Most small businesses do not get hacked because they lack a firewall. They get breached because nobody was monitoring the early warnings of attacks until it was too late.
Many businesses are surprised to learn that their IT staff aren't always focused on security. In reality, IT teams are often busy keeping hardware, software, and users up and running, which is itself a full-time job.
Security is a separate discipline, and it deserves its own focus and budget line.
That's where the difference between MSP and MSSP comes in.
Managed Services - Keep Your IT Running
Generally, an MSP (Managed Service Provider) keeps your technology running. This often includes help desk support, device setup, software updates, backups, and day-to-day administration of services. This is an important service, and the offerings can vary between providers, which is why we recommend asking a few questions up front.
Services often include:
Support & operations
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Help desk / IT support (remote and on-site)
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Network management and monitoring
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Device setup and deployment (PCs, Macs, mobile)
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Patch management and software updates
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Remote monitoring & management (RMM)
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Server management
Cloud & productivity
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Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace administration
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Cloud migration and management (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud)
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Email management
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VoIP / phone systems
Data protection
Asset & vendor management
Strategy
Managed Security Services - Keeps Your IT Secure
An MSSP (Managed Security Services Provider) focuses on protecting that technology: monitoring for threats, detecting intrusions, filtering malicious content, and responding to incidents. By nature, an MSSP tends to be more proactive, preventing attacks from becoming a bigger problem.
Services often include:
Detection & monitoring
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24/7 security monitoring / Security Operations Center (SOC)
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SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)
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Managed Detection & Response (MDR)
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Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR / XDR)
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Intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS)
Protection
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Anti-virus/endpoint protection
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Managed firewall
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Email security and anti-phishing
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Content/web filtering
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Zero trust and access control
Identity
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MFA deployment and management
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Identity and access management (IAM)
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Privileged access management (PAM)
Risk & vulnerability
Training & readiness
Compliance & governance
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Compliance-as-a-Service (CaaS)
- Enclaves
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Policy and procedure development
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Audit and assessment support (C3PAO)
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vCISO (virtual Chief Information Security Officer)
Specialized & other services
Which Do You Need, MSP or MSSP?
Most businesses need both, but juggling multiple vendors can create gaps and added cost. Our recommendation is to find a provider who handles both IT operations and security together.
With one provider managing both IT and security, they have the ability to monitor activity across your environment, identify threats, and take the right actions when needed.
How MNS Group Can Help
MNS Group provides both MSP and MSSP services under one roof, keeping clients secure since 1999. We hold ISO 20000, ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 certifications. We're also an authorized C3PAO, and we apply the same standards and rigor to our own operations that we deliver for our clients.
This includes information security, intrusion detection, anti-phishing, content filtering, network/email monitoring, and ongoing compliance management programs.
Reach out to our team today to learn more about how we can help your business.
