The difference between an IT Managed Service Provider (IT MSP) and a Cybersecurity Managed Service Provider (Cybersecurity MSP, also referred to as a Managed Security Services Provider, or MSSP) can be unclear, especially as they are often conflated. Both are IT service providers that can help manage your organization’s network and security. Here’s a breakdown of the difference between the two, and some key points to consider regarding the variances.
What Is an IT MSP?
An IT Managed Security Provider offers comprehensive, end-to-end security solutions and services that are designed to support and protect an organization’s information technology infrastructure.
MSPs are often contracted by businesses to provide on-demand or subscription-based IT services, such as monitoring, help desk support, data backup, disaster recovery, and more. MSPs can be a cost-effective way for businesses to outsource their IT needs, as they can scale their services to match the fluctuating needs of the business. In addition, MSPs can provide expertise and support that the business may not have in-house.
What Is a Cybersecurity MSP?
Any organization that relies on technology to do business is vulnerable to cyber attacks. These attacks can come from anywhere in the world and can have serious consequences, including data breaches, loss of revenue, and reputational damage. A Cybersecurity MSP is a type of security service provider that specializes in providing comprehensive security solutions and services for businesses.
A cybersecurity MSP can provide a full range of services that include managed firewalls, managed intrusion detection and prevention, managed vulnerability scanning, identity and access management, and more. They can also help you develop a response plan in the event of a cyber attack.
What Are the Differences Between the Two?
Cybersecurity MSPs provide a higher level of specialization and focus on IT security, which is becoming more and more important as businesses become more reliant on technology, especially in today’s increasingly remote workforce.
An IT MSP can be compared to a homeowner hiring a general handyman for whole house maintenance, such as fixing appliances and repairing cosmetic damage or weaknesses throughout the entire property.
A cybersecurity MSP, in contrast, is hired especially for security reasons, and is concerned mainly with protecting the “house” from intruders, burglary, and other forms of unauthorized access, from both external and internal threats.
Key Considerations
If you’re trying to decide whether to go with an IT managed security provider or a cybersecurity managed service provider, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind.
First, think about what your needs are. If you’re trying to determine whether or not you need an IT managed services provider, there are a few factors to evaluate. Consider how much technology your business uses and how integral it is to your operations. If you rely heavily on technology and it’s constantly changing and evolving, you may need a managed services provider to help you keep up with those changes.
Additionally, think about the amount of resources you have internally to support your technology. If you don’t have a dedicated IT staff or your staff is stretched thin, a managed services provider can help take some of the burden off of them.
If you also have a lot of sensitive data that needs to be protected, and/or your business is a prime target for a cyber attack, you’ll need a provider that can offer robust security measures and can specialize in identifying, preventing, and mitigating cyber attacks.
Second, take a look at a provider’s reputation. There are some IT MSPs that offer cybersecurity services in tandem with general IT services, but their knowledge and experience in that specific field is mediocre at best.
If you are interested in procuring cybersecurity services from your current or a potential MSP, make sure they have a good track record of protecting their clients’ data. Ask for references from prior or current clients, and perform your due diligence.
A good cybersecurity managed service provider has a proven track record in experience and expertise in the discipline of security, a thorough knowledge of compliance requirements, and a firm understanding of how security issues should be prioritized according to the business needs and goals of the company.
How Socium Solutions Can Help
Socium Solutions will partner with you to look strategically at the whole of your company, audit what’s already in place, identify any gaps, and work with you to prioritize our response and identify where it makes the most sense for us to supply resources, whether those resources are tools, people, or both.
Our security expertise positions us to engage in technical and strategic conversations with both the IT department and company leadership. As a proven and proven cybersecurity MSP, we recognize that there are two main tasks: preventative, to keep attacks from happening; and mitigation, to alleviate the business impacts of attacks that have happened in the past.
We balance those competing priorities in order to provide your organization with protection and support on both fronts. Contact us today to learn more about how our cybersecurity MSP can help keep your business protected and productive