[ This article was originally published here ]
Cybersecurity as a competitive advantage
The economy is on the minds of business leaders. C-suites recognize survival depends upon the ability to safeguard systems and information. They must redesign for resilience, mitigate risk, strategically deploy assets and investments, and assign accountability. Do more with Less is the ongoing mantra across industries in technology and cyberspace.
As senior leaders revisit their growth strategies, it’s an excellent time to assess where they are on the cyber-risk spectrum and how significant the complexity costs have become. Although these will vary across business units, industries, and geographies, now for cyber, there is a new delivery model with the pay-as-you-go and use what you need from a cyber talent pool availability with the tools and platform that enable simplification.
Enter the Cybersecurity as a Service consumption model
CSaaS, or Cybersecurity-as-a-service, is a subscription-based approach to cybersecurity that offers organizations cybersecurity protection on demand. It is a pay-as-you-go model with a third-party vendor, where services can vary and be tailored to the organization’s needs. These services can include threat monitoring, compliance with industry standards, employee training, and penetration testing, which simulates an attack on the network.
One of the main advantages of CSaaS is that it takes the burden off the business to maintain a cybersecurity team, which can be challenging to hire today. It also allows organizations to scale as their business grows without needing to keep recruiting and hiring cybersecurity professionals.
Not all CSaaS vendors are created equal
When choosing a CSaaS vendor, several factors must be considered to ensure that you select the right one for your business. These factors include:
- Technical expertise and depth of services: Look for a vendor offering a comprehensive range of cybersecurity services beyond penetration testing.
- The reputation of the CSaaS: Check if the vendor has experience in your industry and if they have customers like your business. Also, ensure that they are financially stable.
- Size of the CSaaS: Make sure that the vendor can scale with your business needs as you grow.
- Terms and conditions of the relationship: Read the small print to understand all the details in various scenarios. Understand their policies and procedures.
- Cost and fee structure: Ensure that the vendor’s pricing model is transparent and that there are no hidden costs.
- Tools and technology: Make sure the vendor’s technology is solid, and they use the latest tools to provide cybersecurity services.
- Support: Check if the vendor can support your business 24×7, mainly if you operate in multiple time zones.
- Regulatory compliance: Ensure the vendor can meet the regulatory compliance you need in your industry.
- Considering these factors, you can choose a CSaaS vendor that meets your business needs and provides cybersecurity protection to keep your business safe from cyber threats.
Assess your unique cybersecurity needs
Different industries are at varying stages of maturity with digital transformation, and within each sector, some organizations have progressed much quicker than others. Therefore, it is vital to assess your organization’s specific cybersecurity requirements as it continues along the digital transformation path. That means it has never been more critical to work with a provider that suits your particular needs but can also cover a wide range of use cases.
For more information on the Cybersecurity-as-a-Service, check out the latest eBook written by an analyst from Enterprise Strategy Group showcasing the importance behind these subscription-based solutions and how working with a security provider like AT&T to help organizations achieve their security objectives and enable to innovate faster.
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