What Do Racing a Car and Running an MSP Have In Common? More Than You'd Think!

by Kory Underdown on May 13, 2023 11:00:00 AM

With this weekend’s GMR Grand Prix and the debut of the No. 28 DNSFilter / DHL car on the track, it’s fitting to discuss the similarities of being behind the wheel of an Indy car and operating a high-performing MSP.

Your business requires constant attention and maintenance to keep it running smoothly. And in many ways, being an MSP is similar to being Romain Grosjean on the track—you need to be aware of the dangers and have a safety checklist in place to protect your business from cyber threats.

Read on for a cybersecurity safety checklist to help you stay on track.

BUCKLE UP: ENSURE YOU HAVE STRONG PASSWORDS AND MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION

Just like a race car driver buckles up to stay safe, the first step to securing your business is starting with the basics: Strong passwords and multifactor authentication. Make sure all of your accounts, including your client accounts, have unique and complex passwords. Implementing multifactor authentication can add an extra layer of protection, making it harder for hackers to gain access to your systems.

KEEP YOUR ENGINE RUNNING SMOOTHLY: PERFORM REGULAR SECURITY AUDITS

To keep your business running at peak performance, you need to conduct regular security audits. These audits should include vulnerability scans, penetration testing, and security risk assessments. This will help you identify any weak spots in your system and address them before they become a problem.

STAY ALERT: MONITOR YOUR NETWORK FOR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

Just like a race car driver needs to stay alert for any hazards on the track, you need to monitor your network for any suspicious activity. DNSFilter helps you do just that by continuously monitoring your network traffic and blocking any suspicious activity. With DNSFilter’s reporting and alerts, you can then keep an eye on your logs and detect any potential security breaches to take action before any damage is done.

CHANGE YOUR TIRES: KEEP YOUR SOFTWARE UP TO DATE

A race car driver needs to change their tires regularly to maintain their grip on the track. Similarly, you need to keep your software up to date to ensure that you have the latest security patches and features. This includes your operating system, antivirus software, and any other software that you use in your business.

CHECK YOUR REARVIEW MIRROR: BACK UP YOUR DATA REGULARLY

Just like a race car driver needs to check their rearview mirror to see what's behind them, you need to back up your data regularly to protect against data loss. This includes your client data, as well as any other important business information. Make sure your backups are stored securely and regularly tested to ensure they can be recovered when needed.

By following this cybersecurity safety checklist, you can protect your MSP business from cyber threats and keep it running at peak performance. Remember, just like drivers Romain Grosjean and Jamie Chadwick, you need to be constantly vigilant and proactive to stay ahead of the competition and cross the finish line successfully.

Tune into the GMR Grand Prix this weekend on NBC, Peacock TV, and INDYCAR Live. The No. 28 DNSFilter / DHL car will be on the track Saturday May 13 at 3:30 pm ET. Tag us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter (@DNSFilter) to let us know you’re watching!

And if your MSP still needs to check off the box to Stay Alert, sign up for a free trial of DNSFilter here.

‍

Topics: Featured IT

DNS: The Hidden Threat Lurking in Every Business Network

You lock your doors at night, secure your office, and ensure sensitive information is under strict control. But what if the biggest vulnerability in your business wasn't locked away at all? For most companies, their Domain Name System (DNS) is the gateway attackers are waiting for. It's a fundamental part of the internet's infrastructure, yet it's often ignored when it comes to security. Hackers know this, and they're taking advantage.

2025 Cybersecurity Predictions: It’s Not Just AI, Here’s How Cybersecurity Will be Transformed in 2025

Earlier this month I joined Mikey Pruitt, our Global Partner Evangelist, on the DNSFilter podcast dnsUNFILTERED to discuss my 2025 cybersecurity predictions. We had a lot of fun and covered all of the points I’ll outline here, but I wanted to go deeper. My 30 years of cybersecurity experience have given me a strong sense of where we’re heading as an industry—the shift to the cloud in many ways is a precursor in the adoption of AI and the future...

From Reactive to Proactive: How to Create a DNS Security Strategy that Stops Attacks

Most businesses only think about DNS security after an attack has already occurred. By then, the damage is done - downtime, lost revenue, compromised data, and a tarnished reputation. In an environment where cyber threats are constantly evolving, a reactive approach to DNS security simply isn’t enough.