In today's digital landscape, the threat of cyberattacks looms larger than ever. The meme we just posted, "The people who just hacked you don’t have certificates or degrees," captures a critical truth about the cybersecurity field: the most dangerous adversaries often aren't bound by formal education or conventional rules. This reality underscores the need for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to think beyond traditional training and certifications and to embrace a mindset that mirrors that of the hackers they're defending against.
The Limitations of Traditional Training
While degrees and certifications are essential for establishing a foundational understanding of cybersecurity, they represent only the beginning of a cybersecurity professional’s education. Formal training typically covers standard protocols, defense mechanisms, and compliance requirements. However, it often lacks emphasis on the adaptive, creative, and boundary-pushing tactics employed by cybercriminals.
Hackers operate outside the bounds of legality and convention, using innovative and often unorthodox methods to breach systems. Their lack of formal training does not impede their effectiveness; rather, it emboldens them to explore vulnerabilities with a fresh, unrestricted perspective.
Choosing the Right MSP
For small businesses looking to hire an MSP to bring robust cyber protections, it’s crucial to look for providers that think like hackers. Here’s what to consider:
- Thought Leadership Alignment:
- Investigate who the MSP aligns with for their cybersecurity thought leadership. Are they following industry leaders who are at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation? Do they participate in leading cybersecurity conferences and forums?
- MSPs that stay connected with top thought leaders are more likely to be aware of emerging threats and innovative defense strategies.
- Continuous Training and Adaptation:
- Ask about the MSP’s training programs. How do they ensure their team stays updated on the latest threats and defense techniques? Continuous learning and adaptation are crucial in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
- Look for MSPs that provide regular training sessions, certifications, and encourage participation in cybersecurity competitions and simulations.
- Robust Processes and Systems:
- Ensure the MSP has robust processes and systems in place that can adapt to new threats. This includes regular security audits, proactive monitoring, and a well-defined incident response plan.
- An MSP should have a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, integrating advanced threat detection, automated response systems, and continuous improvement practices.
Embrace the Hacker Mindset
To truly protect your digital assets, your MSP must adopt a hacker’s mindset. This involves thinking like an attacker—anticipating their moves, understanding their motivations, and identifying potential weaknesses that a traditional approach might overlook. Here’s how:
- Hands-On Experience: Practical experience is invaluable. Ensure your MSP’s team engages in ethical hacking, sets up test environments to simulate attacks, and participates in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions. This hands-on approach helps them stay ahead of attackers who constantly innovate their tactics.
- Thinking Outside the Box: Cybersecurity is as much about creativity as it is about technical knowledge. An MSP that fosters a culture of innovation within its cybersecurity teams is better positioned to discover novel ways to protect your systems. Just as hackers think outside the box to find vulnerabilities, your MSP must think creatively to secure them.
Conclusion
The digital world is a battleground, and the best defense is often understanding the offense. By thinking like hackers, MSPs can better anticipate and mitigate the threats they face. When choosing an MSP for your small business, prioritize practical skills, a proactive mindset, and a commitment to continuous improvement over formal qualifications alone.
We, at DataCorps, align ourselves with top cybersecurity thought leaders, such as Dave Summitt who was selected by his peers as CISO of the Year in 2019. We provide continuous training for our team, and have built robust processes and systems that adapt to emerging threats by modeling after military processes. We believe in empowering our clients with the highest level of protection against even the most sophisticated cyber threats. Let’s work together to build a secure digital future.
