Best Managed Security Services

 managed service provider (MSP) is focused on the operational aspects of your IT systems. An MSP will ensure that your IT systems are performing as expected, that the people who need to access the data and systems can utilize the information and applications they need, and that IT systems are working effectively. An MSP will also work to resolve any performance-based issues.

A managed security service provider (MSSP) provides consistent comprehensive protection for all of your organization's cyber security needs. An MSSP will ensure that your organization's entire ecosystem is fully compliant, safe, and secure from any and all security risks, threats, or potential breaches.

There are many significant benefits to using an MSSP. The two main reasons why so many organizations today are moving to an MSSP are comprehensive threat protection and cost effectiveness.

1. Comprehensive threat protection: An MSSP’s main focus is keeping your organization safe from risk and from any potential threats. They work 24/7 to ensure that there is never any breach into the integrity of your IT ecosystem. A value-added MSSP will have cybersecurity specialists whose only focus is to keep your organization safe from harm. The MSSP will provide AI and machine learning to continually monitor your systems and immediately alert your organization of any suspicious behavior or anomalies that are not in accordance with the pre-set business protocols. Additionally, as many MSSPs are global operations, they have knowledge of threats happening everywhere across the world - even the dark web. They are being constantly updated and will continually develop ways to keep your organization safe from threats happening anywhere in the world.
   
2. Cost-effective: Value-added MSSP will save your organization money. It simply is not possible for many organizations, especially small to medium businesses (SMB), to keep and maintain a cutting-edge IT cyber security staff on the payroll. Many high-level cyber security specialists are very highly compensated and beyond the financial reach of most SMBs. Even some large enterprises find it more beneficial to direct resources elsewhere and research the best MSSP for their organization. The right MSSP will keep your organization safe, free from threat and risk, and running efficiently at times with little to no downtime. This will ensure that your organization will maintain the highest levels of productivity and profitability at all times.

Organizations use MSSPs to shift the generally monotonous work of continually monitoring what in some cases can be thousands (or more) of potential security events or incidents per day. MSSPs will include but are not limited to: monitoring of firewalls, compliance management, intrusion detection, password/login issues, and all your security incident and event management (SIEM) tools.

There are several different factors to consider when choosing an MSSP for your organization. You will have to consider the number of users and servers, the amount of data, and several other factors that may be unique to your organization. However, most MSSPs will offer a flat fee based on your exact needs that will still be significantly cheaper than purchasing all the security tools your organization would need in addition to hiring and maintaining a team of cybersecurity specialists to keep your organization continually secure from any threats.

For some companies, it may not even be possible to have a separate MSSP to handle proprietary and client personal identifiable information (PII). It is important to note that an MSSP does not replace your entire security team, but is in place to support and supplement the efforts to keep your organization safe and compliant. It is critical to ensure that your organization has a detailed service-level agreement (SLA) in place with your MSSP to maintain confidentiality and protect your organization in case a data breach occurs.

Below are some of the top features to consider when choosing your MSSP:

• Global and regional focus: Cyber security is the number one concern of many business enterprises in today's marketplace. You will want to ensure your MSSP has a focus on protecting your enterprise against threats both regionally and globally.
  
• Ability to demonstrate quality performance: A value-added MSSP will have in place a way to track overall performance and be able to clearly demonstrate how your organization's security stance improves over the duration of the relationship, such as rapid response and improved detection.
  
• AI and ML components: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are considered basic components in today's cyber ecosystems. These competencies are now the industry standard expected (when partnered with a human component) to provide the fastest response and detection possible. Cyber attackers are using AI and ML, making it necessary to utilize them to launch a proper, timely defense to keep your enterprise safe and secure.
  
• Trusted resource: Your MSSP should be able to understand they are in place to help your organization. They should be able to share experiences and knowledge working with other organizations similar to yours and how problematic scenarios can be avoided and maximum productivity can consistently be maintained. They should be able to alert and identify potential vulnerabilities within your organization and provide proactive action plans based on their past experiences.

In addition to the two main benefits listed above, here are some additional valuable benefits gained by using an MSSP:

• Access to high-level intelligence: The best MSSPs will offer real-time threat protection and analysis with the ability to identify malicious malware attacks, realized and potential threats, and more. A truly qualified MSSP will have a global laboratory able to continuously perform thorough research to defend against all types of threats. You will have a partner that is dedicated to using the best threat intelligence available to keep your enterprise safe and secure.
  
• Improved response and event investigation: A dedicated experienced security team watching out for your IT ecosystem 24/7/365 is able to quickly access issues and make immediate recommendations for improvement. Additionally, the MSSP will work closely with your team to ensure minor anomalies to large enterprise-wide intrusions are avoided to prevent any harm to your ecosystem.
  
• Report and log management: An appropriate MSSP will use data from your SIEM and other security tools and applications and correlate them all onto a single platform and streamlining the report and logs into a single pane, making it easier to view and track the overall health and wellbeing of your system.

There are numerous reasons why your organization should partner with an MSSP: it offers better overall security, is more cost-effective, and can provide for an improved ROI for your organization. You can free up your organization’s limited valuable resources to focus on other criteria and allow an MSSP to handle the threat hunting and mundane monitoring tasks.

MSSP solutions can significantly bolster your threat intelligence by providing access to a vast repository of global security data. They offer advanced analytics and real-time monitoring to detect suspicious activities early. By leveraging their expertise, you gain insights into emerging threats and vulnerabilities, allowing you to formulate proactive defense strategies. MSSPs also use machine learning to identify patterns and predict potential attacks, further enhancing your security posture.

Outsourcing cybersecurity to an MSSP offers considerable cost savings by eliminating the need for full-time, in-house security teams and reducing the expenses related to technology and training. MSSPs provide access to a wide range of security services on a subscription basis, enabling your business to scale up or down as needed. This flexibility ensures you're only paying for what you use, making it an economical choice for businesses of all sizes.

MSSPs play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with industry-specific regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. They stay updated with regulatory changes and help maintain the necessary security controls to meet these requirements. By conducting regular audits and risk assessments, MSSPs ensure your organization is always compliant, reducing the risk of penalties and enhancing trust with customers and partners.

MSSPs offer a wide array of security solutions tailored to meet diverse organizational needs. Common offerings include threat detection and response, firewall and VPN management, endpoint protection, vulnerability assessments, and security information and event management (SIEM). These comprehensive services ensure all aspects of your network and data are protected from potential threats. By providing 24/7 monitoring and support, MSSPs give you peace of mind knowing your security is always a priority.

MSSPs are designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing IT infrastructure. They begin by assessing your current systems and understanding your unique security challenges. By employing flexible solutions and open APIs, MSSPs ensure their services complement rather than disrupt your operations. They also collaborate closely with your in-house IT teams to streamline processes and establish clear communication channels, facilitating a smooth integration that enhances overall security effectiveness.