IT Security: To outsource or not?

 

I was in high school when I first learned about the Lovebug virus and its global outbreak. Even the Pentagon and the UK Parliament were greatly impacted. As early as the 2000s, cyber security threats were rampant and IT security was compromised.

When I worked in the Supply Chain field, my team constantly communicates with suppliers from abroad using verified company emails as we purchase materials and make financial transactions. Our emails were constantly exposed not just to our regular suppliers, but also to other possible suppliers. Randomly, we would receive phishing emails with attachments asking for our quotations or to book shipments from those countries, although we haven't communicated with any of those senders. As a medium-sized company, we didn’t have the means to invest in IT security. The remedy we just did was to not open phishing emails and to be vigilant for future threats.

In today’s technologically driven society, IT threats have been immensely growing and several initiatives are being done to mitigate these threats and improve IT security.

An organization may encounter the following issues and their corresponding ways to address them.

Investment and improvement costs

            Investing in any kind of technology is costly. Costs for the initial purchase, potential downtime associated with updating a device, and regular maintenance are always present. (Outsourcing Cyber Security: What Are the Pros and Cons?, 2020)

            IT rapidly evolves, and cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, so investing in additional protection or software and upgrading security is the solution.

Addressing the issue:

            It is better to invest although costly compared to having a data breach which will cost more to troubleshoot. Also, as operating systems upgrade, it is better to outsource to be secure as possible and reduce the likelihood that you will need to pay for data recovery.

Unresponsive Support Team

            Seeking assistance for system problems and receiving support to troubleshoot may take too long unlike in an in-house IT team where it’s closer to ask for help. (What Are the Risks of Outsourcing IT Services? (What to Consider), n.d.)

Addressing the issue:

            Outsourced IT companies offer remote desktop assistance that can troubleshoot problems.  Also, hire a committed and reputable company in fixing problems quickly and having experienced technicians that are available always.

Decreased Security

            Decreased security may be caused by obsolete technologies, outdated security strategies, and not updated to latest security threats and best practices.

Addressing the issue:

            Partner with a reputable IT expert to maintain the best network security, backup and recovery systems, and disaster preparedness. (What Are the Risks of Outsourcing IT Services? (What to Consider), n.d.)

                These are just a few of the many issues that companies choosing to outsource IT security may face. On another note, these issues always have solutions to address them. Although it is better for the company to do thorough research first on whether an IT security investment can benefit or hinder its growth, it has been proven that the benefits still outweigh the costs. So, to outsource IT security or not? Definitely, YES!

References:

Outsourcing cyber security: What are the pros and cons? (2020, March 20). Medium. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://medium.com/@atg_it/outsourcing-cyber security-what-are-the-pros-and-cons-82fa88fe810b

What are the Risks of Outsourcing IT Services? (What to Consider). (n.d.). NetCov.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.netcov.com/what-are-the-risks-of-outsourcing-it-services/

White, G. (2020, May 3). Love Bug's creator tracked down to repair shop in Manila. BBC. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52458765.amp

Image and GIFs were taken from:

Home. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOGE0YjllYjg4OTI4ZWQ3MWJkZDdlYzc5YmVhOWM4Y2VmM2I2YzQ1NyZjdD1n/f3iwJFOVOwuy7K6FFw/giphy.gif

Home. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://media.giphy.com/media/VLWIuR02bq33gp48aQ/giphy.gif