Eight Options for Managed Security Services

In the online network connected business environment, security is more critical -- and also more complex. Today, network security requires constant monitoring and management. All businesses now experience vulnerability on an infrastructure that often extends to many locations.

Managed service providers can create a comprehensive security offering that enables you to maintain the level of protection and control you require. They can manage some or all of your network security functions -- giving you access to their dedicated manpower, 24-hour safeguarding, as well as routine maintenance and management of disaster recovery.

Finding the right security solution for your organization begins with establishing your priorities and becoming informed about alternatives. The following describes typical managed security service offerings, and how you can apply them.

Managed Firewall
Firewalls protect internal and external networks by restricting the types of network protocols and traffic allowed on your network. Firewall appliances, which the service provider manages remotely, include dedicated hardware and software platforms located on your premises.

Managed Distributed Denial-of-Service Protection
This service involves protecting the network infrastructure and network-based resources from distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks -- so that your business can operate without interruption. It also helps prevent worm propagation that can cause DDoS attacks. DDoS mitigation provides protection against emerging threats.

Managed Intrusion Prevention Systems
Intrusion prevention systems (IPSs) identify and stop inappropriate attempts to access your network, systems, services, applications, or data. Intrusion detection services (IDSs) rely on network-based or host-based monitors, and often match monitored traffic or activity against profiles of known attacks.

Managed Antivirus Protection
This service most often involves checking for viruses at the gateway or firewall as well as in your e-mail messages, attachments, and file transfers. The service often includes automatic updates to antivirus definition files.

Managed Endpoint Protection
This service detects and stops unusual behavior on your endpoint devices, such as desktops and servers. In this way, you can prevent damage from Day-Zero security threats whose signature has not yet been identified.

Managed Authentication
Authentication refers to a group of processes and technologies used to verify the identity of a user attempting to gain access to your systems or applications.

Managed Content Filtering
Filtering is used to isolate and block content deemed inappropriate according to your internal policies or regulatory policies.

Vulnerability Assessment
The service includes security risk assessments, network scanning, and probing to reveal vulnerabilities in your network, operating system, or applications that can be accessed from the public Internet.

Contact a managed service provider, to learn more about these security capabilities, and the associated cost savings or productivity benefits. Most providers will have customer case studies for your consideration.