As organisations continue their digital transformation, cybersecurity becomes an essential component of their operational risk portfolios. Previously, these were treated as two separate elements. But that is no longer the case, largely due to the increased instrumentation facilitated by the internet of things (IoT), the automated decision making that machine learning enables, and the digital value exchanges made possible by blockchain. The best way to defend against threats today is by adopting a structured, enterprise-wide risk management strategy with well-defined governance and policies. The underlying goal of these resilient systems is not only to withstand cyberattacks but also help carry out mission-critical business operations if and when an attack succeeds.
With cyberattacks continuing to evolve rapidly, organisations without the necessary manpower, technology, and experience must rely on managed security service providers (MSSPs) that offer continuous oversight and in turn, ensure comprehensive, future-proof security. MSSPs are increasingly embracing emerging technologies to conduct vulnerability and penetration testing and perform security scans more effectively along with instantly acting against threats of all types and magnitudes. Furthermore, to safeguard enterprises from temporarily inactive threats, MSSPs are focused on building threat intelligence, which involves building a strong front gate against attackers throughout the network chain. It also provides information and context about attack methodologies, including the tools used to obscure a break-in, how an attack hides inside network traffic or evades detection, the type of data being stolen or malware being planted, and the manner in which an attack communicates back to its controller.
The development of intrusion detection and prevention software (IDPS), coupled with threat intelligence, is anticipated to dominate the market. IDPS will help monitor network traffic meticulously for every little sign of a possible attack. As soon as it detects potentially dangerous activity, IDPS will take appropriate action to stop the attack. Often, this can take the form of dropping malicious packets, blocking network traffic or even resetting connections if the need be. IDPS is also capable of automatically sending alerts to security administrators about potential malicious activity. In this regard, the two main contributors to the successful deployment and operation of IDPS are the deployed signatures and the network traffic that flows through it.
As the security landscape increasingly witnesses technology advancements, MSSPs must not only focus on adopting new technologies to provide strong security against both the traditional and modern cyberattacks but must also be fully GDPR-compliant to ensure end-to-end data safety. To help organisations select managed security services that best address their business requirements, our distinguished panel comprising key decision-makers and experts along with Enterprise Security Magazine's editorial board has shortlisted some of the most promising MSSPs across the UK.
We present to you Enterprise Security Magazine’s “Top 10 Managed Security Service Providers in UK - 2019.”
