March 10, 2014 - The adoption of managed security services in the Asia Pacific region is set to grow rapidly in the coming years, as companies operating in the region are beginning to outsource a number of security responsibilities and take advantage of the cost savings and other benefits this approach can provide.

According to Forrester, organisations in this area have been slow to outsource critical information security functions, due in the most part to allowing external parties access to internal networks and exposing the business to increased risk.

However, this approach is beginning to change and the provision of monitoring and management of intrusion detection systems and firewalls by third parties is becoming accepted.

These parties are also responsible for overseeing patch management and upgrades, performing security assessments and security audits, and responding to emergencies, all of which can free management from the burden.

A managed security service provider can help businesses improve their security posture without making major up-front investments in technology and resources.

Forrester's Manatosh Das explained that one of the key factors in the increased outsourcing of security issues by Asia Pacific-based businesses is down to a skills shortage and lack of security expertise in the region.

He said scarce internal security skills and a dearth of technical specialists in the labour market are major challenges, which can restrict efficiency and increase the cost of staffing. This may also increase the timeframe available for cybercriminals to carry out attacks, as assets are not protected by the correct technology.

He also noted that many internal security teams are unable to keep up with the pace of change within their own company, particularly in the modern business landscape, when companies are evolving and transforming rapidly.

For many financial services firms, building measures in-house that are capable of monitoring and managing security around the clock, as is needed in today's business landscape when hacks are becoming more common, is not really an option.