Understanding Secure Managed Services

Driven in part by emerging technologies and automation, cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and frequent, meaning organisations must prioritise security across all aspects of their operations.

For regulated organisations such as government, defence, civil nuclear and finance—organisations in either public or private sectors­—handling sensitive information requires not just secure practices but also reliable, efficient systems.

This is where secure managed services come into play—a solution designed to safeguard critical data while balancing the need for and enhancing, productivity.

What is a secure managed service?

While naming conventions differ—often referred to as a Managed Security Service (MSS) or in the case of the vendor delivering the service, a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP)—a secure managed service is a comprehensive IT management solution that integrates advanced security measures with high-performance capabilities. Name or label aside, this, then, is shared commonality—involving outsourcing the management and oversight of an organisation’s IT infrastructure, applications, and services to a third-party provider, with a specific focus on protecting sensitive and classified data. This is particularly important for industries dealing with OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE information, where the potential consequences of data breaches can be severe.

Secure managed service components

A key element of modern secure managed services is the Zero Trust security model, which operates on the principle that no one—whether inside or outside the network—should be trusted by default. Unlike traditional security models that assume everything inside the network is safe, Zero Trust requires continuous verification of every user and device trying to access resources. This approach significantly enhances security by ensuring that only authorised entities can interact with sensitive data, thereby providing an extra layer of protection against both external and internal threats.

However, secure managed services utilise a range of cutting-edge technologies to maintain a robust security posture. From a Secure Internet Gateway acting as the first line of defence by controlling and monitoring outbound internet traffic to Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) systems. SIEM is integral to secure managed services, as it collects and analyses data from various sources within the network to identify and respond to security incidents in real-time.

Further enhancing security, Patching and Vulnerability Management is a vital component of secure managed services, ensuring that systems are up to date with the latest patches, closing any security loopholes that could be exploited by attackers.

While far from an exhaustive view, a robust secure managed service should also provide:

• Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)
• Denial of Service Protection
• Phishing Protection and Reporting
• Malware Protection
• Firewall Portection

What are the benefits of a secure managed service?

The benefits of secure managed services are extensive. By leveraging advanced technologies and methodologies, these services provide enhanced security, protecting organisations from a wide range of cyber threats. They also ensure regulatory compliance, helping organisations meet stringent industry standards and legal requirements. Additionally, secure managed services offer cost efficiency, reducing the need for expensive hardware, software, and specialised personnel by allowing organisations to outsource their IT security needs. Scalability and flexibility are also key advantages, as secure managed services can be tailored to the specific needs of an organisation, whether it’s expanding into new regions or adding new users.

Furthermore, secure managed service’s monitoring and support provide proactive threat detection and rapid response to potential security incidents. This minimises downtime and damage, ensuring that operations remain uninterrupted. By entrusting IT security to a managed service provider, organisations can focus on their core business functions, rather than getting bogged down in the complexities of cyber security.

Logiq’s rapidly deployable cloud-based secure managed service, DISX, is built around M365 for maximum productivity and provides an out-of-the-box, secure data collaboration and communications solution for the Ministry of Defence, Central Government, Civil Nuclear and wider public and private sectors.

Get in touch to discover more about Logiq’s secure managed service, DISX, and elevate security and productivity throughout your organisation.