Managed services providers (MSPs) are highly sought-after IT partners that remotely manage, maintain, and optimize businesses’ tech infrastructure. Outsourcing your day-to-day IT support can increase workplace productivity, but make sure that your MSP can cover all the bases of your business before signing a contract.To help you maximize an MSP’s offerings, we’ve broken down some of the most important questions to ask when scouting for a new provider.
The most important question to ask your MSP pertains to the types of cybersecurity services they offer. Cybercrime is only set to cause further damage in the coming years, with reports predicting over $10 trillion in annual costs by 2025. The quality and reliability of your security has never been a more crucial investment, so it’s important that your MSP can keep up with and proactively address the latest threats.
Ensure your provider offers the basics: encryption, firewalls, 24/7 monitoring, disaster recovery, and a backup strategy. They should also demonstrate stringent compliance with industry-specific regulations, such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act).
Here’s a tip: what separates a “good enough” MSP from an excellent one is its ability to stay up to date with the latest technologies. That’s because if they are, they’ll know how crucial it is to implement multilayered tactics and the newest software, and even leverage AI to provide the highest level of security.
Your next question should be concerning their process: how do they approach ongoing, incoming, or potential problems? Aim for an MSP that upholds a proactive approach to maintenance and security. The traditional break/fix model may patch issues in the moment of crisis, but it’s merely a band-aid solution that doesn’t address the root causes. Constantly monitoring for issues, ensuring optimal performance of all IT systems, and regularly analyzing ongoing problems are far more sustainable approaches to long-term cybersecurity. They help prevent incidents before they take place, rather than cleaning up after them once the damage is done.
It’s also worth asking your MSP about their service level agreements (SLAs), which outline how quickly they can respond to urgent problems. These contracts can keep you both on the same page, defining what your provider will deliver, how they’ll measure their performance, and what happens if they fail to meet the agreed-upon expectations.
The onboarding process with MSPs refers to the series of steps they take in order to integrate their services with your business. This often includes transitioning your IT infrastructure, systems, and users over to their management. A reliable provider should have a clear plan in place for how they’ll do this, making sure employees are in the loop with every stage of the process and minimizing any potential disruptions to business activity.
In general, quality MSPs will thoroughly onboard their clients by firstly ensuring that everyone understands what services will be implemented and how these can benefit the business. They’ll then establish a timeline for how this program will be integrated into the workplace. And once the program is launched, a team of IT support and administrative managers should take charge of the technical activities and communication protocols to follow.
Finally, it’s important to ask your MSP about their ability to scale. Businesses, including yours, may evolve, so it’s crucial to ask how they’ll adapt their services as your company expands. Conversely, it’s worth asking if they’re flexible enough to pare back their resources during periods of low demand. Understanding their capability to scale up or down can help future-proof your IT infrastructure — a reputable provider will easily and quickly meet your changing needs with minimal disruptions.
To top that off, a scalable MSP can help you save more in the long run. They’ll ensure you’ll only pay for what you need at any given time, allowing you to anticipate costs and budget accordingly.
Searching for an MSP? AllConnected provides an all-in-one managed IT program with a specific focus on enhancing your tech security. With 24/7 support, comprehensive network management, scalable cloud solutions, and more, our experts will ensure all you need for a secure, competitive, and productive workplace. Get in touch with our team today.
When it comes to the quality of passwords, NIST additionally recommends focusing on length, rather than complexity. The longer a password is, the more resistant it is to brute force attacks.
You may also want to consider investing in multifactor authentication, which requires a second level of verification apart from a simple password.
One of the most effective ways to steal private information is by convincing your target to hand it over themselves. Also known as social engineering, this tactic is widely used by cybercriminals in trying to access your private data, often posing as a trusted figure (i.e., a government entity, a coworker,). This can also come in the form of phishing, in which users click on a link that leads to malicious downloads or fraudulent copies of otherwise trustworthy websites asking for their personal information.
Steer clear of these scams by looking out for these common red flags:
Additionally, it helps to verify with the supposed sender directly using another medium (e.g., via phone or video calls) to ensure they’re truly the ones who sent the message.
Few opportunities are as ripe for stealing data than a user with unprotected access to public Wi-Fi. While convenient, connecting to these unsecured networks can expose your information to prying eyes, with hackers able to get their hands on your location, financial accounts, and even your job status at a minimum. You’ll also leave your device exposed to malware, as scammers can easily sneak infected ads into websites you visit or run scripts that download malicious background apps without your consent.
A great way to avoid this is to invest in a trustworthy VPN service. It masks your real IP address and location, ensuring secure browsing when browsing on public Wi-Fi networks. A VPN also encrypts sensitive data such as passwords, PINs, and credit card information, making such data unreadable to unauthorized parties.
We’ve all procrastinated on downloading the latest software update, whether for an app, your drivers, or even your entire operating system. However, the sooner it’s installed, the greater your overall cybersecurity will be. Leaving your programs or systems unpatched makes them a prime target for hackers eager to exploit their security gaps and vulnerabilities.
To ensure minimal disruptions when updating your software, schedule updates at a time that suits you best. You could choose to have them take place outside of business hours (or during quieter time periods), so your systems will be in optimal condition by the time you get back to work.
Lastly, employees are often your first line of defense in cybersecurity. Therefore, you should invest in the necessary training to equip them with the skills and knowledge to defend against common cyberattacks, keeping them aware of the latest tactics and the best ways to handle them. This isn’t just limited to online practices, but everyday activity in the real world, as well. A well-trained employee will know better than to use suspicious devices or reveal sensitive information in water cooler conversations, for example.
Proper security education could also help avoid overreliance on your IT department. Employees will gain the confidence and skills to do their part in upholding a strong cybersecurity culture, helping minimize risk and stress to your overall organization.
Looking for a security boost? AllConnected offers a wide range of security solutions, from the basics of email security to comprehensive employee training. Don’t become another cybercrime statistic. Get in touch with our experts today, and discover how you can stay protected for the long haul.