Akin to software outsourcing, cybersecurity outsourcing has also started to gain traction thanks to advanced expertise being delivered without enterprises having to break the bank for the same. Through cybersecurity outsourcing, organisations that struggle with stretched in-house cybersecurity teams (or a complete lack thereof), now have the ability to maintain consistent levels of protection, owing to round-the-clock managed cybersecurity services that are provided by dedicated vendors, or via software outsourcing partners.
As a cybersecurity services provider, our teams here at EFutures assist clients in meeting security standards across the applications they develop, as well as their entire organisations as a whole. Here, we elaborate on a variety of cyber security tools that are used by vendors, as well as what’s required prior to implementing a cybersecurity framework.
EDR platforms deliver comprehensive endpoint protection by detecting and remediating any threats that may reach various endpoints connected to your business networks, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, smartphones and even IoT-powered devices. Through endpoint discovery and control, cybersecurity as well as IT teams can isolate affected endpoints, thereby preventing infiltration across the rest of the network.
With the rapid proliferation of the Internet of Things and other ‘smart devices’, IoT security also heavily depends on capabilities provided by solutions that are focused towards delivering endpoint security, such as EPP (Endpoint Protection Platforms) and EDR.
Cloud security platforms offer teams the ability to monitor cloud resource usage and potential threats, through in-built capabilities such as Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) and firewall systems. Additionally, the incorporation of cloud management platforms can also enable teams to calculate cloud costs and help with migration, so end-to-end cloud management can take place.
With the mainstream use of hosted systems, including hybrid and multi-cloud deployments, cloud monitoring and security systems have become essential for administering granular access and ensuring resource efficiency across workloads. They offer utility not just for cybersecurity teams, but also software development teams that need to allocate and monitor cloud resources on a regular basis.
DLP systems offer a suite of capabilities that help prevent the exfiltration of data through enterprise endpoints, networks and any other workload or infrastructure that an organisation may have. Through granular access permissions and encryption while in use, at rest and in motion, DLP systems deliver thorough protection, usually in accordance to compliance standards set by relevant regulatory bodies.
Cyber risk management enables both cybersecurity and compliance teams to assess the security posture of an organisation, assign risk scores to varying threats, triage threats accordingly, and build strategies to help prevent or mitigate security loopholes. An array of security tools may be used to help assess security posture, which frequently include (but certainly aren’t limited to):
IAM systems are an umbrella solution for all requirements pertaining to secure access and authorisation across devices, networks and any other endpoints that concern your organisation. From facilitating end-to-end services such as user lifecycle management, leading IAM platforms may also offer in-built password management capabilities. This enables staff across your organisation to follow good password hygiene, through password rotations, strength checks as well as two-factor authentication.
Additionally, IAM vendors today focus on a zero-trust approach, thereby incorporating a practice of ‘never trust, and always verify’ – so unauthorised access is always prevented as best as possible.
Although managed security services form an umbrella of services that are often integrated closely with one another, variants still exist – and have certain differences that make each of them unique.
MDR is a service that functions as an extension to in-house cybersecurity or IT teams, thereby offering the expertise needed to detect, triage, contain and remediate threats on behalf of the organisation. MDR teams, primarily offered by dedicated cybersecurity vendors, consist of seasoned cybersecurity professionals who depend not just on security tools that automate security operations, but also human knowledge to help contextualise the nature and intent of threats.
MSSPs offer end-to-end security operations for enterprises, thereby accommodating a complete range of processes for the outsourcing model. Unlike MDR, which only focuses on threat detection and response, an MSSP will cater to everything from core cybersecurity operations (such as vulnerability assessments and network monitoring), and all the way to policy management, risk scoring and even security awareness training, in order to offer holistic enterprise protection.
An SOC is a team of security experts who monitor, analyse and detect cyber threats on a round-the-clock basis. Whether it’s through cybersecurity vendors or software outsourcing companies, an SOC’s key goal is to detect threats any day, any time – and tackle them, be it through containment or remediation, as soon as possible. SOCs are usually a core component of MDRs and MSSPs, as they help facilitate a vast array of security operations.
Before embarking on any kind of security operation for your business, conducting a thorough assessment of your organisation’s existing security posture is essential. This needs to be done both internally and externally, so multiple opinions shall help paint an unbiased picture of what’s lacking in terms of cybersecurity, for your business.
Leading software companies in Sri Lanka that offer cybersecurity services can conduct these assessments on your behalf, so your IT and/or in-house cybersecurity teams have a clear idea of the complexity of security tasks that await them, as well as the possible repercussions of not fixing any gaps on time.
For any ongoing operation, it is vital to always take a step back and look at the big picture – as opposed to only focusing on daily checklist items or agendas. This is even more crucial for cybersecurity, as even the smallest deficiencies can wreak havoc on an enterprise’s networks, data and subsequently, reputation.
For this, having regular discussions to determine any gaps within existing security frameworks, tools and expertise can help shed light on what’s lacking – while subsequent discussions can revolve around fixing such issues. In turn, this helps keep security stacks not just up-to-date, but also makes them more capable towards threat detection, especially where zero-day threats are concerned.
Outsourcing cybersecurity is a highly productive yet economical way to instil cybersecurity within your organisation, so that your enterprise infrastructure and data remains secure as best as possible. Working closely with in-house cybersecurity and/or IT teams, cybersecurity outsourcing providers can offer any services required, no matter how niche or complex an organisation’s requirements may be.
However, detailed assessments are an imperative, before any security frameworks are established. This offers teams across both sides of the aisle important insights pertaining to existing security gaps, and which tools shall be best suited for threat detection and remediation. In addition to a thriving software outsourcing industry, outsourcing cybersecurity to Sri Lanka is a highly valuable means to deliver software that’s built following a DevSecOps approach, while simultaneously facilitating organisation-wide security operations – ideally through one flagship outsourcing partner.
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