A managed security service is a standardized method that a third-party uses to manage the cybersecurity requirements of a business. This includes monitoring firewalls, managing firewalls and managing intrusion detection and patch management, and upgrading, performing assessments of vulnerabilities and penetration, responding to emergency situations and preparing reports. Managed security service providers offer an economical option for companies who cannot afford to hire or support their own cybersecurity team, or have limited capabilities.
A security-focused MSP focuses on cybersecurity while an IT service provider focuses primarily on IT operations. MSSPs provide 24 hour security monitoring and management services to help companies detect, triage and react to cyberattacks. They typically use an operational center for security with high availability and provide services such as managed firewalls that detect intrusions, virtual private networks (VPN) management, endpoint threat detection and response and vulnerability scanning.
An MSSP is expected to provide a bespoke service based on an extensive understanding of the organization’s surroundings and security goals. In addition to providing 24/7 monitoring and threat intelligence, top MSSPs also analyze and evaluate information gathered from a vast variety of sources. This allows them to detect threats and eliminate vulnerabilities that are critical to your security.
A security-focused MSP should also have the capabilities to provide advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) and XDR solutions. XDR analyzes a variety of sources of data, such as firewalls, intrusion detectors antivirus, next-generation firewalls, and other enterprise devices. It also provides centralized management and automation. The platform can find unknown attackers using a variety of detection techniques and provide an overview of the entire attack surface to prioritize and address vulnerabilities.