Most companies today understand the necessity of cybersecurity, but there’s a lot of debate and confusion around the best way to protect your company. While some companies prefer to go it alone with an off-the-shelf cybersecurity product, others invest in a managed security service provider (MSSP) to handle all their needs.
Which is best? The truth is, they’re very different approaches with different advantages, disadvantages, and considerations. But with over 343 million victims of cybersecurity in 2023 alone, according to Forbes, and with an average data breach cost of $4.45 million, you absolutely have to get this right.
In this article, we’ll show you the key pros, cons, and differences between cybersecurity products and managed security service providers so you can choose the right one for you.
Product vs. Provider: Understanding the Difference
Cybersecurity products come in many shapes and sizes. You’ll typically buy or download these from a software company, install them in your organization, and train your teams on how to use them. They’re often cloud-based and based on a SaaS (software as a service) subscription model.
Good cybersecurity products can handle many aspects of your security. They can:
- Monitor for threats and detect issues
- Send you notifications when problems arise
- Create detailed reports and logs to help you better understand your security
- Be more affordable and very easy to adopt and use
A managed security service provider, on the other hand, is a team of experts that works with your company to handle your security. MSSPs typically work on a subscription model and provide round-the-clock support and services. They can:
- Contextualize and prioritize threats
- Respond to issues on your behalf
- Identify areas for improvement
- Suggest the right actions to improve your security
A managed security service provider essentially takes on the role of a security partner. It will have access to advanced tools and technologies that you might struggle to afford or justify on your own. And it’ll work closely to support your existing security staff while freeing them up to focus on business-critical tasks.
Is a Cybersecurity Product Right for You?
A cybersecurity product can be a great choice for some businesses. If you’re a small operation with just a few team members and a small budget, an off-the-shelf product can give you a solid grounding in cybersecurity and protect you from most major risks. It’s certainly a lot better than nothing.
That said, products like these are limited. By nature, they’re generic one-size-fits-all solutions — you get the basics taken care of, but you’ll lack personalized support and specialist expertise.
On top of that, you’ll be reliant on your own internal tools and infrastructure to support your security product, and these might fall short in some cases.
Is a Managed Security Service Provider Right for You?
If you can afford it, we highly recommend working with a managed security service provider. Here are some of the main reasons why.
Access to the Best Tools
Security service providers have their own highly developed infrastructure of cutting-edge, powerful tools and solutions. When you work with a security partner, you’ll instantly benefit from these tools.
Building your own security infrastructure to this level would be incredibly expensive and time consuming. Add to this cost the risk of misconfiguration (one of the top statistical threats in the 2024 DBIR) and you might just be better off delegating this function to someone else, especially if this is what they specialize in day in and day out.
Personalized Service
One of the major advantages of a managed security service provider over off-the-shelf products is the personal touch it offers. Your MSSP team will assess your organization and create a strategy that matches up with your specific security profile, risks, goals, and resources. The solution you get is completely bespoke, making it far more effective.
What’s more, your MSSP will grow with you as a partner, getting to know you as your company grows and scales. And as the security threats facing you also change, your partner will be perfectly placed to help you adapt and manage.
They’re Experts
There’s a big difference between having access to cybersecurity tools and products and actually understanding how to use them. A good MSSP will have a team of experts, highly qualified in cybersecurity and with a ton of experience helping organizations like yours.
Working with an expert is far better than simply relying on an out-of-the-box product. You can ask questions, tap into its expertise, and rely on fast, skilled support during emergencies. A managed security service provider will also have unique industry insights — like awareness of emerging threats and specific trends that you might otherwise be unaware of.
They Take the Load off Your Own Teams
If you buy your own cybersecurity product, you still have to invest a ton of time into learning it, using it, managing it, and maintaining it. Your security team — which may not be large — is forced to spend large chunks of its time on menial, repetitive tasks.
When you work with an MSSP, it will handle this work, leaving your teams free to focus on other tasks without being constantly stressed and overworked.
DYOPATH’s Solution
Our DYOGUARD solution is designed to manage your cybersecurity needs with the help of an expert team equipped with the best tools out there. If your organization has sensitive assets and data, it’s not enough to rely on cookie-cutter, out-of-the-box security solutions — you need a managed security service provider to keep your company safe and help you mature digitally.
If you’re interested in learning more, schedule a call with us.
