How To Select The Right Cybersecurity Partner For Your Organization

by Rick · August 29, 2021

Ron Frechette

Cybersecurity Awareness – By Ron Frechette, The Cyber Coach

Organizations in today’s digital world are susceptible to the alarming increase in the rate of cyber threats. As a result, organizations must protect the privacy and integrity of their critical assets. To achieve such requirements, organizations must work with a security partner to properly accomplish a strong cybersecurity posture.

But how do you select the most appropriate and best cybersecurity partner?

The impact of cybersecurity partners in an organization

Since the start of COVID-19, the FBI reports that cyberattacks have increased by 300%. This suggests cybersecurity is no longer an option, but the fundamental pillar of a business. Your sensitive business data is under threat if the cybersecurity protection of your organization is not robust.

The right cybersecurity partner helps you with the following:

Secures your data and helps to avoid damage to the image of your company. So much hard work is being put into establishing a brand, but it takes only a single data breach to ruin your reputation.
Helps you keep your clients’ trust in your business and security alive.
Handles all security-related legal issues for you. Thus, you avoid legal ramifications with the help of cybersecurity partners and can invest your time in other essential parts of your business.

Benefits of having the right cybersecurity partner

1. Gaining a Better Understanding of Security Risks

With the help of the right cybersecurity partner, companies can gain a better understanding of potential threats. They can also make the necessary adaptations and rescue plans in case of a data breach.

2. Proactive Protection

Following a reactive security approach may expose your organization to becoming a cybercrime victim. A cybersecurity partner proactively protects your company by performing penetration tests, designing a data recovery and rescue plan, and performing regular security scans.

3. Maintain Relevant Compliance Standards

Often, it is difficult for organizations to decipher which compliance standards are “nice to have” and which ones are requirements. Having an experienced cybersecurity partner ensures that your corporate resources are appropriately aligned with the compliance standards required to meet both business goals and security objectives.

4. Increased Revenue and Customer Trust

Being a victim of cybercrime can cause your organization a significant loss in terms of revenue and customer trust. You lose profit, customers, and face multiple penalties and lawsuits. Having the right cybersecurity partner would save you from these losses and increase your revenue and customer trust.

Key Attributes to Consider When Selecting a Cybersecurity Partner

So how do you select the right cybersecurity partner for your organization?

1. Know your business and IT requirements

Before searching for a partner, you should first try to identify what you need and your business security requirements. Most businesses need solutions like data loss prevention, firewalls, data recovery, network security, device security, anti-ransomware software, and cloud security. You should consult within your team and create a list of your requirements.

2. Confirm what services the cybersecurity partner provides and their delivery timeline

When selecting the right partner, you should assess their services according to your needs. For example, confirm whether they can provide quick resolutions or not. Timing is critical, and delays in services may cost you a lot.

Below is a list of essential security services offered by competent cybersecurity partners in today’s threat landscape:

Security Operations Center (SOC) services
Data security governance
Network Security Operation
Infrastructure Security (on-premise and cloud-based)
Access Control Management
Malware and Ransomware Defense
IT Systems Management
Website Protection

3. Industry and Technical Expertise

Cybersecurity partners should have expertise across multiple industries, and they must be able to demonstrate their understanding of industry-specific issues as they relate to your organization. You can even ask them about their previous clients. Ask about their software and hardware. You can also evaluate their team based on their expertise, awards, certificates, and recognitions.

4. Specialized Expertise and Knowledge Base

This is the most crucial factor when choosing a cybersecurity partner. Your partner must have strong expertise in cybersecurity compliance.

It is challenging for organizations to safely work online or remotely in an era where the rate of cyberattacks is increasing at a swift pace. Select the right cybersecurity partner to help you achieve your security goals.