You don’t leave your home or walk away from your car without closing the windows and locking the doors, so why would you leave your data unlocked and accessible to any cybercriminal who happened to pass by? Investing in managed IT for your organization does not have to be complex, especially if you partner with a managed service provider (MSP) that has the depth of experience and technology to provide the protection you need to secure your data.
What Is Managed IT?
Managed IT is a proactive approach to IT security management – a layered approach to cybersecurity that employs a variety of technologies that help detect and target threats early to reduce your security risk and secure your data. Managed IT is more than just a firewall and virus protection; managed IT can include enterprise-grade threat detection software, penetration testing, continuous monitoring, and an expert team of engineers at the ready to provide protection to your entire IT environment. An MSP can help protect you from external threats as well as internal threats, including ransomware, malware, phishing attacks, DDoS attacks, and data theft.
The Threat Landscape Is Larger and More Sophisticated than Ever
Cybercriminals continue to vary the manner in which they target organizations. No one is immune from cyber threats. Large organizations, SMBs, non-profits, and schools have all been identified as lucrative targets, making managed IT support a mission critical function to secure your data. Consider these statistics:
- “The global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was USD 4.45 million, a 15% increase over 3 years.” (IBM)
- “91% of all cyber attacks begin with a phishing email to an unexpected victim.” (Deloitte)
- In 2022, “approximately 31% of all data breaches were caused by insider threats, implying that one-third of all data breaches emerged from an insider, a contractor, or an employee.” (TechReport)
- More than 40% of cyber-attacks were on small businesses. (Accenture)
- 95% of cybersecurity issues are attributed to human error. (World Economic Forum)
- According to CrowdStrike’s 2023 Threat Hunting Report, there has been a:
- 583% increase in Kerberoasting, a growing identity-based attack technique
- 312% increase in abuse of remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools
- 160% increase in credential theft via cloud instance metadata APIs
Common Threats to Columbus Organizations
There are numerous data security threats of which businesses need to be aware. Some of the most common threats include:
Phishing
Phishing attacks are often successful means of tricking individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card details, by posing as a trustworthy entity. These attacks often appear to be from legitimate email addresses or websites.
Malware
Malware refers to any malicious software designed to disrupt or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware are malware that can be introduced to your systems through infected websites, email attachments, or removable media.
Insider Threats
Insider threats occur when individuals within your organization intentionally or accidentally compromise data security. Data may be compromised when employees share sensitive information with unauthorized parties, use weak passwords, or fall victim to social engineering attacks.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
DDoS attacks can overwhelm a target’s network or website with a flood of traffic, rendering it inaccessible to legitimate users. These attacks can disrupt business operations and cause significant financial losses.
Data Breaches
Data breaches occur when unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive data, either through hacking, social engineering, or physical theft. Data breaches can result in the disclosure of personal information, financial loss, and damage to a company’s reputation.
By understanding these common threats, businesses can better prepare themselves and implement the necessary security measures to protect their valuable data.
Secure Your Data: The Benefits of Managed IT
Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, implementing a robust security solution is an essential step toward safeguarding your data. Managed IT offers a wide range of benefits for businesses of all sizes. Some of the key benefits include:
Expertise and Experience
Our dedicated team of cybersecurity experts specialize in protecting data and preventing unauthorized network access. They have the knowledge and experience necessary to safeguard your systems against the latest threats and vulnerabilities.
Proactive Threat Detection
We employ advanced tools and techniques to detect potential threats before they can cause any harm. By monitoring your network 24/7, we can identify and respond to suspicious activity in real-time, minimizing the risk of data breaches.
Cost-Effectiveness
Investing in managed IT services is often more cost-effective than acquiring and managing your own security infrastructure, offering flexible and scalable pricing models and allowing you to scale your security needs as your business grows.
Efficiency
Managing data security requires constant monitoring, updates, and maintenance. By outsourcing these tasks to a managed IT provider, you can free up your internal resources to focus on core business activities.
Compliance and Regulatory Support
We can help ensure that your data handling practices align with relevant regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA. We can assist with compliance assessments, audits, and the implementation of the necessary security controls.
Investing in Managed IT Brings Peace of Mind
By partnering with a managed service provider, you can feel confident knowing that your data is being protected by a team of experts that is dedicated to identifying and mitigating potential threats. From monitoring your network for unusual activity to implementing the latest security patches and updates, managed IT services offer a comprehensive approach to data protection.
When evaluating the cost of managed IT services, consider the potential return on investment in terms of enhanced data protection, improved compliance, reduced downtime, and peace of mind.
thinkCSC Supports These Industries
Business
Education
Government
Accounting
Banking
Finance
Insurance
Legal
Non-profit
thinkCSC has been serving the Columbus region for more than 30 years. If your organization is already working with us, never hesitate to reach out to your vCIO. If you are considering working with a Columbus MSP to make IT costs more predictable, while also alleviating the strain on your internal IT resources, consider the benefits of thinkCSC’s managed IT services. Contact thinkCSC for more information.
