Managed IT Service Providers vs Cybersecurity Providers: What’s the Difference?

Every month, savvy business leaders and teams look at how to reduce headaches, save money, grow the business, and get better outcomes by outsourcing to experts. Regarding technology, this often means partnering with the right team. While you may already be working with a Managed IT Service Provider (MSP), it is increasingly vital to ensure the safety of your business’s data and digital assets by working with a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP). Both companies manage services; however, one focuses on managing devices, users, and servers, and the other only focuses on securing your critical data and network from threats. Here’s why business leaders need to understand how Managed IT Service Providers vs Cybersecurity Providers: What’s the Difference and how to build the best team?

What is a Managed Services Provider (MSP)?

A Managed Service Provider, or MSP, manages and monitors the health of your business’s technology. This provider ensures that your company has what it needs to run smoothly. The work of an MSP affects both inside and outside the company. Your MSP looks over your data and ensures it’s available and valuable to employees and customers who need it. When you have difficulty accessing your data or other technological issues, your MSP can work to make it right.

Your Managed Service Provider is focused mainly on technology administration. An MSP grants permissions to employees based on their roles and responsibilities onboard new employees in your tech system, records and provides log data, and troubleshoots when there is an incident. They can also work closely with your company’s database manager to supply the training and support they need to do their job well.

When a company implements a new application, an adequate MSP can help minimize onboarding issues. When there are tech performance issues or usability problems, your MSP can step in and fix them. In many companies, working with an MSP can reduce or eliminate the need for in-house IT staff, making it a cost-effective option for small businesses.

Your MSP is an integral part of your IT solutions. It can provide infrastructure, application, and network security support. But it isn’t the end-all-be-all for your technological needs. You must also implement an MSSP to keep your data safe and secure.

What is a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)?

A Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) is a company focused on the security of your technology. This laser focus means they have the right tools and people to protect, detect, and respond quickly to any data breaches or suspicious activity. MSSPs use various tools and evaluations, including penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, network security monitoring, and more, to help proactively defend your business against data breaches and other cyber-attacks.

An MSSP also understands that companies must follow many security and privacy regulations. MSSPs are experts at ensuring a company does all it needs to do to comply with regulations. Many companies must follow compliance frameworks such as CMMC, NIST CSF, or HIPAA with data protection and cybersecurity components. A qualified MSSP will have the personnel to offer comprehensive compliance consulting. This can be a massive weight off your company and free up your legal and IT teams to focus on other activities to move your business forward.

MSP vs MSSP

While an MSP’s job is to ensure your company has all the IT assets, access, and services it needs to succeed, an MSSP offers protection around those assets. Another way to think of it is like a house. The MSP helps you build and maintain the house, while the MSSP provides the fences, door locks, and security cameras to protect it.

An MSP can help ensure your employees can share data, use tech systems efficiently, and access the necessary data. An MSSP also provides cybersecurity monitoring and management.

While an MSP focuses on usability and performance, an MSSP focuses on security. Your MSSP handles preventing, detecting, and responding to threats before they wreak havoc on your data. Sadly, data breaches are common Today. According to the 2024 PR Newswire article, ransomware attacks increased 68% over the past year — these attacks keep increasing year over year. A breach can ruin a customer’s trust and a company’s reputation. It’s critical for the success of your business that you keep your data protected from outside eyes.
For many businesses, choosing an MSP vs. an MSSP is often not a case of choosing one but rather leveraging both types of providers to get the technical solutions and services needed with the least friction.

MSSP vs MDR

One of an MSSP’s main jobs is to detect and respond to cyber threats, and one of the most significant assets in their toolbelt is Managed Detection and Response (MDR) software. MDR programs can analyze networks and detect suspicious activity, but they are only one piece of the cybersecurity puzzle. Without insight and expertise, an MDR program is just another piece of software, not a practical replacement for an MSSP.

Does My Business Need an MSP and MSSP?

The easiest way to decide if your business needs an MSP or an MSSP or would benefit from both is to consider your current capabilities and how much risk you will accept. This article covers how managed IT Service Providers vs Cybersecurity Providers: What’s the Difference? Here’s a quick overview that can help you make an educated decision.

Use an MSP if:

• You don’t have in-house IT ability
• You need help setting up computers, networks, servers or purchasing equipment
• You want “do it for me” ease when it comes to your IT

Consider an MSSP or Cybersecurity Provider if:

• You can handle the basics of IT but need help with protecting data/networks
• You have an IT staff and security programs like firewalls or EDR, but not expertise in how to manage them
• You need to align to a cybersecurity framework like NIST CFC or ISO 27001

Consider both an MSP and MSSP if:

• You have little to no internal IT staff
• You want to free up your IT staff to do other work
• It would be best if you had guidance in select areas of IT/Cybersecurity

At CyberCentra, we work with you as your Managed IT Security Service Provider, meeting your technology infrastructure and security needs at every step. Keeping your customer and company data safe can be challenging, and we’re happy to take the burden off your hands. We’re constantly working to stay on top of the latest security industry trends to keep you safe in an ever-evolving field.

When searching for the most effective service to handle your business’s security, there can be many factors to consider. Deciding between the two services can be tricky, but we’re here to help you understand the Difference between MSSPs and MSPs and decide which makes the most sense for your business security needs.

Can an MSP be a Security Services Provider?

If you’re currently working with an MSP, your provider may have mentioned that they offer security services. While some companies legitimately work to complete the security requirements necessary to be a trustworthy MSSP, many purchase MSSP software without fully understanding how to utilize the technology. That is similar to buying gym equipment but never using it to work out. You may have the tools you need to do the job, but everything will stay the same if you use them correctly.

MSPs and MSSPs offer different services, and changing from one to the other requires more than purchasing software or hardware. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for all your information technology and security needs, consider an MSP that partners with an MSSP. This will give you a single point of contact with the deep knowledge of security that you need.

Information Technology (IT) Security Services

We understand that not two companies are alike. That is why explaining the Difference between managed IT services and cybersecurity providers educates business leaders to make the best decisions.CyberCentra works with your IT staff to create a solution that fits your needs. We can co-manage or fully manage your business’s security with our managed security services, which are designed to help companies secure their critical assets while saving money and freeing up resources so that you can focus on your business’s core. Book a call with us Today!