As a managed service provider, you will probably have been asked by your clients if you provide managed security services – MSP security services are the fastest source of growth for the majority of MSPs that offer managed security. When clients ask about MSP security services, MSPs can refer them to a managed security services provider (MSSP) and gain some benefit by forming a partnership with an MSSP; however, there are considerable benefits that come from providing certain MSP security services.
MSPs vs. MSSPs
MSPs typically focus on managing the network, performing maintenance of hardware, applications, and databases, patching, and providing general IT support. MSSPs on the other hand are purely focused on security. Their role is to secure hardware, software, and business systems, protect against cyber threats, detect, respond to, and mitigate threats, analyze new threats and ensure proactive steps are taken to protect clients and mitigate risks.
An MSP will operate a network operations center (NOC), which is a centralized location that provides IT teams with visibility into the network and allows them to continuously monitor performance and take proactive steps to protect against failures and disruptions. MSSPs operate a security operations center (SOC), dedicated to monitoring security issues. They use people, processes, and technology to improve an organization’s security posture. Large organizations may run their own NOCs and SOCs, but these functions are often outsourced to MSPs and MSSPs.
An MSP can transition into an MSSP or offer both sets of services, but the organizational structures required for each are different. It is possible, however, to start providing MSP security services to clients without becoming an MSSP. It is not necessary to change working practices and the business model, invest heavily in new infrastructure, and bring in a new team of skilled employees to start providing some security services.
Start by Offering Key MSP Security Services
Large SMBs may need the extensive range of security services offered by MSSPs, but small to medium-sized SMBs are more likely to require key security services to improve their security posture, and those services can easily be provided by MSPs alongside their existing services. If those security services are not provided, clients are likely to find an MSP that can.
It is now almost impossible to avoid news stories of major cyberattacks, with so many phishing incidents, business email compromise attacks, malware infections, and ransomware attacks being reported. While ransomware gangs have been concentrating on attacking large enterprises where large ransom demands can be issued, those attacks attract considerable scrutiny from law enforcement. Consequently, many ransomware actors have changed their focus and are now conducting attacks on SMBs.
Phishing is the biggest security issue faced by businesses and attacks have increased in recent years, especially during the pandemic. Phishing remains the number one method of gaining access to business networks and implementing security solutions to block and reduce susceptibility to phishing is a priority for SMBs. While most businesses use Office 365 and can take advantage of the security protections that Microsoft includes with the licenses, many businesses find that the basic level of protection is not sufficient and require more advanced anti-phishing protection, especially to protect against zero-day threats that Microsoft’s basic Exchange Online Protection (EOP) is not effective at blocking.
Web security is another area where SMBs need protection. Many threats are delivered via the Internet, rather than email. Further, email threats delivered to employees’ personal email accounts will not be blocked by a corporate email security solution. Malvertising can redirect employees to malicious sites when browsing the Internet, and employees may inadvertently install malware when downloading files from the Internet. Antivirus can block these malware threats when they are downloaded, but signature-based antivirus solutions will not block new malware variants, and new malware variants are constantly being released. MSP security services should include web protection.
Regardless of the security solutions in place, threats will be encountered by employees. It is therefore important for training to be provided to teach employees how to identify threats. This is an area where SMBs often need help, as they lack the time and resources to provide training to employees and run phishing simulations to test the effectiveness of training and identify weak links. MSPs can offer security awareness training and phishing simulations, without having to develop their own training content.
Considerations for MSPs Contemplating Offering Security Services
The easiest way for MSP security services to be offered is by partnering with a recognized cybersecurity vendor that can offer a range of security solutions that provide comprehensive protection against the threats faced by SMBs and reselling those services. It is important to choose a vendor whose products can be easily added to your service stack and provide excellent threat protection while also being easy to implement, use, and maintain. Those solutions also need to be available at a price point that is affordable for SMB clients.
By choosing a single vendor that provides these services, MSPs will be able to offer layered security to their clients that will protect against a rapidly changing threat landscape where the products work seamlessly with each other. MSPs will then be able to offer their clients a comprehensive security strategy, where the protection provided is far greater than the sum of each part. MSP security services better protect clients, reduce the time MSPs spend dealing with successful cyberattacks, and will allow them to win new business and significantly improve their bottom line.
How TitanHQ Can Help
TitanHQ has been developing cybersecurity solutions for MSPs for more than 20 years, and now has a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity solutions that MSPs can use to start providing security services to their clients. The cloud-delivered solutions are quick and easy to implement, have been developed to be easy to use, require little maintenance, and there is no steep learning curve. Further, the solutions have been developed with the needs of MSPs in mind and the pricing policy means they are affordable for SMBs, with TitanHQ also offering generous margins for MSPs.
The solutions provide 360-degree visibility and can protect devices on and off the network, provide consistent anti-virus and malware protection, are multi-tenanted to allow MSPs to support all customers on a centralized platform, and support a policy-based approach where SMBs can create and manage their own policies with ease.
MSPs can incorporate the solutions into their existing auto-provisioning and management systems through APIs, the cloud-delivered solutions are offered with a range of hosting options, including in a private could or within an MSP’s infrastructure, and they are offered to MSPs as a white-label ready to take the MSP’s branding. All products are consistently rated highly in independent user reviews on sites such as Expert Insights, G2, Google Reviews, Capterra, and Spiceworks.
MSPs can start offering comprehensive security services through SpamTitan Email Security, WebTitan Web Protection and DNS Filtering, SafeTitan Security Awareness Training and Phishing Simulation, ArcTitan Email Archiving, and EncryptTitan Email Encryption by joining the TitanShield MSP program.
For further information on TitanHQ MSP security services, contact the TitanHQ channel team today.
