Managed Security Services: The Latest Trend in Information Security

Technology evolved rather quickly in the last ten years or so, and proudly dawns its digital face on smartphones, portable memory, and all those innovations in between. The workplace is no exception to its influence. Once limited to workstations and local networks, the office can now be accessed from your favorite coffee shop or your home, courtesy of cloud computing and the BYOD culture (a.k.a. Bring Your Own Device). These advancements in technology do not come without a price – the corporate environment is increasingly becoming vulnerable to cyber-attacks. To protect themselves from these threats, companies are turning to managed security services.

The Future of Information Security

According to Frost & Sullivan, the market for managed security services (MSS) amounted to $7.83 billion in 2014. These numbers are expected to reach $12.78 billion by 2018. Allied Market Research projects the same market to grow steadily in the next five years at an annual rate of 15.8 percent. By 2020, the research firm estimates it at $29.9 billion.

This recent trend is brought by the increasing demand for information security within the corporate setting. Companies are slowly coming to realize that as technology advances, so will security risks grow in number and complexity. The constant threat of cyber crime is the main driving force behind the shift to MSS, although there are other reasons why businesses are opting for this fairly new alternative.

Why Businesses are Choosing Managed Security Services

Big businesses are the usual targets of cyber crimes since they use cloud to store their vast customer database. The sheer size of these networks and their online accessibility make it difficult to keep them safe at all times. Hackers will always try breaking into their networks to steal valuable information such as emails, payment systems, and other personal information. For these criminals, gaining access to company data is like hitting the gold mine.

The greatest challenge for companies isn’t the presence of cyber criminals but rather, their persistence. Hackers tend to change their tactics and switch between different attack patterns to avoid detection. A company’s ability to defend against these threats depends on several factors. Namely they are the skills of their network security personnel, their equipment, and installed software. Unfortunately, most businesses are unable to train their staff and keep them abreast with the latest techniques in network security. Many fail to update their equipment and software, leaving them wide open to cyber-attacks.

Outsourcing to a managed security services provider will eliminate these problems. The MSS provider will be responsible for the management and surveillance of systems and devices for any existing security problems and potential threats. It allows businesses to leave their network security services in the hands of a third-party provider.

By outsourcing to security experts, a business could drastically reduce its operational costs. You no longer have to hire employees or train them. Upgrading to the newest hardware and software won’t be necessary, and you still get to enjoy superior protection against cyber theft and digital crimes. Given these benefits, it’s no wonder that managed security services have become the latest trend in information security.