud computer systems allow businesses to work and share data using files and programs that are hosted on an external server, rather than within physical, on-site drives. This means when an employee wants to download or share a file with a fellow employee, that data must travel across the business’s network, presenting the risk of that file being accessed by a cybercriminal if they were able to break into the network.
However, Managed IT services that offer cybersecurity within their package utilise file encryption tools to prevent external parties from being able to use stolen data.
Data backups
In 2021, 33% of all business folders were not protected or backed up at all, according to data from research company Comparitech. Even in years past, when businesses created on-site backups of their data on hard drives, this data was still at risk if the business experienced a mass data loss, which affected all company machines, as a result of a technical error, human error or cyberattack.
Managed IT Services create automatic data backups, which are stored off-site, meaning it would remain unaffected if the business experienced a data disaster. If this ever did occur, the managed IT service would be able to restore all lost company data meaning the business could be up and running again quickly.
Choose a reputable managed IT service for your cybersecurity needs
With a reliable and reputable managed IT service provider, your business could enjoy both greater productivity and enhanced cybersecurity. These providers have years of combined experience dealing with an array of technical issues and security threats, and teams that specialise in every aspect of IT management, so every eventuality can be covered. By using a managed IT service, businesses can benefit from less stress and less reliance on their in-house staff, allowing their internal team to focus on more pressing matters and accomplish their goals. With expert technical support whenever you need it, you’ll always be protected no matter the time or the situation.