Data protection amid the growing cyber skills shortage

Issue 5 2023 Information Security

Cybersecurity complexities continue evolving, and organisations require expert skills and robust cybersecurity solutions to safeguard their sensitive data and systems.

Yet it is reported that 40% of South African companies struggle to find and keep cybersecurity talent, and 64% agree that a shortage of cybersecurity capabilities heightens organisational cyber risks.

As the skills pool in South Africa grows smaller, and the demand increases, organisations will have to outsource several cybersecurity functions. Outsourcing, however, brings its own set of challenges as organisations have to monitor and manage the value derived from several service providers.

“Fortunately, with solutions like Pretect, business decision makers can change the way they choose to do cybersecurity,” says Kevin Wotshela, Managing Director of Magix.

Already trusted by over 40 companies, this web-based app and team of cyber experts have effectively prevented and detected cyber threats, ranging from common phishing attacks to unknown insider threats.

The cybersecurity menu

The Magix cyber security professionals who developed Pretect understand that the high cost of building and maintaining a skilled internal cybersecurity team can be a significant burden for businesses, especially small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

“After working with multiple companies and gaining insights, it became evident that each company’s requirements and internal skills sets were unique, and that you could not ‘shoehorn’ the same package, software, or product into all of them,” says Wotshela.

“By integrating our offerings and presenting them as a ‘buffet menu’, at a fraction of the cost, companies – big and small – can now select the services that are most pertinent to their business needs,” he adds.

Designed to address the ever changing digital threat landscape, Pretect offers a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that encompasses multiple cybersecurity best practices.

Clients gain access to tier one products, and experienced best-in-class cybersecurity engineers, for an affordable monthly cost on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Once deployed, this 24/7 solution:

• Offers continuous vulnerability management to identify and remediate risk proactively.

• Conducts regular penetration testing to simulate real world attacks and identify vulnerabilities that may not be discovered through automated scans alone.

• Includes firewall assessments to ensure that firewalls are configured correctly and provide optimal protection against potential threats.

• Runs simulated phishing campaigns to assess an organisation’s susceptibility to such attacks, which remains one of the most common vectors of cyberattacks.

• Offers security awareness training to educate employees about the risks associated with phishing attempts, equipping them with the knowledge to identify and respond appropriately to potential threats

• Provides comprehensive web application scanning to identify potential weaknesses in public-facing systems.

Furthermore, platform users can easily and effectively assess, monitor, and enhance their security posture by utilising a single interface with a homogeneous dashboard and benefit from the secure central storage of all their cybersecurity reports.

To maximise the value of Pretect, companies also benefit from monthly feedback sessions with experienced cybersecurity professionals. These sessions provide an opportunity to discuss assessment results, address concerns, and receive expert advice on strengthening security practices.

“It was important to make the most out of our cybersecurity spend. Compared to creating an internal cyber team, the decision to partner with Pretect as our all-in-one cyber solution shaved 35% off our projected cybersecurity costs. More importantly, it gave us peace of mind that we have continuous visibility of our security posture and access to a team of specialists,” says Craig Hills from WhoYou.

Etienne Schmidt, Head of Information Security at Nutun, says, “The guidance and insights provided by the Pretect cyber experts have empowered our team to make informed decisions, and it has continuously improved our company’s security posture.”

The good news about outsourcing cybersecurity services is that with the right cybersecurity partner, you can bridge the cyber skills shortage gap, save money, reduce risks, and increase productivity while getting peace of mind that your company’s data and systems are secure.

For more information, go to www.magix.co.za or www.pretect24x7.com




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