How to Choose a Cyber Security Solution for Your Business

As the number of cyber attacks grew by 38% in 2022 and continues to rise, more and more businesses are looking for cyber security solutions to help defend their brand against potential threats that could cause irreversible financial and reputational damage. But how many organisations truly understand cyber security solutions and how to select the right one for their company? 

Thankfully, we’ve created this guide to provide you with insight into what cyber security solutions are and the steps you can take to choose the best cyber security solutions for your business.

In this guide, we’ll explore the following:

• What are cyber security solutions?
• Choosing the best cyber security solutions for your business
  • Conduct an internal cyber security risk assessment
  • Determine your cyber security solution needs
  • Partner with cyber security solution providers
  • Justify the costs of cyber security services and solutions
  • Consider how scalable and user-friendly the solution is

What are cyber security solutions?

Cyber security solutions serve as the frontline defence against the various cyber threats posed against global organisations of all sizes and industries in today’s interconnected digital landscape. Encompassing a diverse range of technological tools and services, the primary goal of these services and solutions is to safeguard companies from the potentially devastating consequences of cyber attacks.

Whether protecting against downtime to your IT infrastructure, data theft, financial and reputational damage to your brand, compliance fines, legal action and more, there are various categories of cyber security services and solutions.

Application cyber security solutions: These types of cyber security solutions focus on testing software applications for potential vulnerabilities throughout the initial development and testing phases. They also support the protection against attacks once applications are running in production.

Cloud security: The benefits of cloud security can protect your business by offering control over complex cloud environments and detecting security misconfigurations and vulnerabilities. This type of solution facilitates the protection to ensure the security of public, private, and hybrid cloud deployments within your organisation.

Endpoint security: Implemented on endpoint devices, including laptops, smartphones, servers, and other devices used by your employees in the workplace, can be protected in real-time from threats such as malware and unauthorised access while also detecting and preventing data breaches.

Network security: Capable of monitoring network traffic to detect potentially malicious activity, network security solutions enable companies to block, filter, and mitigate network-related cyber threats effectively.

Internet of Things (IoT) security: This final type of cyber security solution allows for visibility and security controls across the ever-expanding network of IoT devices. Often unsecured by design, your interconnected devices are crucial for supporting mission-critical applications and storing sensitive data. Therefore, implementing IoT security is a smart move for protecting your IoT devices.

In addition to the above solutions, cyber security services can offer comprehensive protective measures for your internet-connected systems. These services address various aspects of securing your IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, and data. 

Below, we’ve listed the key elements of cyber security services that can help safeguard your IT assets against cyber criminals.

• Vulnerability assessments: Identify weaknesses in your IT systems to proactively assess potential unauthorised entry points for cyber attackers.
• Penetration testing: Simulate cyber attacks to evaluate the effectiveness of your existing cyber security measures.
• Threat detection and intelligence: Involves employing advanced tools to detect and counteract potential cyber threats.
• Access management: This element of cyber security services allows you to control and monitor who within your business has access to sensitive data and information.
• Incident response planning: Here, the service helps you develop effective strategies to respond to and reduce the impact of cyber security incidents.
• User awareness and training programmes: Cyber security services can also help educate your employees on recognising and reacting to potential cyber threats, enhancing your company's security posture.

Cyber security services and solutions, whether in the form of products or services, can help you create a robust defence for your business. These solutions are pivotal for protecting your IT assets and ensuring the resilience of your organisation's stance against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. 

These cyber security solutions also encompass a broad range of security components, including firewalls, DDoS protection, micro-segmentation, account takeover protection, API security, bot management, and web application security. 

Now you’ve grasped what cyber security solutions are and the various elements of security services, let’s explore the main steps you could take when choosing the best cyber security solutions for your business.

Choosing the best cyber security solutions for your business 

Regarding the importance of choosing strategic solutions to enhance your cyber security posture, there are several steps you can take. From first conducting an internal risk assessment and determining the cyber security solution you need before partnering with third-party providers to justifying the costs and considering the scalability and usability, here is our advice on how to choose a cyber security solution for your business.

Conduct an internal cyber security risk assessment

Before diving headfirst into the solutions that can support your business, the first crucial step in the process of choosing the best cyber security solutions for your business involves conducting a comprehensive internal risk assessment. You should turn to your IT team or internal cyber security expert to support you with this first step. However, if this is currently out of the question, here are the things you could do.

• Evaluate your business: Begin the assessment by auditing your business and considering various factors such as the size of your company and that of your stakeholders, the industry you and your stakeholders operate in, and the geographical locations you and your stakeholders are present. 
• Understanding your organisation's scale and reach provides insights into what types of information and data you store internally and how they should be secured. Here, you should also consider the compliance, regulations, and laws that must be navigated when working online.
• Forecast future changes: Look into your organisation's future and forecast potential changes you see occurring in the next six, 12, and 18 months. Ask yourself if your company plans to expand online, perhaps with cloud-based partnerships or third-party services to support the health of your IT infrastructure and business processes. 
• Understanding the evolving landscape of your brand and taking proactive decision-making helps ensure your cyber security strategy aligns with future organisational needs.
• Assess your existing cyber security resources: Take stock of your current and future IT infrastructure and cyber security resources. Evaluate whether developing an in-house cybersecurity strategy is a priority or outsourcing is a more viable option. 
• Consider the trajectory of your cyber security team and if it’s robust enough to cope with your future expectations regarding cyber security solutions or if they need support from other departments or additional hires. 
• Determine your company’s risk tolerance: You should also gauge your company's risk tolerance level to understand the different types of cyber attacks, their potential impact on your business, and if you have the resources available for an effective response.

Account for any instances where you have experienced a cyber attack, what the consequences were or could have been and how you responded. Understanding the severe harm cyber threats can bring to your business, both financially and reputationally, should be considered in your risk assessment to help lead you to our next step of determining the type of cyber security solutions you need. 

Conducting a meticulous internal cyber security risk assessment before embarking on the vendor evaluation process is ultimately the foundational step that informs your decision-making and ensures that the cyber security solutions chosen are tailored to your organisation's specific requirements and future aspirations.

Determine your cyber security solution needs

After conducting an internal risk assessment, your next step should be to understand your organisation's specific cyber security needs. Taking a thoughtful approach to determine your needs is crucial to avoid hasty decisions. 

Here are the things you could consider:

• Your stance on handling data:Knowing the type of data you store and its sensitivity is essential to whether you should implement appropriate security measures. Ask yourself the following:
  • What data do you store?
  • How sensitive is the data you store?
  • Are your current processes for keeping this data secure, effective and reliable?

• Define your protection level: Consider the level of protection your business requires to ensure you’re taking a robust defence against the potential threats you highlighted in your risk assessment. Tailor your cyber security solution to match your specific requirements. 
  • What level of protection do you need? 
  • Is your current stance on cyber security keeping your assets secure?

• Budget and timescale considerations: You should also establish a clear budgetary framework that enables you to explore cyber security solutions aligned with your finances while maximising the value of your investment. Additionally, consider whether you need to hire a cyber security expert to help you determine the best solutions for your business.

You should also determine when you require support from cyber security solutions and outline the priority of where these solutions sit on your list of other business ventures.

• What budget can your business put towards cyber security solutions? 
• Should your budget first go towards hiring cyber security talent?
• When do you require cyber security solutions?

• Evaluate market solutions: With a deep understanding of your organisation's priorities, capabilities, and risk profile, you should compare the available options based on critical features such as encryption, authentication, monitoring, and detection capabilities. You should assess each solution's strengths and weaknesses to pinpoint the solution that aligns with your business needs.
  • What cyber security solutions align best with your business?
  • What features do they have?
  • What are my competitors using?
  • Can I afford these solutions?
    
    
• Training resources:Finally, you should determine whether you require support in training your staff on what cyber security is and how they can play their part in preventing hackers from infiltrating your IT assets. This should apply to all your employees, whether they’re in tech roles or not. Ensuring everyone in your recognises the importance of cyber security and how to avoid the different types of cyber attacks.
  • What is your cyber security training budget?
  • Does your business require support in training your staff?

Understanding the answers to these questions serves as the cornerstone for selecting a cyber security solution that aligns with your organisation's specific needs. Additionally, consider sector-specific vulnerabilities and speak to or acquire cyber security experts to help you make these informed business decisions.

Partner with cyber security solution providers

Another step you could take when choosing the best cyber security solutions for your business is to consider partnering with a third-party vendor. Cyber security solution providers can be outsourced to help keep your IT assets and private data secure. They are highly beneficial to companies that lack the time and internal resources to deal with security-related duties. 

Here are the key things to consider when seeking the support of outsourced cyber security solution providers:

What features and services do they offer?

Cyber security solutions come with a spectrum of features and levels of protection. Understanding your specific needs is paramount in determining the appropriate features required. You should ensure that the chosen solution not only meets the current needs of your business but also provides scalability to adapt to future challenges. 

One of the most challenging aspects of selecting the cyber security solution provider is comparing their criteria and offering to your specific requirements. Doing so takes a degree of extensive research and collaboration with the cyber security solution provider. Make sure to speak to the potential third party to understand what they offer and how they can support your specific needs.

The cost of outsourcing the services of a cyber security solution provider should be justified by the features they offer and the level of protection they provide. We'll cover more on the topic of costs later in this guide.

Do they have a good reputation? 

A cyber security solution provider with a proven track record and good reputation is more likely to provide reliable solutions and support. Therefore, when researching the various cyber security solution providers on the market, look for reviews and testimonials from other customers who have worked with the third party. You could also reach out to these customers to speak to them about the review they left, whether a good or a bad one. 

Additionally, you should check the vendor's certifications and any awards they may have received, as these serve as key indicators of their credibility and expertise.

What’s their stance on compliance? 

Complying with industry regulations and standards is crucial for safeguarding your organisation against legal penalties that could harm your business. Therefore, if you're considering utilising the support of a third-party cyber security solution provider, you should check their operations adhere to regulations such as GDPR and any relevant industry standards. 

You should look for a cyber security solution provider that adheres to recognised security standards and has experience in assisting companies with compliance specific to your industry.

Choosing a third-party vendor that offers the best cyber security solutions for your business is a decision that requires extensive consideration. Read our other guide to learn more about what to consider when outsourcing cyber security services.

Justify the costs of cyber security services and solutions

We've touched on this point earlier in the piece, but as you consider selecting cyber security solutions for your business, a critical aspect that demands careful consideration is justifying the costs associated with these services. 

Investing in cyber security solutions is not one-size-fits-all; it varies widely based on your industry, the size of your business, and the features and level of protection a solution provides. Additionally, it's based on whether you combat cyber security internally or outsource to third-party cyber security solution providers.

Of course, it's natural and sensible to consider budget constraints, but it's equally crucial to recognise the value offered by the cyber security solution goes beyond the monetary aspect. Therefore, you should first assess the budget you have and opt for a solution that strikes a balance between cost and value. Consider and research a cyber security solution that fits your financial parameters and provides comprehensive protection and support specific to your needs.

Additionally, evaluate what you'll receive in return for the cyber security service and solution cost. If you're thinking about using a cyber security solution provider, consider their expertise, the range of services included, and the overall value proposition. The solution may seem cost-effective on the surface, but it's essential to delve deeper and assess the pros and cons a solution brings to your business.

It's also important to note cyber security solution providers often have different pricing structures. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate and understand how their pricing aligns with your organisation's budget framework. Look for pricing transparency and ensure no hidden costs or unexpected fees could disrupt your financial planning.

Our final point in this section is that cyber security is an ongoing investment, and your decision-making on which solution to opt for should not be made solely on immediate and initial costs. You should consider the long-term benefits and protection that the cyber security solution can offer. For example, a solution with higher upfront costs may provide robust and scalable protection that could prove to be more cost-effective for your business in the long run.

Consider how scalable and user-friendly the solution is

When evaluating the various cyber security solutions that could suit your business, it's crucial to consider key factors contributing to the solution's effectiveness and seamless integration within your company. Therefore, our final steps in choosing your business's best cyber security solutions focus on scalability and user-friendliness.

Scalability

Robust cyber security solutions should be scalable and capable of accommodating your company’s growth and adapting to your future business needs. As your organisation progresses and incorporates new talent, technologies and IT infrastructure, your chosen solution should demonstrate flexibility and scalability in handling these changes. Ensuring scalability is vital to maintaining a resilient cyber security posture that grows alongside your business.

Regarding the option of utilising the services of cyber security solutions providers, you should assess their capability of scaling their services in alignment with your business's growth and changing security requirements. A flexible and scalable provider should accommodate your evolving needs and provide solutions that align seamlessly with your business goals while providing a proactive and responsive approach to emerging cyber threats.

User-friendliness

The usability of your cyber security solution is also paramount. It should come with an intuitive and user-friendly interface, allowing all your employees to operate and maintain the system effortlessly, regardless of their technical expertise. A user-friendly solution can also accelerate the return on investment and empower your staff to actively contribute to your brand's cyber security defences.

Additionally, your chosen cyber security solution should boast a user-friendly interface that simplifies navigation and operation. It should be emphasised that your employees should be able to utilise the solution without the need for extensive technical expertise or specialised training. This characteristic should enhance the overall effectiveness of your cyber security strategy, as it encourages widespread adoption and compliance among all members of your organisation.

By prioritising these two key aspects, you can fortify your organisation's security defences and lay the foundation for a flexible and resilient cyber security strategy that evolves at the same rate your business evolves.

Discover more on the subject of cyber security by reading our guide: How to prevent cyber attacks from impacting your business.

The final word on cyber security solutions

Overall, in today's interconnected digital landscape, cyber security solutions play a critical role in safeguarding companies of different sizes and industries from a myriad of cyber threats. These solutions address various vulnerabilities and risks, ranging from application and cloud security to endpoint, network, and IoT security. 

We've highlighted that choosing the right cyber security solution involves a systematic approach. It starts with a thorough internal risk assessment and understanding your organisation's specific needs before potentially partnering with third-party providers, justifying the costs involved and considering the scalability and user-friendliness of the chosen solution.

Now that you know how to choose a cyber security solution for your business, it may be time to consider establishing or building your security team by recruiting cyber security specialists with the knowledge capable of safeguarding your company's IT infrastructure and other assets from various cyber threats. 

Scroll below to find out how we can support you.

Get in touch with a cyber security recruiter today!

As experts within the cyber security recruitment space, we can help you find the top talent to help you choose and implement a cyber security solution best suited to your organisational needs. With support from the talent we can connect you with, you can future-proof your business and focus on what you do best while steering clear of the most common cyber attacks.

Get in touch with one of our specialist cyber security recruiters today and see how we can find you the IT professionals who can help you choose a cyber security solution that's perfect for your business.