MSP vs MSSP: How to Choose the Right Solution for Your Business

MSP vs MSSP: The TL;DR

	MSP			MSSP
Focus	IT management and support			Specialized cybersecurity services
Services	Network management, cloud services, help desk, etc.			Threat detection, incident response, vulnerability assessments, etc.
Tools	Remote monitoring and management, professional services automation			SIEM (Security information and event management), EDR (Endpoint detection and response), SOC (Security operations center)
Market	Organizations in need of outsourced IT and support			Organizations in need of proactive security measures
Expertise	Broad IT knowledge and troubleshooting			Deep understanding of cyber threats and mitigation
Overlap	Some MSPs offer basic security services			Some MSSPs may provide limited IT-related support

Today, nearly two-thirds of organizations say lost revenue caused by IT staffing shortages negatively impacts their bottom line. And the outlook is not getting rosier.

In the next two years, nine out of 10 organizations — across all industries — will be grappling with the fallout of a lack of IT security professionals, resulting in $5.5 trillion in business losses, product delays, and competitive disadvantages.

As these shortages create gaps in IT infrastructure management, cyber risk also increases. And, just like in IT, organizations are struggling to hire and retain skilled cybersecurity workers.

According to the World Economic Forum, today, there is a global shortage of 4 million cyber professionals. By 2030, that could reach 85 million open jobs globally, resulting in an estimated $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual income.

With limited IT and security budgets, vastly expanding attack surfaces, increased migration to the cloud, and ever-more complex cyber-attack methods, it’s not surprising that a growing number of organizations turn to managed services providers (MSPs) and managed security service providers (MSSPs) for help.

While no reports track precisely how many organizations use MSP and MSSP services, the markets are rapidly expanding.

Today, the global MSP market is expected to exceed $24 billion and then experience a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 3%, reaching almost $30 billion by 2029. The MSSP market is growing even faster at a CAGR of almost 13% and is expected to be more than $77 billion by 2023.

Even with this growth, some businesses hesitate to shift these key services to third parties. For many, this roadblock is rooted in uncertainty about the best model for their needs — an MSP, MSSP, or both.

What is an MSP?

An MSP (managed service provider) is a third party responsible for IT management and related support services. Either alone or as a partner with your existing IT staff, an MSP can manage:

• IT staff augmentation and support
• IT infrastructure, assets, and endpoints
  • On-prem or cloud-based services
  • Network and related devices such as switches, firewalls, and routers
  • Printers and scanners
  • Desktop computers, mobile devices, laptops, tablets
  • Data storage (on-prem and in the cloud)
• Processes
  • Remote monitoring and management (RMM)
  • Network management (bandwidth usage, network traffic monitoring, connectivity issues)
  • Professional services automation (PSA)
  • Patch management and system updates
  • Help desk ticketing and resolution
  • Data and disaster backup and recovery
  • Incident response
  • Malware and antivirus protection
  • Basic network security
  • IT planning
  • IT vendor management
  • Compliance audits, reports, and documentation
  • Onboarding and offboarding staff
  • Staff training and education
• Cloud services management
  • Cloud storage
  • Cloud databases
  • Cloud infrastructure (public, private, and hybrid)
  • Platform as a service (PaaS)

MSPs have existed since the 1980s and 1990s. They picked up momentum as business services shifted to the internet, emerging first as application services providers (ASPs) before evolving into a more encompassing modern MSP.

Today, remote device management and professional services automation are at the heart of managed IT services.

Key MSP Tools and Technologies

Some organizations use MSPs because these experts have access to and knowledge of IT management tools that may otherwise be cost-prohibitive or ineffective for the organization to handle independently.

• RMM software: From a centralized dashboard, an MSP can real-time monitor and manage devices and networks.
• PSA software: Manages administrative tasks like ticketing, billing, project management, and reporting.
• Backup and disaster recovery (BDR) tools: Automates backups to local and/or cloud storage for quick recovery in case of data loss or disasters.
• Antivirus and anti-malware solutions: Safeguards endpoints from cyber threats like viruses and malware, including ransomware prevention.
• Network monitoring and management software: Monitors network health, performance, and security so teams can proactively detect and troubleshoot issues.
• Reporting and documentation tools

MSP Benefits

MSPs bring a range of benefits to supplement on-site IT staff. A Gartner MSP Peer Community Poll found that nearly half of respondents said that cost saving is the most significant business benefit derived from outsourcing IT management to a managed services provider. Other benefits include:

• Expertise: With a lack of skilled professionals available and challenges retaining skilled staff, MSPs have knowledge and experience across IT, eliminating the need and expense of hiring and retaining an in-house IT team.
• IT management: With proactive monitoring and maintenance strategies, MSPs can proactively identify and address potential issues before they become disruptions. This minimizes downtime, improves system performance, and ensures business continuity.
• Scalability and flexibility: MSPs offer scalable solutions that adapt to changing needs, such as adding new users, expanding infrastructure, or adopting new technologies.

Do I Need an MSP?

MSPs are ideal for small business IT support, but businesses of all sizes can benefit from MSP services. While every organization has unique needs, here are some common reasons an MSP may be right for you:

• You don’t have the right IT people in the right roles.
• You don’t have the budget to hire more people or build out your IT infrastructure.
• Your business is growing, and your existing IT teams can’t keep pace.
• Your teams struggle with asset management, patch management, or system updates.
• You’re moving services to the cloud, but your IT teams are more specialized in on-prem assets and processes.
• You’re experiencing frequent downtime or performance issues.
• You’re concerned about cybersecurity threats.
• You’re struggling to meet compliance requirements.
• You need 24/7 IT support.
• You want a strategic IT partner.

What is an MSSP?

An MSSP (managed security service provider) is a third party that manages cybersecurity programs, tools, policies, and procedures. MSSPs proactively protect organizations from cyber threats; ensure regulatory compliance; identify, mitigate, and remediate cyber risk; prevent breaches; minimize breach impact; and manage breach response and recovery.

MSSP security services may include:

• Security monitoring and incident response
  • Networks
  • Systems
  • Applications
• Vulnerability management
  • Vulnerability assessments
  • Patching, updates, and other remediation efforts
• Staff and stakeholder security training
  • Security best practices
  • How to spot and avoid social engineering attacks like phishing
  • What to do and how to respond
• Audits and compliance management, e.g.,
  • HIPAA
  • SOC
  • CMMC
  • PCI DSS
  • GDPR
  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• Cloud security
  • Cloud security posture management (CSPM)
  • Cloud security monitoring and incident response
  • Cloud workload protection platforms (CWPP)
  • Cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM)
  • Cloud access security brokers (CASB)
• Penetration testing
• Security operations center (SOC) or network operations center (NOC) services and 24/7 monitoring and response
• Threat intelligence
• Real-time threat detection and response

Key MSSP Tools and Technologies

MSSPs leverage a variety of advanced security tools and technologies to deliver services, including:

• Security information and event management (SIEM) systems: Collects and analyzes security logs from various sources to detect and respond to security threats.
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions: Monitors endpoints for suspicious activity and provides advanced threat detection and response capabilities.
• Intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and intrusion detection systems (IDS): Monitors network traffic for malicious activity and blocks or alerts on suspicious behavior.
• Vulnerability management and assessment tools: Regularly scans systems and applications to identify potential weaknesses and prioritize remediation.
• Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) platforms: Automates and streamlines incident response processes.

MSSP Benefits

Engaging with MSSP cybersecurity services offers several benefits:

• Matured security posture: Specialized cybersecurity expertise and advanced tools to mature security practices and protect against evolving threats.
• 24/7 monitoring and incident response: Around-the-clock monitoring and rapid incident response to ensure proactive defenses and timely incident detection, mitigation, and resolution.
• Cost-savings: Eliminates expenses of hiring, training, retaining specialized cybersecurity professionals, and investing in expensive cybersecurity solutions, infrastructure, and tools.
• Compliance: Manages complex compliance requirements and ensures industry standards and regulations.
• Proactive risk management: Identifies and prioritizes risks to proactively mitigate threats.

How to Find the Right MSSP

Your organization may benefit from MSSP services if:

• You lack in-house cybersecurity expertise or struggle to recruit and retain qualified security professionals.
• You need to free your internal IT team to focus on other initiatives rather than security tasks.
• You want to optimize your budget and reduce the cost of managing in-house security.
• You need to mature your security posture and protect against evolving threats.
• You’re struggling to keep up with compliance requirements.
• You want 24/7 security monitoring and incident response.
• You want a strategic partner to help manage and mitigate cybersecurity risks.
• You’ve experienced a recent security incident or breach.
• You’re adopting new technologies or migrating to the cloud, introducing new security challenges.
• You need a holistic, proactive approach to cybersecurity beyond basic threat detection and response.

MSP vs. MSSP: Choosing the Right One for Your Business

As MSPs expand their security offerings and MSSPs address certain IT issues that impact security, there is some service overlap. However, there are key differences between MSPs and MSSPs:

MSP	MSSP
Manage a range of IT services, including infrastructure, networks, and end-user support.	Focus on cybersecurity, like threat detection, incident response, and vulnerability management.
Broad IT knowledge.	Deep expertise in cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation.
Commonly use RMM, PSA, and backup solutions.	Use SIEM, EDR, and threat intelligence platforms.
Serve businesses seeking general IT support and management.	Service organizations that prioritize advanced cybersecurity protection and risk mitigation.

6 Key Questions to Choose the Right Service

While the lines between MSP and MSSP services blur as the attack surface expands, organizations should consider several key factors before choosing between the two. Here are five questions every organization should ask:

1. What are our primary IT and security needs?
2. Clearly define your current IT infrastructure, pain points, and security concerns.
3. Do we need comprehensive IT management and support, specialized cybersecurity expertise, or both?
4. What is our budget for IT and security services?
5. Consider upfront costs and ongoing expenses.
6. What level of in-house IT and security expertise do we have?
7. What are our compliance requirements?
8. What is our risk appetite and desired level of security?

When assessing the right MSP and MSSP services and tools, also ask about:

• Customer reviews and case studies
• Compliance standards support
• Customer support
• Active online communities
• Updated knowledge base
• Pricing transparency
• Contract length
• Minimum costs
• License tiers and upgrade/downgrade flexibility
• Pricing model (per-user vs. per-endpoint)

Do I Need an MSP and an MSSP?

In some cases, you may find it helpful to use both an MSP for IT services and an MSSP for your cybersecurity needs. For businesses that require comprehensive IT management and robust cybersecurity protection, partnering with both offers a strategic advantage. This approach can ensure optimal IT performance and security without building and supporting two separate, highly specialized internal teams.

While MSPs and MSSPs offer distinct yet complementary services, understanding their unique value points is crucial in making informed decisions. By carefully assessing your organization’s specific needs, budget, in-house capabilities, and risk tolerance, you can confidently choose the right MSP or MSSP partner.

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