The digitization of the corporate world has impacted the security of most organizations. Businesses feel the constant threat to their cybersecurity with the advancement of cyber crimes. Companies have also scaled back some of their cybersecurity programs due to a lack of skilled employees to handle their digital security needs. However, even if they get the most trained security experts, threat actors have become more sophisticated in evading corporate defenses.
If enterprises do not have adequately trained staff, they are at high risk of attack by threat actors, and their critical data are vulnerable to hostile breaches. Due to this factor, many companies are outsourcing their identity and access management services to third-party security partners.
It is seen that in-house security operations may turn out to be risky as well as expensive. This is mainly because hiring well-trained security experts can be expensive, or if you opt to train your existing staff for high-end security services, that can also break the bank. Apart from that, in case there is any negligence, then your digital assets stand at great risk of exploitation. Therefore, it is best to opt for strategic partnerships with third-party security partners for the most sophisticated identity and access management solutions.
Often, high-end operational companies, such as SaaS organizations, have to spend the majority of their resources on their core operations. Focusing on access management and identity management solutions can be a hindrance to the productivity of the operational staff. Thus, enterprises choose to contract out identity and access management services to IAM service providers for the best security of their digital architecture.
Choosing the best security partner for your customer identity and access management can be a daunting task. It is integral to ask the right questions to determine whether the vendor you are opting for meets your security needs. You have to ensure that your security partner possesses the accurate knowledge, support, and experience to combat the virtual threat your business is vulnerable to.
The unprecedented surge in third-party identity and access management partnerships
Organizations partnering with IAM security service providers do so for a whole lot of reasons. 2024 has seen a surge in such partnerships to an unprecedented level. Here are some of the key reasons why enterprises are doing so!
Addressing gaps in resource and technology
Recently, the corporate world has experienced a gap in cybersecurity skills that has resulted in a severe workforce shortage. There are more than 5,00,000 vacant security positions in America alone. Other countries are also in similar situations. This has made it super challenging for organizations to find and recruit expert security professionals. Partnering with third-party security providers seems the best way to bridge these gaps without companies having to bear the burden of training and hiring new staff.
High cost of human resources
Modern companies already spend a lot on their IT budgets. Add to that the costs of cybersecurity, and it is nothing less than an exorbitant expenditure for the company. The cost of identity and access management solutions, along with the rising salary of employees, seems like an unbearable brunt on the company funds. In such a scenario, prioritizing the outsourcing of digital security to a third party seems like a cost-effective solution, as it is much more affordable than maintaining an in-house team.
Scalability and Effectiveness
Shifting from an in-house security strategy to one that depends on external partners showcases a prominent mindset shift. However, most organizations are of the view that transitioning to third-party security options offers much higher levels of scalability and effectiveness of the security parameters. As third-party vendors are experts in the field of cyber security, they can adapt quickly to the evolving threats in the digital landscape, allowing organizations to focus on their core operations.
Time and resource optimization
We know that the cybersecurity ecosystem is continuously changing, which means that organizations need to constantly keep an eye on new threats. They must be highly active in monitoring and responding to such threats. If they hand over the digital security realm to third-party vendors, they can save substantial time and resources while concentrating on other strategic initiatives of the organization.
Application onboarding challenges
Enterprises deploy a multitude of cloud services and software solutions that require a good amount of manpower and hours to track their configuration and security at all times. Third-party security partners have the necessary expertise to efficiently onboard and manage such applications while also adhering to data privacy and security regulations. This greatly helps enterprises to overcome application onboarding challenges with ease.
Access to diverse knowledge bases
Organizations that partner with identity and access management security experts gain access to a wider range of expertise and knowledge that would otherwise not have been available in-house. These external partners usually have valuable resources and insights, as they have vast experience gained by working with various clients and industries. Such expansive experiences are likely to improve an enterprise’s security posture and make way for the effective implementation of more exhaustive protection programs.
Why is leveraging security partnerships an attractive option for enterprises?
Enterprises opting to outsource their digital security programs to expert security partners have now become the norm. Let us study the key reasons that are attracting corporates to do so!
Extensive security stack implementation
Organizations benefit from the implementation of a complete security stack once they partner with third-party security experts. Businesses no longer have to juggle several security products, such as identity and access management, firewalls, and endpoint detection software, to name a few. Instead, they can now rely on security specialists who have a clear understanding of the seamless integration of security tools.
Access to experience and expertise
It is difficult for enterprises to have complete in-house knowledge for the effective evaluation and implementation of security solutions. Third-party security providers provide a wealth of experience and expertise. They can identify the best digital security solutions that meet your organization’s specific needs. This greatly decreases the unnecessary burden on internal teams who may not have the bandwidth and knowledge to deal with this.
Adaptability
New threats constantly emerge with the advancement in cybercrime. Third-party partners have a dedicated team that stays updated on every such trend and development to ensure that their clients are not left vulnerable to potential dangers. Such adaptability is crucial, as security is not a one-time setup but needs continuous management and adjustment.
Reduction of maintenance responsibilities
Outsourcing the core responsibility of security management helps alleviate the pressure of routine tasks like managing updates and patches and identifying new security products. This is a huge sigh of relief for the internal teams, as they can solely focus on crucial business activities while being at peace knowing they do not have to worry about security evasion at all.
Reliability
You get the much-needed peace of mind and confidence knowing that your organization’s security is properly configured and maintained by industry experts. Even the most resourced business houses experience great reliability and scalability with external security partnerships, which is otherwise challenging to achieve, especially when onboarding new security solutions.
Key elements of a strong security partnership
Third-party security partners are valuable resources for many businesses; however, being able to identify the right partner and working seamlessly with them requires a proper approach. Let us see how you can choose your security partners and retain that association for the betterment of your business!
Screening of security vendors
Before you strike a deal, make sure you thoroughly assess your potential security partner. See that they possess the necessary expertise and support that you are looking for. You should also be clear with your objective regarding which security areas you intend to manage internally and for which areas you need external assistance.
Define your goals
Set the goals that you want to achieve with your partnership. Determine what objectives you want to fulfill by hiring an external security partner, whether it involves hiring staff, purchasing licenses, or choosing a comprehensive digital security solution. Setting realistic goals is a prerequisite for a successful partnership.
Ask the right questions
While selecting your security vendor, ask the necessary questions that will help you assess their technical expertise and operational processes to understand whether they can match your expectations or not. You have to look beyond the technical solutions that you are seeking to figure out how well your potential partners can assist you in combating virtual dangers and adapting to the changing landscape of cyber crimes.
Industry-specific experience
Each industry has its own specific privacy and security requirements; therefore, businesses should opt for security partners who have relevant experience catering to their specific industry challenges. Make sure you discuss your partner’s strategy to adhere to data security and privacy regulations that apply to your industry and location.
Scalability consideration
Analyze your potential security vendor’s ability to scale their services as per your company’s and industry’s requirements whenever needed. If you own a small-scale enterprise, you can join hands with a small security firm, but if you are a biggie in your industry, then you surely need a partner with expansive resources.
Identifying target markets
Before finalizing a security partner, see which vendors provide the best services in your market segment. Knowing the distinction between security vendors for small businesses and security vendors for multinationals will help you make the right decision considering the size and requirements of your firm.
Pricing models
Investigate the pricing and contract structure of vendors. Different vendors have different pricing models, ranging from those technology-based to hourly rates and result-based. The pricing model of your access management and security partner will directly affect your financial planning. Therefore, it is suggested to collaborate with your sales and finance teams to determine the best security pricing approach suited for your organization.
Outsourcing digital security is often considered a more cost-effective option than hiring and maintaining an in-house department for the same. However, organizations must consider all their financial elements before finalizing a third-party security partner. This includes evaluating potential long-term costs and benefits to ensure a sound investment.
Bottomline
If you want to prevent data breaches, operational inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, service disruptions, and financial and legal repercussions due to regulatory violations then make sure you have a proper PKI management system in place. Now that you know what is PKI infrastructure, you must adopt a dynamic PKI management system to streamline your operations and secure data transmission across your organizational network.
eMudhra’s powerful PKI solutions support the most robust form of end-to-end authentication and help organizations deploy private PKI for issuing and managing trusted certificates throughout the enterprise. If you want to know more about our PKI services, then contact our team today!
