Managed Security Services

A managed security service (MSS) is offered by third-party providers to monitor and enhance the security of an organization's IT infrastructure and data assets. These managed cyber security services are designed to help businesses defend against threats, improve their security posture, and respond effectively to security incidents. Managed detection and response (MDR), an offering that helps organizations manage and respond to cyber threats, is one example of an MSS offering. A managed security services provider (MSSP) is a company that provides MSS services.

In addition to managed detection and response (MDR), MSSP offerings include: penetration testing; database security; email security and management; digital forensics and incident response (DFIR); security patch management; integration services; governance, risk and compliance (GRC) consulting; managed security information and event management (SIEM); and more.

Enlisting an MSSP provides numerous benefits. For one, it enables companies to have security professionals protecting their environment on a 24x7 basis, which frees up IT staff to focus on strategic projects that differentiate the company. It also likely saves money as compared to staffing a global security operations center (SOC). “An extended hours (24x7) operation would require at least a team of 10 and upwards of 30 or more staff in some cases for very large enterprises,” Security magazine reports. Why 24x7? Because new security threats come from all over the world; even if your organization doesn’t operate around the clock, your SOC needs to.

Using an MSSP can also help you get the most out of the security investments you’ve already made. If you’ve got an endpoint detection and response (EDR), extended detection and response (XDR), and/or a SIEM in place, an MSSP can help you manage and respond to all the alerts they generate. Without that, the solutions don’t really do much good.

All MSSP customers also benefit from what the provider learns from any single customer. If the MSSP detects a new threat in a customer environment, it can apply that knowledge and look for the same threat in all other customers.

MSSPs also give customers choice. If your chosen provider isn’t performing up to expectations, you can find another that’s more to your liking. That’s far easier than replacing full-time employees.

First and foremost is experience. Proper security requires a human element, not just tools, so you need to ensure your MSS provider has the expertise in-house to effectively use those tools. Key indicators are longevity, in terms of years in business, appropriate certifications among staff, and a low staff turnover ratio.

Flexibility is another differentiator. While some MSS providers adhere to a strict model where they manage everything, others employ a co-managed model where the provider shares some security responsibilities with the client. That can be useful for companies with more mature security teams that need help only with certain aspects, such as co-managing their SOC.

A global presence is a must-have, to identify threats wherever they first appear. Proprietary threat intelligence capabilities and a dedicated research team to identify those threats and prepare responses are also crucial.

It’s helpful if your MSSP provides a range of services, from MDR, pen testing and threat hunting to email and database security. As your organization grows and your security team matures, it’s likely your cyber security requirements will as well.

Trustwave SpiderLabs is an elite team of security experts that engage in threat research along with both proactive and defensive security measures. The collective intelligence they generate benefits all Trustwave clients.

Other Trustwave differentiators include:

• 30 years of industry experience and innovation
• 24/7/365 global security operations
• Support for a full range of offensive and defensive cybersecurity services, including MDR, pen testing, DFIR, and more
• The only vendor featured in all six Gartner^® Market Guides for MSS, MDR, Managed SIEM, Co-Managed Security Monitoring, DFIR Services, and Third-Party Risk Management Technology Solutions
• Named a Top 10 MSSP on MSSP Alert’s 2024 Top 250 MSSP List for the 8th consecutive year