{"id":1242,"date":"2026-06-19T11:57:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T09:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/?p=1242"},"modified":"2026-06-19T12:01:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T10:01:43","slug":"why-traditional-managed-it-security-isnt-enough-anymore-and-what-smbs-should-do-instead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/2026\/06\/19\/why-traditional-managed-it-security-isnt-enough-anymore-and-what-smbs-should-do-instead\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Traditional Managed IT Security Isn\u2019t Enough Anymore, and What SMBs Should Do Instead"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0primary\u00a0reason businesses with fully managed IT still get breached: their agreement covers system management, not modern cybersecurity. Attackers exploit identities, credentials, and access permissions\u2014the things that keep working even as\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0abused.\u00a0Managed IT\u00a0keeps systems running. Cybersecurity protects them from being compromised. Most\u00a0small-to-medium\u00a0sized business (SMB)\u00a0contracts only fully cover the first.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Takeaways<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– Why managed IT and cybersecurity aren\u2019t the same thing<\/span>
\n<\/span>– The structural gaps hidden in most managed services provider contracts<\/span>
\n<\/span>– What a modern, security-first\u00a0managed services provider\u00a0can\u00a0deliver<\/span>
\n<\/span>– The questions to ask your provider this week<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Managed Services\u00a0Provider\u00a0Assumption: \u201cWe\u2019re Covered\u201d<\/h2>\n

Equating\u00a0IT support with security made sense when the main threats were viruses, hardware failures, and network outages.\u00a0But that world is gone. Attackers now go after credentials, identities,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and the relationships between systems and users<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0not the perimeter.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As Brian\u00a0Kingsley,\u00a0Practice\u00a0Director of IT Managed Services at Net at Work, puts it: \u201cSecurity protection is a living thing and requires constant communication and adjustments as the landscape changes. If you bought a product and have not been involved since, that is\u00a0almost a\u00a0guarantee you have a problem.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The distinction matters: support keeps your systems running, but security protects them from being compromised. These are different disciplines, and assuming one covers the other creates dangerous blind spots.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Security Fails Even When IT Is \u201cWorking\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Those blind spots become\u00a0apparent\u00a0when you examine what traditional IT metrics measure. Excellent help desk response times, 99.9% server uptime, and flawless nightly backups\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0prevent an attacker with valid credentials from accessing your most sensitive data.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s attacks follow predictable patterns that traditional IT support\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0designed to catch:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– Stolen credentials\u00a0<\/span><\/b>from phishing or dark web purchases give attackers legitimate access, bypassing perimeter defenses entirely.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– MFA bypass\u00a0<\/span><\/b>through social engineering and technical exploits defeats the protection many consider their strongest defense.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– Third-party access abuse\u00a0<\/span><\/b>turns trusted provider connections into attack vectors.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– Permissions sprawl\u00a0<\/span><\/b>builds up over time\u2014an intern who got admin access two years ago, a contractor whose login never got\u00a0revoked,\u00a0a\u00a0finance app no one remembers approving\u2014creating unmonitored pathways to sensitive data.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider what happened to Clorox in August 2023.\u00a0<\/span>As reported by Cybersecurity Dive<\/span><\/a>, hackers breached the company through a social-engineering attack that targeted their IT help desk. The breach crippled their ability to ship products for months.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clorox has since filed a $380 million lawsuit against the firm that managed their help desk, alleging credentials were handed to attackers without proper authentication. Tickets were being resolved the whole time. Their IT was \u201cworking.\u201d Their security\u00a0wasn\u2019t.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Traditional\u00a0Managed Services Provider\u00a0Models Leave Security Gaps<\/h2>\n

The Clorox breach illustrates a broader pattern. Traditional\u00a0managed services\u00a0provider\u00a0models have structural gaps that leave clients exposed, even when service levels are being met.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The result is that SMBs end up paying for managed IT and assuming security comes with\u00a0it,\u00a0when\u00a0in practice, the\u00a0agreement covers system management while the work of defending against modern attacks goes unowned.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The gap is in the assumption that the correct tools are being run.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s\u00a0what SMBs typically assume their\u00a0managed services provider\u00a0is handling but\u00a0isn\u2019t:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– Reactive ticketing instead of continuous oversight.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Problems are addressed after\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0reported, not proactively detected.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– No clear ownership of security tools.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Tools get deployed without anyone responsible for monitoring alerts, tuning configurations, or responding to incidents.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– No identity visibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Organizations are blind to who is accessing what resources and whether that access is\u00a0appropriate.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– No defined incident responsibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>When something goes wrong, valuable time is lost\u00a0determining\u00a0who responds.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another structural problem is how traditional models separate support and security.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe traditional model splits support and security into two distinct products,\u201d Kingsley notes. \u201cWhen a client gets a support agreement, they are often without basic protection unless they then sign up for another agreement they\u2019re not always aware of. It lets the managed services provider compete on price, but the client often doesn\u2019t know what they need and doesn\u2019t have it.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What SMBs Should Expect Instead\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Recognizing these gaps is the first step. The next is knowing what a modern managed IT partnership should deliver to strengthen your security posture and give you confidence in\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0being\u00a0done:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– Clear security ownership.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Someone is explicitly responsible for your security posture, not just your uptime.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– Identity-first visibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>You can see who is accessing your systems, from where, and whether their behavior patterns are normal.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– Always-on\u00a0monitoring.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Threats are detected as they\u00a0emerge, not after damage is done.<\/span>
\n<\/span>– Measurable maturity.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Benchmarks let you track improvement over time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExecutives and businesses need to keep in mind that a security solution will work, until it doesn\u2019t,\u201d Kingsley emphasizes. \u201cAnd once it doesn\u2019t, your business will suffer the consequences.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The framework that delivers these capabilities is\u00a0<\/span>Zero Trust<\/span>, an approach that assumes nothing inside or outside the network should be automatically trusted. Every access request must be verified, every identity must be\u00a0validated, and every activity must be\u00a0monitored.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What a Security-First Managed Services Provider\u00a0Looks Like<\/h2>\n

Adopting Zero Trust changes how you evaluate IT partnerships. Zero Trust serves as a lens for decision-making, providing clear criteria for evaluating changes: does this increase or decrease our attack surface? Does it improve or degrade our visibility? These questions cut through vendor marketing to focus on security outcomes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zero Trust also bridges the traditional gap between IT operations and security, integrating them around one goal: ensuring that the right people have the right access to the right resources at the right time, and nothing more. Whether\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0adding new employees, applications, or locations, the same principles apply.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Putting these principles into practice requires a\u00a0managed\u00a0services\u00a0provider\u00a0built for modern threats. Net at Work is\u00a0an\u00a0example of this model because security is integrated into core\u00a0service\u00a0delivery rather than treated as an optional add-on. That means unified managed IT and security agreements, identity-driven\u00a0service\u00a0design,\u00a0governance,\u00a0and execution working together, and maturity benchmarking against recognized frameworks like NIST and CISA.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Questions SMB Leaders Should Ask Their IT Partner<\/h2>\n

Whether\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0evaluating a new provider or your current one, the right questions can reveal whether your IT partner is protecting your organization or simply keeping the lights on.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u201cWho owns identity risk in our environment?\u201d<\/span><\/b>If the answer is unclear or defaults to \u201cthat\u2019s your responsibility,\u201d you have a gap. Someone should be actively managing identity lifecycle, access permissions, and credential security.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. \u201cHow would we detect misuse of valid credentials?\u201d<\/span><\/b>Traditional security tools focus on blocking unauthorized access. But what happens when an attacker logs in with stolen but legitimate credentials? Your provider should have an answer.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. \u201cAre we security-mature or just operationally stable?\u201d<\/span><\/b>Uptime and ticket resolution metricsdon\u2019t\u00a0measure security. Ask how your security posture is assessed and whether\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0improving.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. \u201cWhat happens in the first hour of a real incident?\u201d<\/span><\/b>The answer reveals whether incident response is planned or improvised. Look for specific roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    And if you ask whether a product will prevent ransomware, pay close attention to the response. \u201cIf someone answers \u2018yes\u2019\u00a0to that question, then that is a major red flag\u00a0because they are guaranteeing something that is impossible,\u201d Kingsley notes. \u201cThe security landscape is constantly changing, and it\u2019s important to realize security is a layered, multi-faceted approach.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Key Takeaways: Five Actions You Can Take Now<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Audit your current security agreements.<\/span><\/b>Pull out every contract you have with IT vendors and service providers.Identify\u00a0exactly what security protections are included in your base agreements versus\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0treated as optional add-ons.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Ask your providers the evolution question:<\/span><\/b>\u201cHow does your approach adapt as the threat landscape changes?\u201d Listen carefully to the answer. If it centers on buyingadditional\u00a0products or upgrading to premium tiers,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0a warning sign. If it describes ongoing assessment, continuous improvement, and framework-based security,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0likely in\u00a0better hands.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Test what\u2019s actually being done, not just what\u2019s in the contract.<\/span><\/b>Ask your provider for specifics: who reviews identity activity, how often, and what triggers a response? Who would call you in the first hour of an incident, and what is their name? If the answers are vague or generic, the work you assumed was happeningprobably isn\u2019t.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Request a Zero Trust readiness assessment.<\/span><\/b>An IT maturity or Zero Trust readiness assessment can give you a clear picture of your current risk profile,identify\u00a0priority gaps, and provide a framework for improvement, without the pressure of a major engagement. Many providers, including Net at Work, offer these assessments for organizations evaluating their security posture.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Use your cyber insurance requirements as a coverage test.<\/span><\/b>Insurers havetightened\u00a0what they\u00a0require\u00a0over the past two years, which makes their checklists a useful third-party audit of what you\u00a0have. Anything the insurer requires that your\u00a0managed services provider\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0demonstrably doing is a gap between what you assumed was covered and what is.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Want to find out what your current managed services agreement covers?\u00a0Contact Net at Work<\/a>\u00a0for a Zero Trust readiness assessment\u2014a no-pressure review to strengthen what you have, close the gaps, and give you confidence in what your agreement\u00a0covers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The\u00a0primary\u00a0reason businesses with fully managed IT still get breached: their agreement covers system management, not modern cybersecurity. Attackers exploit identities, credentials, and access permissions\u2014the things that keep working even as\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0abused.\u00a0Managed IT\u00a0keeps systems running. Cybersecurity protects them from being compromised. Most\u00a0small-to-medium\u00a0sized business (SMB)\u00a0contracts only fully cover the first.\u00a0 Key Takeaways\u00a0 – Why managed IT and cybersecurity[\u2026] Read<\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,11,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cybersecurity","category-managed-it","category-mssps"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1242"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1248,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1242\/revisions\/1248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cloudtango.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}