How to Simplify Your Security Landscape and Protect Against COVID-Related Threats

Posted by Bill Smeltzer on Wed, July 08, 2020

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By Bill Smeltzer, CSO

JULY 8, 2020 — I recently read an article that estimates that most organizations have anywhere from 200 to 500 security tools. While I believe that number to be high (more like dozens), I do agree with the premise that most businesses have way too many security tools in place—all of which require resources to manage. This generally translates to a costly, fragmented approach to security that is ineffective in warding off the growing threats in today’s digital environment. This was true in pre-pandemic times.

Then COVID hit.

Businesses nationwide were forced to adopt a work-at-home model, which, among many other business challenges, added another layer of complexity to their already complicated security landscape. As employees began accessing their corporate networks from their home computers, organizations were faced with a new, rather sizable attack surface.

With too many tools in place already and the added threat of a predominantly remote workforce, businesses are now finding themselves open to greater risk exposure than ever before, unsure of their next strategic move towards a secure infrastructure. The question is, how can a business both reduce the complexity of its IT security environment while addressing new security concerns brought on by a remote workforce?

There’s good news: it can be done—and it doesn’t have to be complicated.

3 things you can do to gain a stronger foothold on your security infrastructure:

Simplify your tools: It’s not quantity that matters; it’s quality. More tools are not better—they simply create more complexity and higher expenses. An organization can reduce and unify their security tools by migrating to fewer solutions that offer more comprehensive capabilities and the ability to collaborate and sync with one another. For example, a comprehensive “tool set” that incorporates network security, anti-virus, malware and advanced threat management into a unified approach to security can be easier to manage and less expensive than using multiple point products to protect each specific area of security.

Use AI and automation: Traditional cybersecurity tools, like anti-malware software or login audits, won’t cut it in the current digital landscape. The scores of new risks and vulnerabilities, combined with the skills shortage in cybersecurity and a lack of resources to address the myriad of security risks, make it hard for internal IT teams to keep up. AI and automation can drastically simplify the process, plug the skills gap and offer a much more efficient and reliable approach to managing security.

With the ability to process and analyze massive amounts of data to track behavior, trends and patterns, AI and automation tools can prevent, identify and deal with millions of cybersecurity threats much faster and more reliably than their human counterparts.

Outsource to a Managed Service Provider: Navigating your company’s security environment can be cumbersome and time-consuming, not to mention complex. And if not done right, you can add “costly” to that list as well. After all, managing your company’s IT security is probably not your core competency, nor should it be. You have a business to run; leave your security burdens to the experts.

Outsourcing your IT security can be an effective way to ensure your organization is protected by the latest and most effective security strategies and tools while freeing up internal resources to focus on core business operations. What’s more, an outsourced IT security MSP also offers support and resources that many companies may not have with their in-house solutions. Outsourcing is also an ideal option for businesses that struggle to stay current with compliance standards and industry regulations; many outsourced MSPs offer specialized compliance expertise and will shoulder that burden.

The face of IT security is changing at a rapid pace, and it’s unlikely to slow down anytime soon. Now is the time to understand your current security environment, streamline your solutions and processes and forge ahead with a security infrastructure that will keep your organization protected from the cyber threats emerging every day.

For help managing your IT security infrastructure, Focus offers IT SecurManage—a compliance-ready, complete network infrastructure consumed as a service. Cloud-managed by an elite team of experts, IT SecurManage delivers secure infrastructure management to support your entire range of networking needs.

To learn more about how you can simplify your IT security landscape, click here.

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