What is MSP?

An IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) allows you to trust your organization’s IT requirements to outsourced subject matter experts. Rather than serve individual projects, an MSP guides you in an ongoing manner. Projects that have a definite beginning and end point are usually referred to as professional services as opposed to MSP services.

MSP examples and managed services examples not only include security management, but also:

  • Data center management
  • Backup and recovery management
  • Network management

MSP Services

An experienced MSP provider will take the time to begin by sketching out the scope of the work involved. They do this by clearly understanding the client’s business processes so that a clear distinction can be made between the things that the organization will continue to do for itself and that which will be outsourced. Numerous services can be provided from a remote IT help desk to cloud optimization.

MSP Software

There a many types of MSP software. By category, they include information services, business-to-business integration, supply chain managed services, transportation, marketing, media, water, and power. The information services category can include:

  • Software production support and maintenance
  • Authentication
  • Systems Management
  • Data Backup and Recovery
  • Data Storage, Warehouse, and Management
  • Cloud Transformation
  • Network Monitory, Management, and Security
  • Human Resources and Payroll

Why Does Working with an MSP Make Sense?

An MSP anticipates the diversity of processes and functions required by your business so that they can improve operations and reduce costs for you. Rather than responding directly to things that are broken and trying to fix them through on-demand services, MSP manages ongoing services that the client owns to ensure high levels of quality and performance.

What is an MSP Platform?

Enterprises, residences, or other service providers can access network-based applications, services, and equipment with MSP platforms. MSP platforms can monitor servers, firewalls, Exchange servers, Active Directory servers, routers, and switches remotely.

MSPs for Cybersecurity

Many organizations use MSPs when they lack the resources to manage their infrastructure. Many clients' sensitive data is accessible to MSPs, making them a target for cyber-attackers. Malicious actors frequently target MSPs for data breaches.

An MSP covers all core IT activities, so you could suffer serious damage from a minor glitch. There is a high risk that this could turn into a disaster very quickly. In order to prevent this, MSPs need to adopt the most effective cybersecurity practices.

Your managed service provider (MSP) can identify vulnerabilities in your network and fix them before they are exploited. By following these guidelines, MSPs can strengthen their defense against bad intentions.

The following steps can be taken by an MSP to increase cybersecurity:

1. Implement an email authentication protocol

Email authentication protocols are used to monitor server vulnerabilities. Users can avoid visiting malicious websites caused by following phishing emails. Spam emails containing malware and viruses can be identified using authentication. As a result, your system will always be secure and safe.

2. Educate employees

As most people now work remotely, MSPs must be more cautious in their work. Data breaches are most commonly caused by human errors. Training and education are essential for ensuring compliance with standards. You don't want your employees to fall victim to social engineering. Losing client data or damaging your reputation could result from one loophole.

3. Cybersecurity audits on a regular basis

MSPs play an important role in security. Employees must be aware of lateral movements, onboarding, and offboarding within the organization. Cybersecurity audits are necessary for MSPs to assess their team's capabilities.

In order to identify existing employees, employee access reviews are conducted. To prevent data breaches, access permissions should be revoked for employees leaving the company. Therefore, cybersecurity audits are essential.

4. Monitoring practice logs

Monitoring logs can assist IT teams in identifying potential outages. An analysis of the records can quickly reveal malicious traffic inflows. A threat pattern can also be identified and countermeasures can be implemented to counteract it.

Established MSPs can use SIEM (Security Information and Event Management), a tool that helps them sort through large amounts of data and prioritize their attention.

5. Proactive Threat Detection

Proactive MSPs can identify and mitigate threats. Tools such as firewalls and endpoint detection and response can stop online attacks. Firewalls control and manage network traffic. Antivirus scanning and email security can also be installed by MSPs to prevent intrusions.

MSPs for Cyber Insurance

MSPs and customers are increasingly relying on cyber insurance policies as part of their technology solutions and for good reason. Recently, ransomware payments have skyrocketed to levels few small businesses, including MSPs, can afford.

An analysis of today's cyber threats and what's expected tomorrow determines the cost of a cyber insurance policy. Those threats are constantly changing, and so are your insurance policies and the cost of insuring against cyber incidents.

We Can Help

Trava Security can help you with a variety of MSP services, including effective cybersecurity assessment tools, cyber insurance, and so much more. Please contact us to learn how we can help.