Over the past few weeks, we’ve walked through the layers of a strong cybersecurity strategy, locks, fences, cameras, and alarms, all working together to protect your digital “home.” If you missed any posts in our Cybersecurity Awareness Month series, you can catch up here:
- Why Cybersecurity Matters Beyond IT: Kicking Off Cybersecurity Month Together
- Strong Passwords: Your First Line of Cyber Defense
- Multi-Factor Authentication: Your Digital Fence Against Hackers
- Is Your Supply Chain Secure? Why Cyber Risk Assessments for Vendors Matter
- What Are SIEM and SOC? Your Digital Security Cameras Explained
- Staying Left of Boom: Building a Multi-Layered Cyber Defense
But here’s the thing: you can have the best tools in the world, and they still won’t protect you if the person in charge of your security isn’t paying attention.
That brings us to the most important cybersecurity question of all: is your IT provider truly ready to protect you?
The Neighborhood Watch Analogy
Imagine you’ve secured your home with strong locks, a tall fence, cameras, and alarms. On paper, everything looks great. But when trouble comes, you’re relying on the neighborhood watch to respond. What if they’re asleep on the job, or worse, what if they never even show up?
That’s the reality for too many businesses who assume their IT provider has them covered. The truth? Not every provider is prepared. And in cybersecurity, finding that out too late can be devastating.
What Cyber Readiness Looks Like
A cyber-ready provider doesn’t just sell tools. They test, prove, and manage those tools as part of a layered strategy. That means:
- Backups aren’t just set up. They’re tested regularly.
- Monitoring isn’t just “on.” It’s reviewed by real people who can act fast.
- Employees aren’t left in the dark. They’re trained and empowered to spot threats.
- Response plans aren’t hidden away. They’re documented, rehearsed, and ready.
7 Cyber Readiness Questions to Ask Your Provider
Not sure if your provider is truly ready? Ask these questions:
- How do you monitor the success of our backups? Do you regularly test them?
- Do you offer 24/7 monitoring through a Security Operations Center (SOC)? Or just reactive support during business hours?
- What’s your process for staying ahead of new threats like AI-driven phishing or ransomware?
- If we’re attacked, what’s your average response time
- Do you provide security awareness training for us? Does your team receive the same?
- Do you have a documented incident response plan? Will you help us write one?
- How do you help us stay compliant with new regulations like MFA enforcement and evolving industry standards?
If your provider hesitates, dodges, or can’t answer confidently, consider it your cybersecurity red flag.
Why Choosing the Right IT Provider Is Critical to Cybersecurity
Your provider isn’t just a vendor. They’re your first responder, your security guard, and your trusted partner. And when the stakes are this high, “good enough” just isn’t good enough.
At Applied Innovation, we welcome these questions, because being truly cyber ready means having answers, not excuses.
Let’s talk about what that looks like for your business.