Developing an effective IT security strategy has become increasingly difficult because of the ever-changing threat landscape. Cyberattacks are growing in frequency and sophistication. For example, ransomware has evolved so that attacks no longer rely on phishing emails to infiltrate company systems. Not only that, but the malware can delete on-site backup files.
The 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report found that 70% of breaches are committed by outsiders and 86% had financial motivations.
Security tools and strategies are challenged by the complexities of today’s IT environments. Companies are geographically diverse, and endpoints are proliferating. Many companies lack the resources needed to provide security across myriad devices and technologies.
Security as a service (SECaaS) helps small and medium-sized businesses keep their heads above water by providing them with affordable security expertise and resources.
Cybersecurity Challenges
SMBs are often unable to staff their IT department at the level of expertise and knowledge required to adequately protect the company. This is not to criticize the IT team. The team’s job is to find ways to use technology to meet business goals, not to police the data center and network.
At SMBs, the IT staff is forced to spend critical support hours working through security-related issues that they may not be trained to carry out. Monitoring systems and mitigating risk takes staff members’ attention away from the core business.
These SMBs find that cloud-based security is a great alternative. Cloud-based security providers offer SECaaS services that can significantly reduce the risk of a breach while doing so at a manageable price.
What is SECaaS?
SECaaS is a business model that outsources a company’s cybersecurity capabilities to another entity, often as a pay-per-use feature or through a usage-based pricing model. Like software as a service (SaaS), SECaaS delivers security services through a subscription model. With SECaaS, security services are hosted and delivered through the cloud.
SECaaS tools include monitoring, business continuity, and data protection solutions. Companies that use SECaaS can take a preventive approach to IT security through intrusion detection and prevention, as well as security information and event management (SIEM).
SECaaS provides an integrated and comprehensive security strategy. Security tools outsourced through SECaaS defend organizations against a variety of attack vectors, including phishing. Identity and access management protects against both internal and external threats.
Assessment tools are also available, allowing businesses to find security gaps and close them. SECaaS even delivers data protection through backup and disaster recovery.
Benefits of SECaaS
Many customers are finding significant value in using SECaaS providers. SECaaS vendors provide a wide array of services that can automate many security functions. SECaaS solutions simplify security processes and provide the best resources and tools to protect against both existing and emerging threats.
SECaaS solutions have become increasingly popular as a way to ease the in-house security team’s responsibilities. The cloud provider gives the company access to a deep bench of security experts, as well as state-of-the-art security tools.
The ideal SECaaS provider will allow customers to leverage the products they already have in place today while offering precise remediation plans to continuously enhance their security postures. Customers can do hands-on patching work themselves while leveraging their dedicated security team that will be there to help every step of the way.
As with any cloud service, SECaaS allows organizations to scale security resources as the company’s needs grow. Companies can scale their security efforts while avoiding the costs and maintenance of on-premises alternatives. SECaaS resources are easy to provision, and the customer only pays for what it uses.
How to Get IT Security in the Cloud
Not every cloud provider offers SECaaS. Choose a cloud provider that has strengths in this area. Also determine if the cloud-based security vendor meets your security requirements. You want to work with a partner that is responsive and available 24/7.
ProActive Solutions is an expert in both cloud and IT security. We take a consultative approach to security and cloud services. Our team works closely with client teams to assess your environment and develop a SECaaS plan that meets your security goals and requirements.
Discover how affordable overcoming security complexity can be. Request a quote from ProActive.
