How To Onboard Cybersecurity Services For A Multinational Corporation
Managing technology for a single office is difficult enough. When you scale that up to a multinational corporation with branches in different time zones, varying compliance laws, and diverse local infrastructures, the challenge grows exponentially. Security runs through nearly every decision an IT manager makes. However, complexity often leads to vulnerability. The more complicated your security stack is, the harder it is to manage, and the easier it is for a threat to slip through the cracks.
At CTS Companies, our commitment has remained the same since 1980: we help you figure out which technology you need to solve business problems in a simple and reliable way. We do not believe in forcing clients into a rigid partnership model. Whether you need assistance with a one-off project or a full IT department replacement, the goal is to make your operations secure and functional.
Onboarding cybersecurity services for a multinational entity requires a structured, categorized approach. It is not just about buying software; it is about establishing a standard that works from Detroit to potential offices abroad. Here is a practical guide on how to approach this process effectively.
1. Audit Your Current Risk and Infrastructure
Before you can implement a solution, you must understand what you are protecting. For a multinational corporation, this is often the hardest step because assets are decentralized. You need a clear map of your IT infrastructure across all locations.
Physical vs. Digital Assets
Security is often thought of as purely digital, but it starts with physical access. When onboarding a new service provider, the first category we examine is physical security. Do you have servers sitting in an unlocked room in one branch office? Are workstations accessible to the public in another? A managed service provider (MSP) must assess where your hardware lives before securing the data inside it.
Regional Compliance and Data Sovereignty
Different countries have different rules regarding data privacy. Operating in Michigan requires adherence to US standards, but if you have branches in Europe or Asia, you face GDPR or other local regulations. Your onboarding process must include a compliance audit to ensure your new cybersecurity services can adapt to these local laws without breaking your global strategy.
2. Define Security Through the Lens of Six Categories
Many organizations get overwhelmed by the sheer number of security products available. To keep this manageable and effective for a large enterprise, we recommend breaking cybersecurity down into six distinct categories. This framework simplifies the onboarding process by ensuring no area is overlooked.
Physical Security and Password Policies
We already touched on physical security, but it must be paired with rigorous password policies and procedures. Onboarding implies standardizing these policies globally. You cannot have strict multi-factor authentication (MFA) in your headquarters while a satellite office uses default passwords. Your service provider should help you draft and enforce a unified password policy that applies to every user, regardless of location.
Antimalware and Web Filtering
Malware does not respect borders. A multinational corporation needs a centralized antimalware solution that reports back to a single dashboard. This allows your IT team or your MSP to see threats in real-time, whether they originate in Michigan or overseas. Additionally, web filtering is essential to prevent employees from inadvertently visiting malicious sites. Implementing these tools during onboarding creates a protective baseline for all users.
Remote Access and General Policies
With a distributed workforce, secure remote access is non-negotiable. Whether your team connects via VPN or other secure tunnels, the method must be consistent. This is where CTS Cloud Services can play a vital role. By centralizing applications and data in the cloud, you reduce the reliance on local hardware security and gain better control over who is accessing your network and from where.
3. Establish Backup and Business Continuity Plans
Even with the best defenses, breaches or failures can happen. A critical part of onboarding cybersecurity services is establishing how you will recover when things go wrong. For a multinational corporation, downtime costs accumulate rapidly.
Strategic Data Backup
Deciding where to store your backups is a strategic decision. You might implement on-site backups for quick recovery of large files, off-site backups for disaster recovery, or a hybrid mix. CTS has specialized in data backup and recovery since the late 90s. We operate data centers on the east and west sides of Michigan to ensure redundancy. For a multinational, you need a partner who understands data replication and can ensure your backups are immutable and separated from your main network to protect against ransomware.
Testing the Recovery Process
Onboarding is not complete until you test your recovery capabilities. It is not enough to just buy the backup service; you must verify that your “time to recover” (RTO) meets your business goals. If a server goes down in a branch office, how long will it take to get them back online? Your service agreement should clearly define these metrics.
4. Integrate Help Desk and Support Levels
Cybersecurity is not “set it and forget it.” It requires ongoing monitoring and support. When onboarding services for a large company, you must determine how support will be delivered to your various locations.
Selecting the Right Support Mix
Different branches may have different needs. Your headquarters might require full on-site staff, while smaller satellite offices might only need remote reactive support or bulk-rate hours. We offer a mix of help desk solutions to fit these varying needs. You should choose an option that best suits each aspect of your business rather than forcing a single expensive model on a small branch office.
Centralized Communication
When an employee in a different time zone flags a potential phishing email, where does that ticket go? Onboarding cybersecurity services involves integrating your communication channels. If you are also using managed voice services or a modern phone system, ensure your support lines are clear. A fragmented response to a security incident can lead to disaster, so the chain of command must be established early.
5. Standardize Voice and Communication Security
Voice systems are often overlooked in cybersecurity discussions, but modern VoIP and PBX systems are part of your IT network. If they are not secured, they become entry points for attackers.
Managed Voice and PBX Systems
For multinational corporations, communication costs and security are major concerns. A managed service provider can remove the worry by providing on-premise voice solutions that offer modern functionality without large capital expenditures. Alternatively, if you prefer to purchase a PBX system up front to avoid monthly costs, it is vital to ensure this hardware is behind your firewall and subject to the same security updates as your servers. Secure communication is a pillar of overall cybersecurity.
6. The Human Element: Training and Adoption
The best technology fails if people do not use it correctly. The final stage of onboarding is education. You are introducing new policies, new login procedures, and perhaps new hardware.
Simplifying the User Experience
At CTS, we believe technology should be simple. If a security measure is too difficult to use, employees will find a workaround, creating a security gap. When onboarding your services, ensure the provider offers clear documentation or training for your staff. With our CTS Cloud Services, we handle the heavy lifting so that on your end, your business receives a service that just works. This user-centric approach increases adoption rates and reduces the friction that typically comes with new security protocols.
Conclusion
Onboarding cybersecurity services for a multinational corporation is a significant undertaking, but it does not have to be chaotic. By assessing your infrastructure, categorizing your security needs into our six distinct focus areas, and establishing reliable backup and support systems, you can build a resilient global network.
You need a partner that can deliver across a spectrum, from specific security projects to acting as your full IT department. CTS Companies helps you navigate this complexity with solutions that are simple, reliable, and tailored to your specific business problems.
If you are looking to secure your infrastructure, establish robust backups, or streamline your IT support, we are here to help.