What are effective security measures for outsourced IT infrastructure?

1 Choose a reputable provider

The first step is to choose a reliable and trustworthy IT outsourcing provider that has a proven track record of delivering secure and compliant services. You should check their credentials, certifications, references, and reviews, and ask them about their security policies, procedures, and standards. You should also verify that they have adequate insurance, indemnity clauses, and dispute resolution mechanisms in case of any security incidents.

2 Define clear roles and responsibilities

The second step is to define the roles and responsibilities of both parties in relation to the security and compliance of the outsourced IT infrastructure. You should establish a clear service level agreement (SLA) that specifies the scope, quality, and expectations of the services, as well as the security and compliance requirements, metrics, and penalties. You should also assign a dedicated contact person or team for each party, and communicate regularly and transparently about any security issues or changes.

3 Implement data encryption and backup

The third step is to implement data encryption and backup for the outsourced IT infrastructure. Data encryption is the process of converting data into a code that can only be decrypted by authorized parties, which prevents unauthorized access, modification, or theft. Data backup is the process of creating copies of data that can be restored in case of data loss, corruption, or disaster. You should ensure that your outsourcing provider uses strong encryption algorithms and protocols, and performs regular and secure data backups.

4 Monitor and audit the performance

The fourth step is to monitor and audit the performance of the outsourced IT infrastructure. Monitoring is the process of collecting and analyzing data about the availability, functionality, and security of the services, which helps to identify and resolve any issues or anomalies. Auditing is the process of verifying and validating that the services meet the security and compliance standards and regulations, which helps to ensure accountability and transparency. You should use tools and methods such as dashboards, reports, alerts, logs, and audits to monitor and audit the performance of your outsourcing provider.

5 Train and educate your staff

The fifth step is to train and educate your staff about the security and compliance of the outsourced IT infrastructure. Your staff are the end-users of the services, and they play a vital role in maintaining the security and compliance of the data and systems. You should provide them with adequate training and education on how to use the services safely and securely, how to follow the security and compliance policies and procedures, and how to report and respond to any security incidents or breaches.

6 Update and review your security measures

The sixth step is to update and review your security measures for the outsourced IT infrastructure. Security and compliance are not static, but dynamic and evolving, as new threats, vulnerabilities, and regulations emerge. You should update and review your security measures regularly, based on the feedback, results, and changes from the previous steps. You should also work closely with your outsourcing provider to ensure that they are also updating and reviewing their security measures, and that they are aligned with your security and compliance goals and expectations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?