Many companies are turning to outside experts for help in dealing with the risks involved in handling confidential information. Hacking incidents, losing data in transit, transmitting and storing data in ways that violate company policy, and money laundering all form a witches’ brew of vulnerabilities that can easily lead to millions of dollars in losses in lawsuits, regulatory actions, and damaged reputations. It’s no wonder, then, that providers of managed security services are offering to relieve the burden of protecting sensitive data. They can eliminate the pitfalls of managing and monitoring security devices and events, and ensure a rapid response to real threats. Obtaining security services from an outsourcer demands an understanding of what such services are, as well as the ability to subject a company’s security policies, technology, and standards to objective scrutiny by a third party.