A managed security service is the act of contracting with a third-party to monitor and manage a company’s cybersecurity systems. It may include the assessment and updating of security policies, managing firewalls and intrusion detection, overseeing patch management and conducting regular security audits. It could also involve providing support and responding to incidents and threats. It is not to be confused with security operations centers (SOC) which is an in-house team that responds to cyber incidents in real time.
Utilizing an MSSP is more cost-effective than hiring full-time security professionals for your business, particularly for smaller companies such as locations that are distributed, medical or dental practices, attorneys or retailers who do not have the resources to employ a dedicated cybersecurity specialist. MSSPs can also help government entities consolidate security services, meet compliance needs, and mitigate risk.
The best managed service providers will protect you from sophisticated cyber threats. They do this by monitoring network activity, detecting suspicious behavior and anomalies and deploying multilayered security intelligence. They can also help your business in establishing or enhancing the vulnerability management program and provide 24/7 support to analyze cyber alerts.
When selecting an MSSP, look at the vendor’s pricing and the variety of services they provide. Ask them about their client reviews, accreditations, and the number of employees they have in-house. Think about whether the MSSP can examine data and detect advanced threats without prior knowledge of the behavior. This is accomplished by establishing a baseline of normal user behavior and then comparing that to new actions.
