What happens when you ignore network security best practices in IT outsourcing?

1 Data breaches and leaks

One of the most obvious and damaging outcomes of ignoring network security best practices is data breaches and leaks. If your IT outsourcing provider does not follow proper encryption, authentication, and access control protocols, your sensitive information may be exposed to hackers, competitors, or third parties. Data breaches and leaks can result in financial losses, legal liabilities, regulatory fines, and reputational damage. Moreover, data breaches and leaks can erode the trust and confidence of your customers, partners, and employees, affecting your long-term business relationships and performance.

2 Malware infections and ransomware attacks

Another possible consequence of ignoring network security best practices is malware infections and ransomware attacks. Malware is any malicious software that can harm your systems or data, such as viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, or adware. Ransomware is a specific type of malware that encrypts your data and demands a ransom for its decryption. If your IT outsourcing provider does not implement adequate firewall, antivirus, and backup solutions, your network may be vulnerable to malware infections and ransomware attacks. Malware infections and ransomware attacks can disrupt your operations, compromise your data integrity, and extort your money.

3 Compliance violations and legal issues

A third potential outcome of ignoring network security best practices is compliance violations and legal issues. Depending on your industry, location, and customer base, you may be subject to various network security standards and regulations, such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, or NIST. If your IT outsourcing provider does not comply with these requirements, you may face legal actions, penalties, or sanctions from authorities, regulators, or customers. Compliance violations and legal issues can also damage your credibility, reputation, and competitive advantage in the market.