6 Questions That Will Lead You to the MSSP That's Right for You

 Any decision involving cybersecurity warrants a ton of deliberation and research. Choosing a managed security service provider for your business is crucial. The right managed security service provider does more than protect your organization; it also impacts operational efficiency. This decision has far-reaching consequences for your business growth and your organization's standing in the industry. 

Below is a list of key questions to which you should have satisfactory answers before finalizing on a managed security service provider.    


  1. 1. What is the pricing structure? 


Managed security services' pricing needs to be competitive and within your budgetary limits. MSSP pricing models can vary depending on the number of users, the number of devices, or the functions performed by the MSSP. Cost-efficiency is a primary benefit of managed security services, so you need to go with an MSSP pricing model that suits your needs.  


Ensure that you have complete information about MSSP’s pricing practices also. Ask if they have predictable and fixed recurring prices. Hidden costs and fees that depend on variable factors such as log volume can impact your budget. 


  1. 2. What is the certification and expertise level of the MSSP staff?  


A significant benefit of managed security service providers is the professional cybersecurity experts you add to your team at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time security analysts. There is a skill gap in the industry that makes hiring in-house security experts even more difficult. This is why most small-medium-sized enterprises opt for MSSPs. Ask the MSSP about qualifications and certifications held by their team. Also, find out the number of years of experience the security team has.  


  1. 3. How often do they provide reports, and what information does it include? 


Ask to see a sample of the reports the MSSP will provide. A sample will give you a clear idea of what information is shown in the report. You’ll find out if the report is easy to understand and consists of actionable information or if it’s mostly full of jargon and hard to interpret.  


If regulatory compliances are a concern for your industry, make sure that the MSSP generates reports that are compliant with regulatory norms. This will save time and effort on your part. Also, ask if the reports can be customized when or if the need comes up. Ensure that the MSSP shares KPIs so that your internal team can understand and act on them to improve your security posture.  




  1. 4. What information will be recorded, and what will happen to it?  


An essential function of managed security service providers is log and event aggregation from multiple sources in your organization. Tools like SIEM and EDR work by collecting and analyzing log information. Ensure that none of the recorded log information is considered confidential by your organization. Ask where the recorded data is stored. Is it stored on-premises of your organization, or is it taken offsite? Is the data encrypted? How long does the MSSP store the information? 


  1. 5. What is your incident response plan and response time?

  2.  

Timely responses to security events and alerts are essential in mitigating cyber threats. Ensure that a breach or major alert and incident response cycle is small. The mean time of detecting (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) are key metrics in incident response, and you need this information. Ensure that the MSSP conducts real-time monitoring and investigation and integrates threat intelligence and artificial intelligence capabilities in its analysis. In case of incidents, does the MSSP provide full-scale remediation? Or will you have to rely on additional experts? 


  1. 6. What are your channels of communication? 


Communication is most important, whether during times of an incident or otherwise. Ensure that there are multiple open communication channels between you and your provider. You might need a trial to determine if your questions and concerns are addressed promptly. 

   

While choosing a managed security service provider might feel like a daunting task, the benefits of comprehensive, managed, and cost-effective security solutions outweigh the hassle of picking one. Once you do your due diligence and onboard an MSSP that's right for you, your cybersecurity infrastructure scales up and will be a huge relief. 

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