To go on to explain the meaning of Managed Security Service Providers let’s stop to think and remember what the business world was like 10 years ago. The incorporation of Internet, electronic devices and technological tools were already giving way to a change in the cybersecurity paradigm.
What organizations did not know is the great evolution that followed. The IT infrastructures changed, as well as the needs of consumers, the demand, the treatment of information … there were many changes that were happening over the years. Resulting in a digitally transformed world.
Nowadays, almost all companies have web pages, manage tablets, mobiles and computers, companies are connected to the Internet, employees can work remotely by connecting to the VPN… What can we conclude?
Companies are definitely trying to take advantage of digitization. When using technological tools cybersecurity becomes an essential task, it is essential to adapt some security measures. If this is not the case, the door is left open to numerous risks and threats.
Aware of this, digitally-adapted organizations have relied for years on their internal security and protection measures, as well as on internal staff. And in some cases they are still their only protection barriers against security breaches, while the world continues to boom in the digital transformation.
Organizational constraints on cybersecurity
Organizations rely on their internal departments for cybersecurity management. However, internal capacity is often not sufficient to properly protect against cybersecurity threats.
At the same time, rapid technological evolution requires constant updating on security technologies and methods. Here comes into play, lack of training, lack of time and lack of technological resources. So times are getting longer and economic costs are increasing.
At the same time, the lack of trust has stopped many companies from outsourcing their cybersecurity services. What has stagnated their management.
What are Managed Security Service Providers, MSSPs?
Managed Security Service Providers are born to meet the needs of organizations regarding their comprehensive cybersecurity.
They provide security services and solutions protecting an organization’s technological and corporate assets. In addition, most MSSPs provide 24/7 security monitoring.
Their offering and, therefore, differentiation is based on the cybersecurity as a service model.
Why this model of cybersecurity as a service?
Proper cybersecurity management encompasses many activities that need to be carried out. Legal, operational, organisational and technological aspects need to be covered. However, both technical and economic barriers have made this process complex for many organizations.
To this end, Managed Security Providers (MSSPs) seek to provide companies with everything they need for proper security management, with flexibility and economic profitability.
As security as a service, i.e. a managed security offering, an organization can cede cybersecurity management to an MSSP and thus focus on the core of its business.
In addition, the lack of cybersecurity talent is no longer a problem, as MSSPs provide different profiles of cybersecurity professionals with high expertise, with no recruitment commitment.
Cybersecurity as a service is increasingly in demand, as its flexibility and economic efficiency allows organizations to secure their perimeters, adapt their security policies and procedures, increase legal compliance and monitor their infrastructures.
All of this without the need to hire specialized personnel, a large economic investment or long periods of time.
What do MSSPs provide?
MSSPs offer a wide range of protection measures, starting from the most basic, such as an antivirus, to the complex, such as the case of CSS.
MSSPs can include the deployment, configuration, and management of the following technology assets:
- Antivirus
- Anti-spam
- VPN
- Firewall
- Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
- Threat Intelligence
- Access Management
- Prevention of information loss
In turn include:
- Vulnerability and risk analysis
- Policy development and risk management
- Implementation of security technology solutions
- Security Systems Management
- Configuration Management
- Reports, Audits and Compliance
- Cybersecurity training
- Professional profiles in cybersecurity
In addition, it should be noted that the MSSPs to monitor the security of infrastructures use an SOC (Security Operations Centre). This allows them to obtain absolute 24/7 monitoring of an organization’s systems and devices.
The flexibility offered by MSSPs is that the client is able to select, combine and decide which services to incorporate to increase their security.
MSSPs are the key for those companies that seek preventive and proactive protection
MSSPs comprehensively cover an organization’s cybersecurity, because in addition to protecting the IT infrastructure they also help to discover threats and vulnerabilities, cover security policies in accordance with applicable regulations and promote best practices in security among other services.
To better understand the capabilities of MSSPs, we have divided their services into three action environments:
Corporate environment
In this environment MSSPs act as a cybersecurity consultancy. They help companies adapt their security practices and align them with corporate strategy.
The organization can also obtain an analysis of vulnerabilities, threats and risks that affect it. In order to classify these risks and establish a solid cybersecurity policy, following methodologies such as ISO27001, OSSTM, OWASP…etc. standards.
This encourages the creation of the Master Plan, increasingly necessary, which defines the scope and all security actions, in the short, medium and long term.
Technological Infrastructure
MSSPs provide IT infrastructure security management solutions. MSSP offer basic protection such as antivirus and anti-spam, as well as more advanced protection through intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and the SOC (Security Operations Center).
In addition, they offer Pentesting services, thanks to which vulnerabilities can be discovered in order to establish a response plan to security incidents.