While looking for IT outsourcing services, you might come across two types of providers: managed IT services providers (MSPs) and managed security services providers (MSSPs). Which provider should your business partner with? Or should you work with both?

 

To help you determine which provider makes the most sense for your business’s needs, we’ll discuss the differences between MSPs and MSSPs. 

What does an MSP do?

An MSP helps a business work efficiently by maintaining and optimizing the company’s IT infrastructure. They deliver comprehensive IT services, including: 

 

  • IT system management – proactive management, monitoring, maintenance, and optimization of clients’ IT systems to ensure everything runs smoothly, as well as prevention of tech issues 
  • Help desk support – 24/7 IT support to quickly resolve technical issues when they occur
  • Endpoint management – deployment and maintenance of applications, operating systems, cybersecurity solutions, and other business resources to their clients’ desktops, laptops, mobile devices, servers, routers, and other endpoints
  • Cybersecurity – implementation of IT security solutions, recommendations on security policies and processes, and security awareness trainings to strengthen the client’s cyber defenses 
  • Managed cloud services – cloud migration, optimization, security, and configuration
  • Managed applications – help with implementing new applications by granting role-based permissions and privileges, onboarding new employees to the system, applying software updates and patches, troubleshooting, and recording log data
  • Business VoIP – ensuring unified and efficient communications by providing services, such as consulting, infrastructure design, installation, admin and end user training, IT support, and phone bill analysis 
  • Data backup and recovery – involves creating copies of clients’ business data and ensuring that it is easily accessible after a disaster 
  • Vendor management – entails communication with all of their clients’ technology vendors
  • Virtual CIO services – performing the tasks of a chief information officer (CIO) remotely to help their clients make the right IT strategy and spending decisions 

 

Read also: The benefits of managed IT services to your business

 

What does an MSSP do?

MSSPs prevent, detect, and respond to cyberthreats before these wreak havoc on their clients’ data and IT systems. They also ensure that their clients stay compliant with the necessary security and privacy regulations, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX, and CMMC. 

 

The services that MSSPs offer are focused on cybersecurity. These include:

 

  • Vulnerability scanning – involves conducting assessments to identify weaknesses in their clients’ IT infrastructure and addressing such weaknesses
  • Penetration testing – simulation of real-world cyberattacks to evaluate clients’ cybersecurity posture and measure the effectiveness of their security controls
    • Risk assessments and compliance – entails evaluating whether the client’s cybersecurity infrastructure is compliant with regulatory standards
    • Firewall management – securing the client’s network by configuring, maintaining, and monitoring firewalls
    • Identity and access management – limiting users’ access only to the IT resources they require to do their jobs
    • Virtual private network management – providing clients access to a safe, encrypted, online connection to their respective corporate networks
    • Patch management – installation of software patches as soon as they become available 
    • Data loss prevention – preventing data from being copied or moved to an unauthorized network system
  • Security awareness training – teaching clients’ employees about security best practices and how to identify and respond to cyberthreats
  • Managed endpoint protection – involves detection and prevention of threats at the device level
    • Managed network security – identification of and response to network threats
  • Managed threat monitoring and intrusion detection – entails proactively monitoring clients’ IT systems for anomalous activity, investigation of possible advanced cyberthreats (i.e., threats that can bypass regular security solutions), and prevention or containment of such threats
  • Incident response planning – creation of an incident response plan to provide clients with the tools and processes necessary to stay protected from cyberattacks 
  • Incident response – assigning a dedicated team that responds to incidents on behalf of their clients
  • Cyber breach forensics – involves identifying breaches and collecting, analyzing, and reporting evidence of the incident
  • Deep web scanning – online search for sensitive information that is not easily accessible (e.g., financial records and medical records) to discover previously undetected data breaches

How do MSPs and MSSPs differ?

MSPs primarily focus on IT infrastructure management, while MSSPs deal exclusively with IT systems and data security. In other words, an MSP’s main objective is to ensure that their client has efficient access to the company’s data and other IT resources. On the other hand, an MSSP’s main goal is to protect their client from all types of cyberthreats. 

 

While both MSPs and MSSPs offer cybersecurity services, the latter focuses solely on providing the latest, most sophisticated, and effective cybersecurity solutions, such as intrusion detection and vulnerability scanning. The former, on the other hand, may offer basic data protection, or they may try to compete in the MSSPs’ space, but MSPs commonly provide more services beyond cybersecurity.

 

MSPs typically have a network operations center from where they deliver IT support and other services using remote monitoring and management tools to their clients. In contrast, MSSPs work from a security operations center where they continuously monitor and maintain their clients’ IT systems using security information and event management tools. 

Should you work with an MSP or MSSP? 

Both MSPs and MSSPs can provide great value to businesses. Which service provider you should work with ultimately boils down to your business’s unique needs. For example, if you have an in-house IT department that can capably and effectively ensure smooth IT operations but lacks cybersecurity expertise, then partnering with an MSSP may be the right decision. 

 

However, if you do not have internal IT staff or your existing IT team needs help, then an MSP may be a better fit. If your MSP realizes that your security requirements are beyond what they offer, they often contract an MSSP to meet those needs. 

Experience stress-free IT when you partner with Dynamic Solutions Group, one of Florida’s and Chicago’s leading MSPs. With us at your side, you can focus on your business knowing that you won’t have to worry about IT downtime and other tech issues. Get in touch with us today.