At a Glance
- 01. Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP): A Definition
- 02. What Does a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) Do?
- 03. What Types of Managed Security Services Are There?
- 04. How Do Managed Security Services Work?
- 05. What Advantages Do Managed Security Service Providers Offer?
- 06. What Are the Risks of Using an MSSP?
- 07. Which Future Trends Will Determine the Managed Security Services of Tomorrow?
- 08. MSSP: What You Need to Know
03
What Types of Managed Security Services Are There?
As the complexity and frequency of cyberattacks increases, so does the scope of managed protection services that address new attack vectors. In this section, you will learn about a selection of the most common types of MSS:
Network Security
Network Security services include solutions for the management and monitoring of firewalls, scrubbing systems, IDS (Intrusion Detection System) and other network security components. They help companies to protect their networks from cyber attacks.
Application Security
Application security services include protection solutions that ensure the security and availability of web applications, online services and web interfaces (APIs). The services support organizations in fending off various types of attacks such as DDoS attacks, attacks on databases or user accounts.
Endpoint Security
Endpoint security services ensure the protection of end devices such as computers and mobile devices. They help companies to protect their endpoints against malware and other security threats.
Cloud security
Cloud-based security services are solutions for securing cloud-based applications and the data backed up there. MSSs from this area help companies to protect their cloud resources from security threats.
05
What Advantages Do Managed Security Service Providers Offer?
Cost Efficiency
By outsourcing their IT security functions to MSSPs, companies can save significant costs by not having to invest in building and maintaining their own SOCs. Through economies of scale and a high degree of specialization, MSSPs can deliver high-quality security services at a cost that would not be feasible in-house.
Greater Flexibility & Scalability
Organizations' information security needs change dynamically. New clients and applications are deployed, legacy solutions are retired, and the number of customers, partners, and associated service providers is constantly changing. MSS can be quickly and easily adapted and scaled to meet new needs.
High standard of protection
For MSSPs, securing systems and networks is part of their day-to-day business – protection service providers can focus on cyber security, whereas organizations from other sectors can only do so marginally. As a result, MSSPs generally have in-depth IT security expertise as well as the necessary tools and hardware to efficiently protect customer systems from attacks. Common certifications and audits such as BSI ISO 27001 based on IT-Grundschutz or BSI C5 are an expression of this expertise. MSSPs can also demonstrate their know how through regular pentesting.
Compliance Expertise
MSSPs can help organizations meet applicable regulatory and compliance requirements. Specialized service providers have the industry experience, certifications, and audits needed to meet regulatory requirements in a timely manner.
Rapid Deployment
MSSP protection services can typically be deployed without the need for additional software or hardware. Service providers also handle configuration, operation, and maintenance. This significantly reduces deployment time compared to in-house solutions, especially in light of the ongoing IT skills shortage.
06
What Are the Risks of Using an MSSP?
Data Protection and Confidentiality
When using managed security services, companies must ensure that their data is protected and treated confidentially. In particular, security services that analyze and process data in plain text must be carefully examined in light of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In most cases, the use of providers from the European Economic Area (EEA) is preferable from a GDPR compliance perspective, as no adequacy decision by the EU Commission is required for the processing of data – in the past, for example, the adequacy decision for the transfer of data to the US has been repeatedly overturned by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Vendor Lock-in
Vendor lock-in describes the effect when providers offer a service that only works reliably within their own ecosystem, but causes problems when switching to other providers. Such effects can be prevented by supporting open-source standards instead of proprietary solutions.
Would you like to find out more about our solutions, application examples and best practices for attack defense? In our download area you will find product sheets, fact sheets, white papers and case studies.
FAQ on Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP)
Choosing a Managed IT Security or Managed Network Security provider is often a strategic choice to meet cyber security requirements. Due to increasing complexity and a dynamic threat landscape, more and more organizations are finding it difficult to build and maintain an effective security program in-house. Managed IT security gives these organizations access to specialized security experts and state-of-the-art protection technologies.
When selecting a suitable provider for managed IT security or managed network security, organizations should always take the following criteria into account: Scope and quality of the security services offered, industry experience and references of the MSSP, capabilities in the area of proactive threat detection and defense (MDR), transparency and communication of the MSSP, compatibility with own security requirements and systems.
The key difference is that a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) specializes exclusively in cybersecurity, while a Managed Service Provider (MSP) offers general IT services such as infrastructure and systems management. MSSPs typically operate out of a Security Operations Center (SOC) to monitor and respond to security threats around the clock.