Given that cybercrime, network security breaches and organizational data penetration and theft can cost a pretty penny statistically speaking, it makes sense to stay protected.
Much to Choose From
When looking for companies that specialize in managing web security assessments and other network security needs, there might be quite a few options out there to choose from.
But how can you be sure that you hired the right managed network security service?
Points to Ponder
When looking to identify a reliable managed network security service, there are a few things to look out for. These things should help you decide whether the service in question is indeed the right one for you!
Legitimacy
The first thing you need to look into is the legitimacy of the company you’re looking to hire. Are they reliable? Are they licensed? Do they have other clients whom they serve? Are there any reviews about them online? Are the team members trained and qualified to do what they do?
Questions such as these and looking into the same should help you identify how legitimate the company you are looking into is. Trusting someone with your network and data security needs is a huge decision. You want to make sure you’re handing such a massive responsibility over to not just someone legitimate but someone capable!
Knowledge and Experience
Knowledge and experience are two different things. Experience would dictate their time spent doing what they’re doing. If it’s network security they manage, how long have they been providing that service? It stands to reason that a longer time in the market equals more real experience to draw on.
That being said, at times, newer companies have teams with highly qualified and skilled individuals who might even make up for a slight lack of experience with sheer technical knowhow.
Question representatives of the company you wish to hire about both their degree of experience and level of technical skill.
Working Together
Another thing you want to establish is what the work dynamic between you and the hired company will be as well as if it suits your needs.
Will they spend a lot of time in your office space or operate remotely with frequent visits. Do they get along with your in-house IT department? How are they with feedback, communication and follow ups?
When outsourcing network security management, it is important to remember that you will have a day to day relationship with them. Understanding what that dynamic will look like and whether it suits you and your team will help ensure that you hire a service provider who can work well with you.
Info Sharing
Just as your company will need to give the hired security management company access to data and other information, how much access to security protocols will your company receive in return? Establishing this is important and transparency when it comes to data security is crucial.
Bad Days
Another thing to establish is how the chosen company might address attacks. Can they ensure that some of your servers will continue to run while work is being done on others?
Miscellaneous
Apart from the big ones mentioned above, there are other things to look into. These include:
· The security company’s relationship with its vendors?
· How and where they plan to store your data?
· What technologies they apply?
· Are they up to date and do they partake in continued professional development?
Upshot
Though deciding which network security company to hire is a tricky decision it is an important one. The right company could ensure the success of your business and protection of sensitive data. The wrong company or non-existence of network security could…you know. Let’s just not go there!
If you’re trying to figure out where to start, our Aussie company isn’t just warm and friendly, we’re reliable too! We offer advanced web security testing among other things. Come on over and check out what we can do for you!