It just makes sense that when it comes to specialized work, you’d want to hire specialists, trained and certified, to be the ones making use of the tools of their trade. Don’t you think that makes sense for cybersecurity as well? We will explore why engaging Kraft Technology Group to manage your Fortinet solutions, such as FortiSIEM and FortiGate, will minimize enterprise risk and gives your business a strategic advantage.
Even if you haven’t encountered a hacking or malware issue for some time, cybercriminals are  still coming up with new methods to steal and compromise sensitive business data every single day.
Often, this is too much for business leaders and security staff to keep up with. In order to make sure you’re secure, while still having the time to actually focus on your goals, you can’t rely on an ad-hoc approach to cybersecurity.
You likely need something that’s more comprehensively (and effectively) managed.
Can You (Or, Should You) Handle Cybersecurity On Your Own?
Short answer?
Maybe – but probably not. Especially for regulating industries like healthcare and financial services.
In theory, it’s entirely possible that, if you’ve invested in the right technologies, and have the right skill set, you could handle cybersecurity for your business all on your own.
You would oversee your installations, management, maintenance, and everything else that comes to with operating a secure and robust business IT environment.
But, if we’re being honest…
That’s a big if.
When it comes to protecting against the ongoing, evolving cybersecurity threats in play today, managing cybersecurity is, understandably, a tall order. For you to effectively fill the role of a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), you would need…
- The knowledge of how to select, install, manage and maintain increasingly complex IT security systems (such as next generation firewalls and SIEM, which we explore in further detail below).
Do you have that kind of know-how?
- The time to both maintain systems on an ongoing basis and respond to events as they occur.
If you can’t afford to make cybersecurity your full-time job, then do you really think you can stay on top of it?
For all these reasons, it’s recommended that business leaders simply outsource, or co-manage, their cybersecurity for complete management by an IT security company they can rely on.
In fact, whereas nearly a quarter of businesses in the Enterprise Communications Survey have already moved to a managed security model, nearly 45% have plans to in within the next year.
I know what you’re thinking – will it cost more?
Yes – but it will also guarantee a level of quality and consistency in management and maintenance that likely can’t be achieved by you or someone on your staff trying to manage on their own.
And nowhere is this truer than when it comes to advanced cybersecurity IT technologies, such as SIEM…
What Is SIEM?
Security information and event management (SIEM) technology provide a secure cloud service that provides 24/7 security and operation monitoring to oversee a given business’ security needs.
A SIEM solution offers a monitoring service, with adaptive threat protection that identifies active cyberattacks and takes action in real-time to protect your business.
By integrating intelligence from global threat monitoring feeds, this solution responds to network-based zero-day exploit attempts, drive-by downloads, and advanced malware that routinely bypass conventional firewall and antivirus technologies.
Further features of most SIEM products include:
- Termination of communications with blacklisted or untrusted remote sites.
- Continuous monitoring of and protection against new or abnormal user activity on your networks and systems.
- Automatic shutdown of your critical systems to stop active cyberattacks when necessary.
- Real-time notifications of any significant network activity with automatic remedial actions.
- Ongoing access to a dedicated cybersecurity expert that’s available on-demand to address and resolve your security concerns as need be.
In fact, 70% of businesses using SIEM experienced better detection of threats and a measurable reduction in security breaches.
Sounds good, right?
However, as discussed above, there is a key issue with SIEM implementation…
What’s The #1 Problem With SIEM?Â
Businesses that invest in SIEM may try to handle it on their own – and fail.
As explored above, those operating a business likely don’t have the time or knowledge to properly make use of SIEM.
It becomes a wasted investment, and in the end, doesn’t help to enhance security for the business.
That’s why SIEM is incomplete without SOC services…Â
What are SOC Services?
A Security Operations Center (SOC) is a team of people, employing a range of proven processes and using carefully implemented technologies (such as SIEM) which are often centralized, and that – at the very least – gather and analyze user reports and a range of data sources, such as logs from information systems and cybersecurity controls.
Typically, the main point of a SOC is to identify, address and eliminate cybersecurity events that could negatively impact an organization’s information systems or data.
Depending on several factors – size, budget, industry, location, etc. — SOCs can vary from organization to organization and are implemented per structural cybersecurity priorities and risk tolerance.
Whereas one business’ SOC will oversee a cybersecurity event from detection to remediation, another may instead focus on supporting and coordinating incident responders and handling incident response communication, which could mean status updates and third-party communication.
The point of outsourced SOC services is that IT leaders don’t have to develop and manage as SOC of their own.
When you don’t have SOC services, you don’t have any of the visibility into your systems, unless you happen to be looking at that server at that same time.
For example, you may not be able to notice that your CPU was working much harder than normal, in the event of a cyberattack.
Where Can You Get Managed Cybersecurity, SIEM and SOC Services?
From Kraft Technology Group and Fortinet.
Fortinet has a well-earned reputation as a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for businesses of all sizes and in all industries. Their range of security solutions covers your technology infrastructure end-to-end, protecting your systems and data from today’s growing number of cyber threats.
Fortinet’s innovative approach to IT security solutions ensures that whatever type of solution your business requires is readily available:
- FortiGate
Fortinet’s series of next-generation firewalls employ automated security features to stop malware threats hidden in encrypted traffic, monitor continuous threat intelligence updates and maintain ultra-low latency to protect network segments.
Security based on advanced technology like this can adapt and learn, creating a system that can become familiar with the normal patterns associated with each user and device, detecting anomalies in those patterns quickly.
Fortigate devices are available for small businesses and branch offices, through to midsize enterprises, all the way to Fortune 100 size environments. The security feature set is consistent through all models including virtual appliances.
FortiOS is the foundation of the Fortinet Security Fabric, consolidating many technologies and use cases into a simplified, single policy and management framework. FortiOS provides customers with superior protection, deeper visibility and control, reduced complexity, and greater operational efficiency across their entire attack surface.
Best-of-breed SD-WAN capability built-in to the Fortigate enables digital transformation at the enterprise branch and it is included with the base license.
- FortiSIEM
As a managed, holistic approach to monitoring, FortiSIEM both reduces complexity in cybersecurity while maintaining compliance benchmarks. Data is cross-correlated between network and security operations to ensure that expanding threat vectors are tracked effectively.Put simply – FortiSIEM takes a top-down approach to cybersecurity for your organization, monitoring for threats, neutralizing them when they occur, and learning from them to provide even more effective protection when the next event occurs.
Prebuilt compliance reports save our clients thousands of hours of development time and are readily available and automated (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOX, NERC, FISMA, ISO, GLBA, GPG13, and SANS Critical Controls).
Why Fortinet?
- Fortinet is among the top 4 public cybersecurity companies in the world.
- Install base of customers is by far the largest of all vendors with over 400,000 Network Security customers. 70% of the Fortune 100 are Fortinet customers.
- Heavy investment in R&D. As of March 31, 2019 Fortinet, has been issued 619 global patents and have 187 pending.
- Fortinet is a LEADER in both Gartner Network Security Magic Quadrants showing vision and customer success for all use cases and segments.
- The Fortinet Security Fabric delivers a unified approach that is broad, integrated, and automated. Reduce and manage the attack surface through integrated broad visibility, stop advanced threats through integrated AI-driven breach prevention, and reduce complexity through automated operations and orchestration.
- Strong Partner Program locally in Nashville Tennessee and nationally.
- Sonic Drive-In is a Fortinet customer. Protect those cheesy tots!
Do You Really Need These Services?
Almost certainly – depending on your business size or the industry you operate in, you may not have opted to invest in cybersecurity technologies like SIEM at all.
However, for those businesses that are utilizing a robust cloud platform to connect remote employees to headquarters, or bring together multiple locations, or operating in highly regulated industries like healthcare or finance, then you will certainly benefit from SIEM, SOC, and next-gen cybersecurity solutions from Fortinet.
And, as explored above, if you have SIEM, then you likely need the knowledge and resources to make the most of it. If we’re being honest, it is unlikely that you can manage that effectively on your own.
That’s why you may need managed firewall and SIEM & SOC services built on Fortinet solutions, delivered by Kraft Technology Group – to make the most of your cybersecurity technology and make sure your business is kept secure.
If you’re unsure about where you stand, then you should get in touch with an IT company to get an informed second opinion.
Like this article? Check out the following blogs on cybersecurity to learn more:Â
The Need for Cybersecurity Expertise at the Board Level for Banking
The new Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP)
