Attributed to Sandra Lee, Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Korea, Sophos

Today’s threat landscape is too difficult, too complex, and changes too quickly for the vast majority of organizations to effectively manage cybersecurity on their own – and most probably shouldn’t even try. That is why cybersecurity as a service (CSaaS) is quickly becoming the first choice for organizations looking to reduce the risks presented by cybercrime. Using CSaaS such as managed detection and response, organizations can leverage external cybersecurity specialists to fulfil critical cybersecurity needs, such as around-the-clock threat monitoring.
 
Let’s face it, it’s not a matter if an organization will get attacked but rather when. By outsourcing cybersecurity as a whole or augmenting in-house IT teams with a CSaaS offering, organizations can help mitigate attacks before they occur.
 
When considering such a security model and looking for a partner in managed security services, here are the questions you should be asking any potential provider:
 
1. How sophisticated is your understanding of emerging cyberthreats?
As the tactics and techniques criminals use to carry out their attacks, are frequently evolving, it is important for organizations to be confident that their potential managed security service provider (MSSP) or MDR provider is ahead of unscrupulously attackers and can provide the level or protection required.
 
2. Do you have any experience working with other companies in our sector?
The extensive experience potential providers gain from working with other industries and verticals equips them with in-depth and unique knowledge to handle the potential threats. Thorough and experienced managed security providers understand the complexity of the threat landscape and plan proactively by using innovative solutions and strategic thinking.
 
3. What expertise do you have to manage the growing threats posed by cyber criminals?
Not every managed security provider has the same training and certifications or experience. Businesses should test their providers advanced security knowledge by asking them to perform a security assessment in the environment. They should have a firm grasp of IT, data security and be easily adaptable to cope with increasingly advanced malicious threats. 
 
4. Will you be able to work with our current security technologies and environment?
It is important to find a company that can work well with your business’s existing IT infrastructure – including any security tools you have already invested in.
Companies need a proactive approach to cybersecurity management to reduce the risk of falling victim to a sophisticated cyber-attack. However, the ability to rapidly identify and prevent cyber threats comes at a great cost especially when organizations don’t have the right in-house security capabilities and skills.

For many, partnering with a cybersecurity provider enables them to remain one step ahead of rapidly changing threats in an ever-evolving digital world. If it’s time for you to join this cohort, Sophos MDR provides threat protection 24x7 via an operational team of threat hunters that have extensive industry knowledge and experience dealing with active attacks.