What to Look For in an MSSP

Decision makers across the world recognize the critical importance of cybersecurity in today's landscape of advanced threats and escalating risks. Effectively protecting your organization's systems, data, and reputation requires robust security capabilities — which often necessitates partnering with a managed security services provider (MSSP). But knowing what to look for in an MSSP can be difficult. 

With so many options on the market, it can be challenging to parse through the claims and identify the best-fit MSSP for your organization's unique needs. Making the wrong choice can leave you exposed or simply wasting money on inadequate services.   

To help guide your evaluation process, here are seven critical factors that should weigh heavily in your analysis of what to look for in an MSSP. 

Make Sure Your Business is Protected: Connect with our cybersecurity experts to get started on your tailored security solution today.   

7 Factors to Look for in an MSSP 

1. Core Security Focus 

Look for MSSPs that are truly specialists in the security domain — not general IT services firms that happen to offer some security offerings as an add-on. Their analysts and engineers should have highly specialized skills, certifications and mindsets focused on the latest threat detection and response tactics. Avoid MSSPs that are really just system administrators in a security operations center. 

2. Direct Service Execution 

Many providers claim to offer services like managed detection and response (MDR), but are actually just reselling or acting as a middleman for other vendors' products. Ensure your prospective MSSP is actually executing all of the monitoring, analysis, and response activities themselves. This direct accountability helps drive greater expertise and efficiency. 

3. Modern Technology Stack 

For example, traditional security information and event management (SIEM) solutions are quickly becoming outdated. Leading MSSPs are adopting security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) capabilities powered by machine learning to enhance detection and accelerate incident response. Additionally, their technology stack should be able to support and integrate with your existing security tools, not force you to rip-and-replace your previous investments. 

4. Comprehensive Coverage 

Your cybersecurity program requires robust capabilities across the full attack surface — not siloed or limited offerings. Look for MSSPs that provide true 24x7x365 monitoring by skilled analysts, complemented by a breadth of services like vulnerability management and penetration testing to cover your holistic security needs. Physical security operations centers (SOCs) can also provide advantages. 

5. Partnership Approach 

Security is an ongoing battle, requiring close collaboration between your organization and the MSSP. The provider should offer a direct interaction model with a single point of contact, plus regular touchpoints to understand changes in your environment. This allows for continuous improvement through activities like alert tuning to reduce noise and false positives. Avoid MSSPs who are just "alarm providers." 

6. Commitment to Innovation 

Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving domain, and your MSSP must demonstrate their ability to stay ahead of the curve through investments in R&D, adopting new technologies like artificial intelligence/machine learning, and evolving their services based on real customer needs. Stagnant MSSPs will quickly become ineffective and unable to handle emerging threats. 

7. Proven Industry Experience 

While cutting-edge is vital, you also want an MSSP with deep industry experience and a proven track record of success over many years. Established providers offer greater stability and ability to weather storms without disrupting services. However, balance is needed — avoid MSSPs that have grown so large that you become just another number without any personalized attention. 

Build the Right Plan: For faster restoration of your critical assets after a security breach, an incident response plan is a must. Learn more here. 

What to Look for in an MSSP? The Answer is Inversion6 

Selecting the right MSSP is one of the most important decisions you can make to safeguard your business from crippling cyber attacks and data breaches. By prioritizing the factors like security specialization, technological sophistication, comprehensive capabilities, partnership focus, and continuous innovation, you can identify an MSSP that can be a true force-multiplier for your security program — not just an ineffective check-box. 

For decades, Inversion6 has applied our comprehensive array of cybersecurity services to form true partnerships that leverage our experience and expertise with the specific needs of the client. We can build and execute a completely outsourced enterprise security solution, offer essential fractional CISO services, provide critical cybersecurity compliance guidance, and more.   

Schedule a consultation today to discover how Inversion6 has everything you’re looking for in a managed security services provider.