[BreachExchange] Outsourcing IT to mitigate security risks

[Destry Winant]

https://www.computerworld.com.au/article/658917/outsourcing-it-mitigate-security-risks/

As businesses become more digitalised and technology becomes more
engrained in the workplace, many organisations and their IT
departments struggle to keep up with the growing demand for support.
Many companies are already outsourcing some or all of their IT needs,
seeking specialist expertise they simply don’t have internally.
Outsourcing IT is increasingly mandated by CFOs and IT leaders because
it helps organisations access quality IT and security skills, and
knowledge that isn’t available in-house.

Maintaining a state-of-the-art IT and security team is unrealistic for
many organisations, and IT managers can struggle to keep up with a
rapid pace of technological change and digital disruption. Many
organisations hesitate to embrace new technologies due to concerns
they might not have the right skills and resources to manage them.

For example, security concerns hold back some organisations from
adopting cloud technologies, evident in a 2018 report by Cybersecurity
Insiders that revealed nine out of ten cybersecurity professionals
were concerned about cloud-based security risks.

Storing valuable or classified data in the cloud can be intimidating
and unfamiliar territory for many organisations, particularly if they
don’t have the capacity to protect themselves from hackers, however,
organisations reluctant to take up new technologies due to their
inability to manage them will fall behind their competitors.

Given the current pace of change and innovation, organisations should
consider the support that works for them. External specialists can
help monitor, support, and maintain their devices, software, networks,
and processes.

As organisations adopt more technology and increasingly go digital,
new challenges around up-keeping and maintaining this technology will
arise. Additionally, the more devices and information connected to
networks and cloud databases, the higher the security risks.

Organisations that don’t have the right security knowledge, or the
right security expertise within their IT team, need to consider
responsible and safe options moving forward. This can often take the
form of moving security and technology responsibilities to an external
partner.

Working with external security and technology professionals offers
several advantages. These specialists are likely to have fresh and
updated knowledge about new technologies in the market, including the
Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine
learning (ML) and other predictive technologies. While an internal IT
team will have plenty of skills and information, these teams often
can’t adapt and keep up with the rapid pace of change and digital
disruption affecting their organisations.

Likewise, many internal security teams aren’t likely to have the
latest information regarding cybercrime and malware developments,
phishing attacks, or network vulnerabilities. This can leave
network-connected devices improperly protected, and opens up gateways
into organisations for hackers and cybercriminals. Today, no business
is safe from cyberattacks so it’s important to continuously strengthen
and improve organisations’ cybersecurity postures.

Depending on the needs of the business and the skills of the internal
IT or security team, cybersecurity professionals can help with
specific tasks or manage and monitor the organisation’s networks on an
ongoing basis. Outsourcing IT and security needs to external companies
will deliver higher quality tech support, security management, and
access to the latest, most relevant knowledge and skills.

Skills in security, IoT, AI, and other emerging technologies are
highly valuable. It’s important for business leaders to be aware of
the ways they can harness these skills by working with expert
technology and security advisors and professionals. Outsourcing IT
requirements lets organisations make the most of emerging technologies
and securing their businesses appropriately, without needing to
support a sophisticated IT, technology, or security team from within.