Ask an MSP Expert: How can an RMM automate security offerings?

Q: I have heard that adding an RMM tool can improve delivery of our managed security services offering for customers, specifically through automation. How can an RMM tool do this?

If the new situation that MSPs and their clients find themselves in thanks to COVID-19 is not enough of a reminder, security has become an increasingly vital part of both the managed services and overall business landscapes. Another important aspect highlighted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the importance of managing employee workloads by finding dependable tools to handle demanding tasks and responsibilities.

Automating a security offering is an effective way to make sure an MSP can meet both of those previously mentioned needs. Adding a remote management and monitoring (RMM) tool with built-in automation provides a simple solution for handling complicated responsibilities. But just how does an RMM tool automate the security offerings of an MSP?

Security without automation is challenging

Maintaining a secure environment for customers becomes efficient and effective when automation is leveraged. Manually delivering security services is not a scaleable solution for MSPs. This is for a few reasons, including:

• • Cyberattacks are too sophisticated – Hackers have spent significant time and other resources in developing and evolving their methods of entry to bypass traditional defenses, which often rely on human management to stop these cyberattacks. Bad actors are now able to ‘drill down’ and identify weak links in an organization’s network that will allow them to easily gain access.
  • Cybercriminals are exploiting vulnerabilities – More and more vulnerabilities are found in software, providing an ‘easy’ access point for cyber attacks. These vulnerabilities are frequently used by hackers to gain access to a network to perform the attack.
  • New threats are constantly emerging – These days, there are new cyber threats and cyber criminals popping up. These new attacks are bolstered with various resources that are easily available for any bad actor looking to start a new career for themselves as a cyber criminal.
  • Unpredictable timing of attacks – Cyber attacks can be launched and hit networks at any time. A security offering that is reliant on a manual process powered by humans (and therefore subject to human error, and any gaps in human oversight) will inevitably fail to stop an attack.

Automated security services’ benefits

RMM tools also provide the ability to allow MSPs to monitor and perform tasks remotely to ensure the availability and uptime of their customers’ IT infrastructure. MSPs often leverage the RMM’s automation feature to run routine maintenance tasks to scale their resources. The automation features can be leveraged to provide security services as well. This includes automated patch management, alerts for anomalies, antivirus deployment and updates, and backup windows.

Automating security services provides consistency and ensures that every network and application is protected. This provides MSPs and SMBs alike with the confidence that the entire environment is being managed and that nothing is only being protected ‘halfway.’

It is also provides more accuracy, meeting the individual security needs of each SMB customer and their networks and applications, while leaving no vulnerability unprotected. The automation removes the risk of human error that is constantly present when security is delivered manually and ensures that there are no deviations from the security policy’s design when it is delivered.

For example, as new malware is discovered, the automatic updating to block these means of attack is a tremendous value to an offering.

Automation can help showcase an MSP’s efficiency and reliability to customers. As an MSP business grows, the RMM’s automation features allow MSPs to scale their services to meet the needs of each new customer, without adding staff. Lastly, by automating security services such as antivirus, patch management, and backup services, MSPs can expand their service, reduce human error, and provide consistency across their customers.

Many MSPs already have an RMM in place, simply because it offers functions that are fundamental to running their business. If an MSP wants to run their business in a smart, strategic way with long-term benefits, they should look for a security-centric RMM that will make the MSP business faster and more successful in delivering security. All MSPs need a strong, well-rounded RMM tool but using one that can easily incorporate automation to deliver security services can offer MSPs tremendous value.

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