The Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Right Cyber Security Partner to Protect Your Applications

Imagine you are at home, relaxing with your favorite beverage and watching the TV when suddenly, you hear a sound. An unwelcome guest is roaming your property while your security guard is asleep at his (or her) station.

You get your best tools (and people) out to get rid of the intruder and close your doors with a sigh of relief. However, now your biggest worry is this: an intruder gained access to your building because the security guard was negligent. Which means, it can happen again! Now you have more than one unwelcome guest: the security guard and the security threat.

Now apply this same scenario to the applications you are trying so hard to safeguard.

Did you know the computer manufacturer Acer hack attack cost the company $50 million!

Cyberattacks cost businesses around the world billions of dollars in terms of lost revenue and the resulting increase in IT spend in a seemingly futile attempt to step up their security game. If it happens to large, seemingly well secured organizations, it can happen to literally anyone.

Not just your average hacker

While the image of a genius teen hacker who is dead set on showing big corporations their place, is a popularly accepted one; in reality, it isn’t just outsiders or unscrupulous hackers that an organization has to worry about. According to a report by FTI Consulting, 75 percent of organizations surveyed have made changes to their data privacy programs in the last 12 months. In the coming year, 97 percent of organizations will increase their spend on data privacy, with an average increase of 50 percent.

With all of these scary figures in context, you know that finding a cybersecurity firm to consult and help you secure your organization’s data and applications is beyond critical. However, we cannot sufficiently emphasize the importance of finding the right one.

Finding the right cyber security partner

Employing and retaining in-house expertise is increasingly becoming difficult because of the shortage of cyber security experts and their growing cost. Outsourcing is the solution. Select a provider that provides the level of security needed, even more if the regulator specifies the cybersecurity requirements.

All organisations, irrespective of their size and the markets they operate in want to reduce the risk of cyber attacks. Businesses want to protect their systems, data, infrastructure from unauthorised access and (obviously!) exploitation. Prevention of service disruption is another goal every business has. Finding the right cyber security partner is key to achieving peace of mind.

How well have they done so far?

When selecting a security company, first look at their past. How long have they been in business? What regional or international companies have they serviced? How happy are their customers with the firm’s stability and ability to do its job? What do you know of their integrity? The best indicator of future performance is past performance, which is why it’s so important to check and confirm references.

When evaluating a vendor, also take into considering certifications, track record and equally importantly, the credentials of its delivery team.  

A few certifications to look out for would be:

• Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
• ISC Certification
• GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)
• SANS Certification
• EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSAv4) Certification from EC-Council University.
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEHv6) Ethical Hacking and Counter Measures Certification from ECCouncil University.

No prizes for guessing, but WeSecureApp has them all!

Are they all about ‘ideas’ or do they also execute?

Delivering custom solutions requires both service capabilities and experience in various areas. Cyber security partners that are in high demand for all the right reasons, do more than just advise and consult. They are actively involved in building shrewd solutions that will not just barricade you against cyber attack problems, but also greatly simplify your processes for security.

Are they providing you proof of vulnerabilities or attacks?

Any cyber security firm that offers to clean up your security messes, should be able to provide solid proof of any security breaches or attacks they say are happening. Not only will they take the word ‘breach’ seriously, but they will display integrity in providing you with evidence of the said breach.

Best platform with solid proof is Strobes which is a risk centered and ML-based vulnerability management platform. With security becoming an exponentially growing concern for enterprises across industries, Strobes emphasizes 100% on the importance of prioritizing data-driven information while building a cybersecurity board report for all executives to follow.

Do they fit your organization’s unique needs?

We have discussed integrity, reputation and expertise already and it goes without saying, that firms not meeting these prerequisites should be flat out rejected without a second thought. But, if they meet the above criteria, there is yet another aspect to consider, do they meet the unique and exclusive needs of your organization – whether it be related to the web, cloud, mobile, WordPress, Magento and so on.

Do they make the effort to educate your team?

Cybersecurity is not a one man show and is most definitely not a one-vendor show either. Your team, which includes the entire staff – right from the compliance and security team, all the way to the management requires training in order to improve their approach and further their awareness of cyber security. Even with hours of technical consulting from an accomplished security provider, won’t deliver as much ROI or impact, if they aren’t able to educate your internal team.

Choosing a right cyber security partner may just be one of the most significant business decisions you will be making for the future of your business. So, ensure that you are investing the right amount of time and research before you sign that contract. 

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