How to Check Security of Your

 Managed Service Provider

Have you heard about the latest security threat to businesses? It seems like a big company is in the news every day for being hacked. The truth is that any company can be a target for cybercrime, and small businesses are particularly vulnerable. The risk of security breaches and managed service providers are no exception.  

This doesn't mean that you should avoid working with an MSP. However, managed IT services can actually help reduce your risk of being hacked by providing expertise and 24/7 monitoring that you may not be able to afford on your own. 

However, businesses need to vet their MSPs and ensure that they take appropriate security measures. Here are a few prime things to look for.

Check the Security of Your Managed Service Provider

Risk Assessment and Prevention

The first & foremost step to keeping your data safe is identifying what threats exist and putting measures to prevent them. Your MSP should conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to identify potential security threats and recommend solutions to mitigate them.

Ask your MSP about the processes

• How frequently do the MSP conduct vulnerability testing and cybersecurity scans for your organization?
• How does the MSP ensure that their remote access tools aren't being used maliciously to gain entry to your network?
• What policies and procedures are in place to prevent social engineering attacks?
• Does the MSP have an incident response plan in place in case of a security breach?

Onboarding and Offboarding Employees

Another key part of MSP security is ensuring that only authorized employees have access to your network. The MSP should have processes for onboarding and offboarding employees to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to your data. 

Ask your MSP about the processes

• How does the MSP verify the identity of employees before granting them access to your network?
• How does the MSP ensure that employees don't have any malicious software on their devices before accessing your network?
• What procedures are in place to remove an employee's access to your network when they leave the company?

Data Encryption

In the event that data is stolen, it must be unreadable by anyone who doesn't have the proper encryption key. Your MSP should encrypt all data in transit and at rest to protect it from being accessed by unauthorized individuals.

Ask your MSP about their encryption policies

• What type of encryption does the MSP use for data in transit and at rest?
• Who has access to the encryption keys?
• How are the keys stored and managed?

Data Backup and Disaster Recovery

In the act of a data security breach or another disaster, it's essential to have a plan of action in place to ensure that your data is backed up and can be recovered quickly. Your MSP should have a robust data backup and disaster recovery plan in place to keep your data safe.

Ask your MSP about the processes

• How often is data backed up?
• Where is the backup data stored?
• How quickly can the MSP recover data in the event of a disaster?
• Are there any procedures in place to prevent data corruption or loss during backup and recovery? 

Password Management

One of the most common ways hackers gain access to networks is by using stolen or guessed passwords. Therefore, your MSP should have a password management policy in place to ensure that passwords are strong and not reused across multiple systems.

Ask your MSP about the processes

• Who at the MSP will have access to your login information? How and where will these passwords be kept?
• What policies are in place to ensure that passwords are strong and not reused?
• How do you change passwords if they are hacked?

Multi-factor authentication is an alternative way to reduce the risk of password theft. Ask your MSP if they offer this type of authentication and whether it would be a good fit for your organization. 

Conclusion

Managed service providers must take security seriously, and they are no exception. By taking the time to vet your MSP and ensure that they have appropriate security measures in place, you can reduce your risk of being hacked. IT consulting firms can also help you assess your MSP's security posture and recommend additional measures to improve it.