Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), Uses, and Benefits
In the late 1990s, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were the forerunners of Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP). Some ISPs began supplying firewall equipment to their customers at that time, and if the customer desired, the ISP would also manage the firewall. The MSSP’s foundation is a managed firewall solution that is integrated into ISP offerings.
The concept of a specialized MSSPs grew over time, with firms dedicated to providing outsourced security services. As the cyber threat landscape and businesses’ security needs evolved, so did MSSP services to become full-service security providers.
Now, the worldwide MSSP market is expected to grow from $31.6 billion in 2020 to $46.4 billion by 2025. According to Markets & Markets, this equates to an 8.0 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the anticipated period.
What is a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP)?
An information technology (IT) service provider that sells security services to organizations is known as an MSSP. An MSSP’s job is to assist organizations in protecting themselves from security risks, either by offering software and services that keep firm data safe or by establishing a network of security professionals who can respond to attacks as they occur.
MSSPs offer cybersecurity monitoring and administrative services, including anti-virus and anti-spam protection, intrusion detection, firewalls, and virtual private network (VPN) management. System changes, tweaks, and upgrades are likewise handled by an MSSP.
What are MSSP Uses?
An MSSP should be able to provide an enterprise with a complete outsourced security solution. Security monitoring and incident response for an organization’s enterprise networks and endpoints are at the heart of the MSSP business. Support for alternative platforms, such as Cloud-based infrastructure, has become a frequent component of MSSPs’ security portfolios as company networks develop and evolve.
MSSPs are a cost-effective and efficient approach to safeguarding your data and network from invasions while also decreasing the process’s complexity. Hiring an in-house cybersecurity team, for example, can be more costly than working with an MSSP. MSSPs can also assist companies in saving money on equipment and software.
6 MSSP Roles and Responsibilities
1. On-site consulting
2. Perimeter management of the client’s network
3. Product resale
4. Managed security monitoring
5. Penetration testing and vulnerability assessments
6. Compliance monitoring
7 Benefits of Hiring an MSSP
An MSSP is designed to replace or supplement an organization’s existing security team. A corporation can gain various advantages by cooperating with an MSSP, such as:
1. Filling Vacant Positions:
Due to the cybersecurity skills gap, filling vacancies in an organization’s internal security team can be challenging and costly. By partnering with an MSSP, a company can remedy weaknesses in its internal security staff or completely replace them.
2. Access to Specialist Expertise:
The cybersecurity skills gap has ramifications beyond a lack of cybersecurity personnel. If an incident has occurred, organizations may additionally require access to specific cybersecurity knowledge (such as malware analysts or forensics professionals). An MSSP has the scalability to keep this knowledge private and in-house and make it available to customers whenever they need it.
3. Continuous Protection:
Cyberattacks can happen at any moment, not only during work hours. An MSSP should have a continuous Security Operations Center (SOC) that detects and responds to potential cyberattacks anytime they occur.
4. Increased Security Maturity:
Many firms, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, lack the cybersecurity maturity that they require. Small and Midsize Businesses (SMBs) can quickly install a mature cybersecurity solution with the help of an MSSP.
5. Solution Configuration and Management:
The most effective cybersecurity solutions are those that are configured and managed by a professional. By working with an MSSP, a company will benefit from skilled security management without having to hire the necessary personnel in-house.
6. Lower Total Cost of Ownership:
Multi-tenancy and high scalability are supported by many cybersecurity solutions. This allows an MSSP to handle several clients with the same solution, distributing the expense of a secure cybersecurity infrastructure across their client base.
7. Support for Compliance:
As new data protection legislation (such as the GDPR and the CCPA) joins current laws, the regulatory landscape is becoming more complex. An MSSP can assist with data collection and report generation to demonstrate compliance during audits or in the aftermath of a possible incident.
Difference Between MSP Vs MSSP
Third-party entities that provide services to a firm include Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). However, the aim of these two categories of service providers is vastly different.
An MSP helps with providing general network and IT maintenance, along with services like managed telephony (telco) and SaaS platforms. An MSSP, on the other hand, is entirely focused on delivering security services.
The “operations center” is one of the key differences between MSPs and MSSPs. A Network Operations Center (NOC) is likely to be run by an MSP, from which they monitor and manage their clients’ networks. A security operations center (SOC) should exclusively be run by an MSSP to offer round-the-clock incident response and round the clock monitoring.
How MSSPs Have Evolved?
MSSPs have evolved in a variety of ways. Because of the seemingly ever-increasing demand for internet security, some traditional service providers have added managed security to their portfolios. Other traditional channel partners will resell providers’ cloud-based security services, such as a value-added reseller (VAR).
Other MSSPs have emerged as entirely new businesses focused purely on cybersecurity services. According to some industry analysts, every channel company is a “security supplier” to some extent, as cybersecurity is present in practically every element of a customer’s activities.
Conclusion
When searching for an MSSP, customers look for a provider that they can trust to successfully protect their networks and the sensitive data they hold. To provide an adequate outsourced security solution, a company must not only possess the necessary cybersecurity experience, but also the necessary tools to carry out its duties.
Imageware Authenticate® enables MSSPs and IT service organizations to quickly, easily, and inexpensively add a continuum of two-factor authentication (2FA), biometrics, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to their existing security infrastructure, applications, networks, systems, and devices.