Benefits of Using a Managed Security Service Provider
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There are countless benefits to working alongside a managed security service provider, some of these benefits are obvious from the outset, others, not so much.
Which is why we’re dedicating an entire post to cover the benefits of seeking the help of a managed security service provider – or MSSP as they are otherwise referred to as.
Security management services often lead to confusion, so anything we can do to help bridge that knowledge gap is bound to help you in the long run. The same can be said for practically every other blog on our site.
Know that we will be referencing other blogs within this post as we go through some of the benefits. You’ll find that links are included throughout, so feel free to check those out at your own leisure.
But yes, the benefits of using a managed security service provider, let’s talk about it.
For this post to be as clinical and as comprehensive as possible, let’s begin by looking at the meaning behind MSSP – just so we know exactly what it is before we start deconstructing some of the benefits.
Let’s jump in.
What is a Managed Security Service Provider?
Managed security service providers deliver management and outsourced monitoring of systems and security devices for clients.
They are third-party organizations that provide complete coverage for your business, providing you with the confidence to go about your regular day-to-day life as standard without worry.
Some MSSP businesses provide cloud-based security alongside other popular services used to shield an organization from hackers and threats.
That’s a very roundabout way of describing what a managed security service provider is. Don’t worry if you’re still unsure. What they do and what they’re about will become a lot clearer later when we identify some of the benefits.
Before that, let’s take a quick look at the differences between an MSP and a MSSP, as the two are linked, but so often used interchangeably despite having clear differences.
What is the Difference Between a MSP and a MSSP?
It’s easy to see why managed service providers (MSPs) and managed security service providers (MSSPs) are mixed up, given the similarities in the names and the fact that both are third-party businesses that help organizations with security-based needs.
So what are the differences?
That’s simple, an MSP delivers general network and IT support to companies operating in specific sectors (Software as a Service, or SaaS, is one of the common ones).
As a contrast to that, an MSSP is focused solely on providing security services. In case that wasn’t clear enough:
An MSP helps organizations manage their software, whereas an MSSP provides security that protects the entire organization from hackers and those that would do an organization harm in some way or another.
Another one of the clear differences between the two is that an MSP is likely to operate a network operations center (NOC), which allows them to monitor their clients’ network. On the other side of the coin, an MSSP will operate a security operations center (SOC), from which they can provide 24/7 security coverage, incident response, and more.
6 Benefits of Working With a Managed Security Service Provider
Every organization of note will need cybersecurity to help protect them from attacks, that much is true – more so if you handle sensitive information.
Yes, having an in-house security team is an option, but you’ll find seeking the help of a third-party a lot more effective at preventing, detecting, and responding to ever-evolving threats.
All of the above are baseline benefits of working with a managed security service provider (prevention, detection, responding, etc). There are more that we’d like to direct your attention to.
Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits of using a managed security service provider (every benefit will be elaborated on looked at fully below):
- Effective Cybersecurity Training
- Improved Cybersecurity Posture
- Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessments
- Reduced Regulatory Risks
- Cost Effective CSOC
- Continuous Dedicated Support
Effective Cybersecurity Training
The first benefit of working with an MSSP is an underrated one. Underrated in that most organizations believe that service providers simply come in, handle the security, and that’s that.
When in reality, MSSP professionals help strengthen your team, equally as much as the state of your cybersecurity overall.
Whether you want to admit it or not, your employees are often the most vulnerable link in your security. This makes training them up somewhat of a priority, but fear not, as MSSP’s almost always offer a well-developed program for your staff to implement and use.
We here at TLR have an extensive cybersecurity program that instantly raises the effectiveness of your security team.
Our program is successful as we frame it not as a technical challenge, but as an organizational issue, thus giving participants a better understanding of why attacks happen and how they can be less of a target.
Doing so helps reduce the likelihood of a cyber attack.
We have multiple courses to pick and choose from. See the following list for reference:
- Cyber Unmasked (Security Bootcamp) Course
- Network Security & Incident Response Course
- Threat & Counter Threat Intelligence Course
- Introduction to Penetration Testing Course
- Wireless Technologies and the Internet of Things Course
- Custom Cyber Security Courses
- Table Top Exercises (TTX)
- Senior Executive Workshop
- Phishing Awareness Workshop
- Cyber Security Awareness Workshop (Annual Training)
So as you can see, we have plenty of training courses for members at every level of your organization.
In the case of TLR, we also offer Cyber War Games, a series of themed activities that helps broaden your knowledge of cyber security in relatable real world exercises.
Improved Cybersecurity Posture
We know what you’re thinking:
What does posture have to do with your cybersecurity?
Allow us to explain. Your organization’s security posture refers to the collective status of all software, hardware, services, networks, information, vendors, and service providers. Your posture is determined by how stable each of these components are.
Bad posture can lead to issues, and vulnerabilities within your cybersecurity.
You can improve your cybersecurity posture by working with a dedicated managed security service provider.
The security management services they offer, such as vulnerability monitoring, endpoint protection, and firewall management, ensure that nothing gets in or out of your system without you knowing about it.
Comprehensive Vulnerability Assessments
Spotting vulnerabilities in your network is beyond essential when improving the posture of your cybersecurity. Ask any managed security service provider and they’ll say the exact same thing.
Of course, most in-house security teams can outline these issues, but what makes an MSSP different is that they are a lot more thorough, and will actually come up with a multi-step action plan for you to use should an attack occur.
Scanning for vulnerabilities is very important when you consider how hackers are constantly evolving and getting better at infiltrating your organization’s security.
What’s that saying? Fail to plan, plan to fail?
Yeah, that has a lot more standing in the world of cybersecurity, where not planning could cause a lot of damage if not taken care of. Comprehensive vulnerability assessments ensure that any problems that arise are mitigated as much as possible.
Reduced Regulatory Risks
Every business must comply with GDPR, HIPPA, and CCPA regulations these days. Failure to comply can result in hefty fines that could cost your organizations a lot of money in the process.
Not everyone has time to sit through these regulations as and when they change or update. But an MSSP does. They have more than enough time to go through a lot of the boring stuff, allowing you to focus on more important matters.
Solutions offered by managed security service providers are always in line with the current regulations and laws.
This gives you peace of mind, knowing that everything is in place and already taken care of as far as the law is concerned.
Cost Effective CSOC
Something you might not know about cyber security management is that you need a Security Operations Center (SOC) to monitor, investigate, remediate, and identify cyber attacks.
A cyber security operations center can either run 24/7, or if it’s a hybrid SOC, part-time in order to support your organization.
While a SOC can vary in size and scale, it’s almost always an expensive investment. Rather than buying and operating your own, you could seek the help of a MSSP – a provider that already has its own CSOC in place, giving you access at a much cheaper rate!
Continuous Dedicated Support
Another underrated aspect of working with a managed security service provider is the sheer quality of the service offered – not to mention the continuous support you receive from them.
Sure, you could hire someone to fill these gaps within your organization, but not all of them are as equipped to deal with the ever-changing issues a single organization faces on a regular basis.
And training these individuals can take time; too much time when you consider how fast hackers can be.
By partnering with an established provider, you instantly unlock their expertise, causing your cybersecurity to instantly level up, so to speak. MSSPs know how to handle a crisis in a calm and cool manner should it occur.
They’re also handy to have when preventing further damage to your organization, after all, some cyber attacks are next to impossible to stop. That said, you can still soften the blow and get back on your feet quicker with the right help!
Benefits of Using a Managed Security Service Provider
By partnering with a managed security provider, you help guarantee that your cybersecurity is well and truly covered, no matter what type of threats stand in the way.
It’s like we said at the top of the post:
Some of these benefits do speak for themselves. More time to focus on other parts of the business, increased confidence, and reduced risks are all baseline benefits that you’ll have access to when working with a dedicated provider.
We hope we’ve opened your eyes to some of the additional benefits of using a managed security service provider.
Now that you know the benefits, what are you going to do now? If you’ve decided that seeking the assistance of an MSSP is worth it, then look no further than us here at TLR Global. We’re a dedicated provider, hellbent on empowering you and shielding your future.
If you’d like to find out more, hit the big yellow button below and speak with us directly. We’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have, and to talk more about what we can do for you.
Managed Security Service Provider FAQs
What does MSSP and MSP stand for?
MSSP is an acronym for managed security service provider. MSP, on the other hand, stands for managed service provider. The two are quite similar in name, which does lead to the terms being used interchangeably when there are differences.
Why are security management services important?
They’re important because not every organization is equipped to deal with every type of cyber attack. Seeking the help of a third-party ensures that all problems and potential problems are mitigated. These services are also incredibly thorough.
How do you find the right MSSP?
To find the right MSSP to partner with, you should ask yourself questions like “how experienced are they?” and “how fast are they at responding to a cyber attack?” Both are very important questions that will help you decipher the worthy partners from the not-so-worthy MSSPs.
