With so many threats to data security, MSPs need to be strategic about how they guard against them. There is no single cure-all solution that can protect clients’ networks and data against malware, brute force, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), and social engineering attacks—not to mention data loss from user error and natural disasters.
Just as there are myriad ways to lose data, MSPs can use a variety of strategies to protect it. A wise approach is adopting a layered security strategy that includes backup and disaster recovery (BDR).
Here are three reasons MSPs should combine security and data protection solutions to provide a comprehensive plan for keeping their clients’ data secure and accessible.
1. If All Else Fails, Recover
You know antivirus alone isn’t enough. Security solutions for your business and enterprise clients also require a firewall with advanced threat protection, intrusion detection/prevention system (IDS/IPS), encryption — and a robust BDR solution. The rationale is simple: If a threat makes it past your defenses and launches an attack on the network, BDR solutions provide backup versions of files and applications to ensure business continuity.
Cybercriminals and hackers are continuously engineering different types of attacks on different targets. Recent reports show an increase in malware attacks (totaling more than 8 billion targeting Android systems), a spike in attacks on WordPress sites, and evidence that hackers are working to find vulnerabilities in Internet of Things connections.
Technology is advancing to meet new and existing challenges, however, even if your clients continually upgrade to have a top-of-the-line security solution, there could still be a risk it won’t protect them from what cybercriminals will think up next. With BDR, there is a plan to recover what is lost.
2. The Threat Isn’t Exclusively External
Keeping data secure and accessible is a challenge because companies don’t face only external threats. A business’ employees can pave the way for data loss by clicking on links or attachments delivered by phishing emails or simply by making mistakes that result in the loss of files or data. Security solutions often can’t protect against attacks that are socially engineered to get people to click when they shouldn’t.
For example, ransomware attacks are often conducted this way, and when a computer system is infected, the only choice is to pay the ransom to get a code to decrypt files — unless the business has a BDR solution. With a BDR solution, a ransomware victim can restore the latest saved version of their files after their system has been repaired without needing to pay to get the files back.
3. Unsecured Data Backups Can Be a Liability
It’s not only beneficial to use BDR with security solutions. MSPs also need to use security solutions with BDR. Businesses often protect data by keeping two copies of data — one on premises and a second off site to protect against fires, floods, or other natural disasters. If off-site data isn’t protected with a security solution, it can become vulnerable or even a liability.
For example, if an MSP works with clients in highly regulated industries, encrypting data backups is a requirement. Healthcare providers must encrypt protected health information (PHI) in a manner that makes it unreadable if it’s intercepted in transit, otherwise they risk penalties for noncompliance with HIPAA.
Both security and BDR have the same basic goal of keeping data accessible to customers, and using them together has added advantages. Offer solutions to your customers that combine both to provide the benefits of a comprehensive plan that protects them from attack and a pathway to data restoration, if needed.
