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What is a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)?

What Is a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)?

A managed security services provider (MSSP) is a specialized third-party provider of IT security. MSSPs take on the monitoring and management of security systems for companies. They ensure that the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems are guaranteed—without companies having to invest in their own hardware, software, or additional personnel.

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At one look

  1. 1. Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP): A Definition
    1. 2. What Does a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) Do?
      1. 3. What Types of Managed Security Services Are There?
        1. 4. How Do Managed Security Services Work?
          1. 5. What Advantages Do Managed Security Service Providers Offer?
            1. 6. What Are the Risks of Using an MSSP?
              1. 7. Selecting and evaluating an MSSP
                1. 8. Which Future Trends Will Determine the Managed Security Services of Tomorrow?
                  1. 9. MSSP: What You Need to Know

                    01

                    Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP): A Definition

                    Managed Security Services (MSS) are outsourced security services provided by specialized providers. These services protect IT systems from cyberattacks and proactively identify vulnerabilities.

                    The most important features of an MSSP:

                    • Round-the-clock monitoring from a Security Operations Center (SOC)

                    • Specialization in cybersecurity (as opposed to general IT service providers)

                    • Remote management of the security infrastructure

                    • Proactive threat detection and incident response

                    Against the backdrop of increasing cyber threats, an MSSP is a cost-effective solution for organizations of all sizes.

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                    02

                    What Does a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) Do?

                    An MSSP offers outsourced IT security services as a comprehensive solution. The range of services varies depending on the provider and customer requirements.

                    Core services of an MSSP:

                    • Managed firewalls: Continuous monitoring and configuration

                    • DDoS protection: Defense against distributed denial-of-service attacks

                    • Bot management: Detection and blocking of malicious bots

                    • Intrusion detection systems (IDS): Identification of intrusion attempts

                    • VPN services: Secure network access for remote workstations

                    • SIEM solutions: Central collection and analysis of security events

                    MSSPs take care of the entire provision, operation, and maintenance. Additional hardware or software is usually not required on the customer's side.

                    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 encompasses the protection of IT infrastructure:

                    • Firewall management and monitoring

                    • Scrubbing systems against DDoS attacks

                    • Intrusion prevention systems (IPS)

                    • Round-the-clock network monitoring

                    Application Security

                    Application security protects web applications and APIs:

                    • Web application firewalls (WAF)

                    • API security and protection against database attacks

                    • Protection against cross-site scripting and SQL injection

                    • Bot management for e-commerce platforms

                    Endpoint Security

                    Endpoint security protects all devices on the network:

                    • Antivirus and anti-malware protection

                    • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

                    • Mobile Device Management (MDM)

                    • Patch management for all end devices

                    Cloud Security

                    Cloud security for hybrid and multi-cloud environments :​

                    • Configuration management for cloud services

                    • Identity and access management (IAM)

                    • Cloud workload protection

                    • Compliance monitoring in the cloud

                    Network connections

                    04

                    How Do Managed Security Services Work?

                    MSSPs offer their services as a cloud service. The majority of all security events are processed automatically. For complex attack methods, MSSPs rely on the expertise of IT security specialists.

                    How managed security services work:

                    • Operations from specially designed security operations centers (SOCs)

                    • Round-the-clock staffing for real-time monitoring

                    • Proactive identification of vulnerabilities

                    • Automated processing of standard security events

                    • Manual intervention in the event of complex threats

                    • Continuous monitoring of all security systems

                    The experts at the SOC monitor security events around the clock. They can proactively identify and close vulnerabilities. They also initiate the necessary countermeasures in the event of cyberattacks.

                    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.

                    07

                    Selecting and evaluating an MSSP

                    Choosing the right MSSP is crucial for IT security. Various criteria should be taken into account when making your selection. These ensure that the provider meets specific requirements.

                    Important selection criteria

                    Professional qualifications:

                    • Extensive experience and expertise in IT security

                    • Certifications such as ISO 27001 or BSI C5

                    • Industry-specific expertise and references

                    • Knowledge of current threat scenarios

                    • Proven competence through pentesting

                    Operational requirements:

                    • Ability to achieve specific security objectives

                    • Good communication and cooperation

                    • Flexibility and adaptability

                    • Transparent processes and reporting

                    • 24/7 support availability

                    Economic factors:

                    • Transparent and predictable pricing

                    • Reasonable price-performance ratio

                    • Flexible contract models without long-term commitments

                    • Scalable solutions for future growth

                    • No hidden costs or fees

                    Evaluation process

                    Companies should conduct a structured assessment. A checklist helps with systematic evaluation.

                    Steps for selecting a provider:

                    • Create a list of potential providers

                    • Obtain security assessments

                    • Check references and customer feedback

                    • Conduct proof of concepts (PoC)

                    • Compare service level agreements

                    • Evaluate the technologies offered

                    • Check compliance support

                    08

                    Which Future Trends Will Determine the Managed Security Services of Tomorrow?

                    One of the biggest trends in the area of managed security services is the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve IT security. Both topics promote the scalability and performance of MSS. The areas are also seen as a response to the increasing use of AI by cyber criminals – they also use the technology to automatically create malicious code and identify gaps in defenses.

                    09

                    MSSP: What You Need to Know

                    Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP) are professional providers of information security services for clients, networks and the cloud. As a rule, MSSPs offer their protection services on a subscription basis via the cloud. This means that no additional investment in software and hardware is required on the part of the customer. The service provider also takes care of configuration, maintenance and operation. As these hurdles are eliminated, the provision of the required security services by an MSSP is much faster than with a comparable in-house solution.

                     

                    By specializing in cybersecurity, MSSPs can cost-effectively provide a high level of security that would usually not be feasible or affordable for customers to provide in-house. Furthermore, MSS can be more easily adapted to new requirements and scaled as needed.

                     

                    Managed Security Service Providers help organizations to adhere to strict compliance and regulatory guidelines with certified solutions and audited processes.

                     

                    When selecting the right provider, organizations should consider not only the scope of services and price, but also industry experience. Specialized providers can respond better to the individual needs of companies and often also offer ready-made contracts that address the legal requirements of specific sectors in compliance with the law.

                    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.

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