An organization plans to outsource its IT management to a managed service provider (MSP). Which of the following is the most significant security consideration associated with this strategy?
The organization's attack surface will be expanded to include the MSP's environment.
The use of an MSP eliminates the need for internal security monitoring.
The primary purpose for using an MSP is to reduce the capital expenditure on security tools.
The organization can transfer all security liability to the MSP through the service-level agreement (SLA).
When an organization uses a managed service provider (MSP), it extends trust and often privileged access to a third party. This inherently expands the organization's attack surface, as any vulnerabilities in the MSP's environment, personnel, or its own supply chain can become a direct threat to the organization. Attackers frequently target MSPs as a way to compromise their multiple clients. While MSPs can bring specialized expertise, it is a misconception that they eliminate internal security responsibilities or are always more secure. The organization retains ultimate accountability for its security and must manage the risks introduced by the third-party relationship.
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What does it mean for an organization's attack surface to expand?
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What are examples of risks introduced by trusting a third-party MSP?
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How can organizations mitigate risks when working with an MSP?