MSSP vs MDR
21.06.2023
Back to blog listWhat should you choose?
There is a step change taking place in the amount of cyber threats globally. Intruders permanently sophisticate their techniques, consider previous mistakes, sharpen their skills to attack users, companies, enterprises, organizations worldwide. However, there is always something that can be done to mitigate risks. Numerous organizations refer to MSSP and MDR. However, it’s not always clear, what’s the difference between these two models and which one suits particular business’s needs better. In this article we’ll reveal some peculiarities of both models to help you understand, which one suits to your business needs better.
Focus on what you really need
Indisputably, there is something MDR and MSSP have in common. Both of them help organizations to ensure appropriate level of protection. Basically, both models provide services aimed at management of the customers’ infrastructure at the service provider’s side.
However, they aren’t the complete analogues. MDR (Managed Detection and Response) is a class of services, which ensures monitoring of client’s infrastructure, detection of threats, prompt respond to them and assistance in systems recovery if needed. MSSPs basically deal with a wider range of tasks. However, it’s crucial to understand, that MSSP not necessarily deals with MDR tasks as well. Quite often they don’t. So, the most important is to understand clearly, what tasks you want to deal with and evaluate counterparty basing on the capabilities they offer, whether they can really help you to achieve your goals. This is the basing recommendation for everyone considering MSSP, MSSP, which also offers MDR services or a specialized MDR team options.
Let’s now focus on the typical features of MDR and MSSP services and their advantages.
MDRs basically ensure proactive threat hunting and detection and response. MDR services may include different tools, the final set varies. The list of some widely spread solutions include, but isn’t limited to:
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Network Detection and Respond (NDR) or Extended Detection and Response (XDR), which are solutions for revealing of cyber threats and responding to them
• Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP), which is a complex solution for endpoints protection
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), which is the solution for automatized collection and analysis of data on security events.
MSSPs often focus on security management and monitoring and typically cover even more wide range of services. For instance, advanced MSSP provider deals with the following:
• Operating SOC and SIEM
• Firewall management
• Ensuring e-mail and web security
• Monitoring of IT and network security
• Vulnerabilities detection and remediation
• Ensuring protection against viruses
• VPN services maintenance
• Updating and patching systems
• Consulting services related to IT security.
So, there are the following basic MSSPs’ advantages, which help to ensure stability of business:
• Long-term service contracts
• Plannable revenues
• Cut of expenditures thanks to automation and remote maintenance
• Lower risk through flexibility and scalability
• Access to unique expertise and specialized tools
• More time to focus on own business
• Compliance with regulators’ requirements and access to unique expertise.
SearchInform offers MSSP service. The service is especially useful for those companies and organizations, which do not have an information security department and are willing to plug the hole in their information security; are willing to offload information security department. SearchInform ensures protection at three levels:
• The first level – the file system protection.
• The second level – protection at the level of workstations, data channels and human-related risks.
• At the third level the solution implements approach of complex risk and data management protection.
You may request a free trial of SearchInform MSSP services here.
