Top Criteria to Choose the Best Managed Security Services Provider

The right managed security services provider can bring a host of specialized tools and skills to the table that you will otherwise lack the budget, resources and time to develop within your own staff.

So, would it be good to get outside help? That’s possible. But, before you consider outsourcing, you have to develop a clear idea of what kind of help you need in the first place.

Take note that you are not yet prepared for outsourcing if:

• You have no idea exactly what you want to secure.
• You cannot clearly articulate your goal or problem.
• There is no one board that can actively manage and own the relationship.

The most suitable approach to outsourcing your needs calls for plenty of advance planning and careful forethought. To help you out, below are some useful tips to guide you with your decision making process to and help you in an effective screening of managed security services providers before you make things official.

Top 10 Criteria to Help You Hire the Right MSSP

1. Inquire whether they have worked with comparable businesses or organizations which are similar to yours in size, industry or stage.
2. Ask for references.
3. Make sure that all responsibilities and requirements are properly documented in the service level agreements or statements of work.
4. Review their policies, procedures and standards with care.
5. Try to know who on their side will own your account as well as the level of interaction that you will have. You wouldn’t want to be in partnership and expect access to the Principal only to know later on that this is not really the case.
6. Have a clear understanding of the necessary kind of access to the internal resources and ensure that you got everything available before they come on the first day.
7. Set clear milestones as well as deliveries in order to checkpoint the progress against SLA during the process.
8. Understand reseller agreements put in place, if there are any.
9. Have a good exit strategy when and if you want to stop hiring their services.
10. Have a clear understand of the provider’s financials. The last thing you want is a company with poor financial position that will say yes to everything just because they are in dire need of work.

Commitment is a Must When Outsourcing Security

Managed security services provider can be excellent partners for companies that want to further boost their security. However, you have to keep in mind that there is simply no one outside your business that will value it in the same way that you do. Should a security incident takes place, it is your name that will be flashed in the news and not the name of the provider. This is the reason why you have to be careful in choosing your partners. Just like any other serious relationships in life. to succeed, you have to invest lots of open discussion for you to establish confidence, clarity and trust.

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