IDC: Growing trend of ANZ businesses outsourcing security

As organisations look to unify their security posture they are moving towards outsourced security models from more in-house or hybrid security approaches.

This is according to IDC's recently released Australia and New Zealand Security Services report that is focused on key trends to optimise security.

It looks at how companies are now investing across interlinked areas in order to effectively manage security and stay ahead of evolving threats, including employee training, software-defined (SD) security solutions, and identity and access management (IAM) tools.

The shift to outsourcing comes as ANZ organisations look for other solutions that are more cost effective and efficiently solve pain points associated with security management, freeing up resources to focus on higher business value tasks.

In fact, IDC is forecasting a five-year CAGR of 18.9% for security-related services revenue to 2023.

Hybrid security management is a transition zone for organisations moving towards third-party security partnerships, IDC states.

This trend represents an opportunity for managed service providers (MSPs) as it will see companies involved in sourcing and vendor selection of potential providers.

Businesses should choose MSPs that not only have strong security credentials and reputation, but are aligned with the business on the security process and longer-term security strategy.

This process should begin with businesses mapping their current security posture and risk profile to evaluate where investment is most needed, and from which security management partners they will receive the most benefit, IDC states.

"Mapping your organisation's current security state can identify legacy concern areas but will also inform the future security state and roadmap. A resilient and forward-thinking strategy will be key as businesses weather the current storm and markets get a shake-up," the analysts write in the report.

IDC associate market analyst ANZ Emily Lynch says, "Organisations are now using successful partnering to enhance security beyond internal capabilities and alleviate compliance headaches.

Lynch says, "Changing managed security providers can quickly become disruptive and expensive.

"By first evaluating the relevance and quality of a security provider's partner ecosystem, organisations can then ensure they are getting the alignment right when they partner.

"Collaboration is key in the DX era, so taking a long-term view on security partnerships can help businesses enable stronger DX innovations with security embedded, rather than an afterthought.

As COVID-19, and particularly the effects of New Zealand and Australia's measures to prevent its spread, negatively affects businesses and reduces cash flow, security is one thing that ANZ tech buyers should not reduce investment in, IDC states.

"Communication through the ecosystem and with services providers on security priorities in the face of COVID-19 disruptions will further strengthen partnerships and ensure that key business priorities are still being met during this turbulent period for local and global markets," according to the analysts.