Navigating Compliance: Your Guide to Staying Ahead in a Regulated World
Imagine an earthquake brings down all the power lines surrounding your business, and now you must figure out how to operate without power for an unknown amount of time. What would you do? Or, maybe right after launching new software your main server gets overloaded and crashes. How would you respond? Maybe neither of these scenarios seem realistic to you, but every business is susceptible to some type of disaster. Knowing how to respond when the worst happens is the best way to prevent revenue crushing downtime. In IT terms, this is called disaster recovery planning, or the method an organization uses to anticipate and address technology-related disasters. Disaster recovery planning is all part of ensuring you have stable business continuity, or the ability to function after an emergency or disruption.
You might think that with the increase in remote work and cloud-based IT, disaster recovery planning is less important than it used to be. However, the change in work environment and IT infrastructure has actually introduced more complexity and new risks. Protecting your business from these new threats is more critical than ever.
The purpose of a disaster recovery plan (DRP) is threefold. First, your plan should include preventative measures, like how/when you schedule backups, as an example. Your plan should also be detective and detail how you will monitor your IT so that you know when a response is necessary. Lastly, your DRP should be corrective. It should document exactly what you will do in a variety of scenarios, so that should a disaster occur, a quick execution of the DRP will dramatically reduce downtime.
There are four main areas where an MSP can support business compliance:
1. Programs and Policies – An MSP may assist in developing and implementing formal compliance programs, by helping define and provide policies, processes, and training so that everyone within the organization understands their compliance related responsibilities. From access control configuration to disaster recovery plans, your MSP should facilitate a culture of compliance.
2. Security and Risk Mitigation – Many regulations are related to security and protecting sensitive customer data. One of the primary goals of an MSP should be to reduce your risk by ensuring appropriate security measures are in place across all locations and networks.
3. Incident Response and Recovery – Cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated. But with effective detection methods an MSP can deploy a rapid response and work to restore normalcy and compliance when a breach occurs.
4. Continuous Monitoring and Audits – 24/7 monitoring and gap analysis are core MPS offerings. By monitoring network traffic and conducting regular audits, MSP’s help businesses be proactive and on top of compliance.
With the potential for large fines, reputational damage, and even the loss of business licenses, the stakes are high. Partnering with an MSP provides businesses with IT expertise, best practices, robust security, and sophisticated reporting tools. All of these services greatly reduce the risk of noncompliance and allow you to earn trust with your customers.
Sources:
https://connectsecure.com/blog/the-critical-role-of-compliance-management-in-the-msp-industry
https://www.mspcorp.ca/the-crucial-role-of-managed-service-providers-msps-in-modern-compliance/
https://www.getgds.com/resources/blog/business-it/how-the-right-msp-can-help-overcome-compliance-costs-and-complexity