Cynet Security Foundations

MSSP vs. SOC: 6 Key Differences and How to Choose

What Are Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs)?

Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) offer specialized services to manage an organization’s security needs. Typically, these services include monitoring and managing firewalls, detecting intrusion, performing vulnerability scanning, and responding to emergencies. MSSPs aim to provide comprehensive security oversight using a combination of technology solutions and skilled personnel.

The key benefit of using an MSSP is that it allows organizations to offload the complexity and constant demands of cybersecurity to experts who operate around the clock. This improves security and helps companies concentrate on their core business functions, without the burden of maintaining an in-house cybersecurity team.

What Is an In-House Security Operations Center (SOC)?

An in-house Security Operations Center (SOC) is an on-premises facility that houses an organization’s information security team responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and protecting the organization from cyber threats. SOCs are equipped with advanced software and follow strict processes to identify, assess, and respond to cybersecurity incidents.

The SOC team includes analysts, engineers, and managers who work together to detect potential security threats and respond accordingly.

SOCs serve as the central command for security management. They continuously collect and analyze data from various sources within an organization to identify suspicious activities. Their proactive approach in threat detection and response helps minimize the impact of security breaches.

What Are the Primary Functions of an MSSP?

An MSSP is responsible for:

Security monitoring: Continuously monitoring an organization’s networks, systems, and applications to detect and respond to suspicious activities. This involves using advanced tools and technologies to analyze logs and traffic patterns for potential threats.
Threat detection and response: Deploying threat intelligence and advanced analytics to identify and mitigate cyber threats. MSSPs offer rapid incident response services to contain and remediate security breaches.
Vulnerability management: Conducting regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and address security weaknesses. They provide recommendations and remediation strategies to fortify the organization’s defenses.
Firewall and intrusion prevention: Managing and configuring firewalls and intrusion prevention systems (IPS). MSSPs ensure these systems are properly set up, maintained, and updated to protect against unauthorized access and attacks.
Security consulting and advisory: Offering expert advice and strategic guidance on improving the organization’s security posture. This includes risk assessments, security architecture reviews, and the development of security policies and procedures.

What Are the Primary Responsibilities of an In-House SOC?

An organization’s SOC is responsible for:

Real-time monitoring: Continuously monitoring an organization’s IT environment to detect and respond to security incidents in real time. This involves tracking network traffic, logs, and other data sources to identify abnormal activities.
Incident response: Managing and responding to security incidents. SOC teams investigate alerts, contain threats, and coordinate with other departments to remediate and recover from attacks.
Threat hunting: Proactively searching for hidden threats and vulnerabilities within the network. Threat hunting involves using advanced analytics and threat intelligence to uncover sophisticated threats that evade automated detection systems.
Forensics and analysis: After a security incident, SOC analysts conduct forensic investigations to understand the attack vectors, methods used, and the extent of the breach. They analyze malware, review logs, and gather evidence to improve defenses.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Using SIEM systems to aggregate and analyze security data from various sources. SIEMs provide a centralized view of the security landscape, enabling efficient detection and response to threats.
Compliance management: Helping organizations comply with industry regulations and standards by providing auditing services, policy creation, and ongoing compliance monitoring. This ensures adherence to legal and regulatory requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS.
Reporting and documentation: Maintaining detailed records of security incidents, actions taken, and outcomes. SOCs produce reports for internal stakeholders and regulatory compliance, ensuring transparency and accountability in security operations.

Tips From Expert

In my experience, here are tips that can help you maximize the effectiveness of MSSPs and SOCs in your organization:

Ensure seamless integration of MSSP services with in-house tools When using an MSSP, make sure their services integrate smoothly with your existing security tools and infrastructure. Compatibility and data sharing between MSSP systems and in-house solutions like SIEM or EDR are critical for cohesive security operations.
Utilize MSSPs for threat intelligence sharing across industries MSSPs often serve multiple clients across various sectors, which allows them to collect and analyze a wide range of threat intelligence. Leverage this intelligence sharing to stay ahead of emerging threats that might impact your organization.
Define clear communication protocols with your MSSP Establish well-defined communication protocols and escalation procedures with your MSSP. Clear guidelines on how incidents are reported, escalated, and managed will reduce response times and ensure that critical threats are handled promptly.
Implement continuous improvement cycles for SOC operations Regularly evaluate and refine your SOC processes through continuous improvement cycles. This involves analyzing past incidents, gathering feedback, and updating playbooks to enhance the SOC’s ability to handle future threats more effectively.
Balance cost with security needs when choosing MSSP services While MSSPs can offer cost savings, ensure that the services provided align with your security requirements. Avoid compromising critical security functions for the sake of cost and ensure that the MSSP’s capabilities match your organization’s risk profile.

Aviad Hasnis is the Chief Technology Officer at Cynet.
He brings a strong background in developing cutting edge technologies that have had a major impact on the security of the State of Israel. At Cynet, Aviad continues to lead extensive cybersecurity research projects and drive innovation forward.

MSSP vs In-House SOC: The Key Differences

Let’s see how these two concepts differ in several key areas.

1. Delivery Model

MSSPs provide services through a remote delivery model, managing security tasks from their own facilities. This external service delivery helps companies manage cybersecurity without needing extensive in-house infrastructure or expertise. Clients benefit from the MSSP’s economies of scale, which can lead to better security technologies and practices.

SOCs typically operate within the premises of an organization. This on-site management gives the SOC direct access to the internal networks and systems, which may result in quicker response times and more tailored security solutions. The in-house nature of SOCs allows for deeper integration with the company’s culture and operations.

2. Scope of Services

MSSPs offer a broad range of security services that cover various aspects of cybersecurity. These can include managed firewall, intrusion detection, vulnerability scanning, and antivirus services. The extensive scope helps organizations address multiple security needs through a single provider, simplifying the management of cybersecurity.

SOCs focus more intensely on real-time threat monitoring and incident response specific to the organization. While the scope in a SOC is often deeper regarding specific security threats, it might not be as broad as an MSSP’s offerings. SOCs are highly specialized to cater to the unique security landscape of their respective organizations.

3. Responsiveness

MSSPs are prepared for swift response to a range of threats, with scalable operations and vast resources. Their standardized procedures allow for quick reaction to common threat scenarios across different clients. However, customization in responses can sometimes be limited due to the generic nature of the services.

SOC teams are inherently responsive due to their dedication to a single organization’s security environment. Their understanding of the specific network architecture and operations allows for tailored and potentially more effective incident responses. However, organizations might need to take special efforts to ensure in-house security teams are available to respond around the clock.

4. Resource Allocation

MSSPs manage resources across multiple clients, which can lead to a more cost-effective use of security technology and personnel. This shared service model allows them to offer competitive pricing while maintaining high service levels through resource optimization.

SOCs typically require dedicated resources that are solely focused on the organization. This can lead to higher costs in maintaining staff and technologies but provides the advantage of focused attention on the organization’s risks and security needs.

5. Expertise and Control

MSSPs bring specialized cybersecurity expertise that might be hard for individual organizations to develop internally. This external knowledge base helps in handling a variety of security issues. However, clients might face less control over certain security tasks and decisions as they are handled by the provider.

A SOC, residing within the company, allows complete control over all security processes and decisions. It enables organizations to establish tailored security policies and directly manage the team responsible for their implementation. This can enhance alignment with business strategies but requires significant investment in skilled personnel.

6. Cost

Using an MSSP is often more cost-effective for organizations, especially small to medium-sized enterprises, as it eliminates the need for substantial upfront investments in technology and personnel. The operational costs are also spread over several clients, making advanced security accessible without a significant initial expense.

Operating a SOC involves significant upfront and ongoing investment but offers finer control and potentially more effective security for large organizations or those with highly specific security needs that cannot be easily outsourced.

In-House SOC vs MSSP: How to Choose?

Choosing between an MSSP and a SOC depends on several factors unique to each organization. Here are key considerations to help guide the decision-making process:

Budget constraints:

Assess available financial resources for cybersecurity investment.
Consider the cost-effectiveness of MSSPs for smaller budgets versus the higher upfront costs of establishing an in-house SOC.

Internal expertise:

Evaluate the existing cybersecurity expertise within the organization.
Determine if the current team can handle sophisticated threats or if external specialized services are needed.

Business size and scale:

Consider the size of the organization and the complexity of its IT infrastructure.
Larger enterprises with complex networks might benefit from the tailored services of an in-house SOC, while smaller companies might find MSSPs more practical.

Regulatory requirements:

Review industry-specific regulations and compliance mandates.
Ensure the chosen solution meets all necessary regulatory requirements, which might necessitate either a dedicated SOC or a compliant MSSP.

Flexibility and control:

Decide how much control over security processes is desired.
Weigh the benefits of having direct oversight with a SOC versus the potential lack of control with an MSSP.

Response time and customization:

Evaluate the need for rapid, customized response to incidents.
An in-house SOC can provide quicker, more tailored responses, whereas MSSPs offer standardized but potentially less personalized solutions.

Long-term security strategy:

Align the decision with the organization’s long-term security goals.
Determine whether the focus is on building an internal capability with a SOC or leveraging external expertise through an MSSP for the foreseeable future.

Technology integration:

Consider how well the security solution integrates with existing technologies.
Ensure compatibility and seamless integration, whether choosing an MSSP or setting up a SOC.

Related content: Read our guide to MSSP vs MSP

Cynet for MSSPs

As an MSSP, your customers rely on you to keep them safe from the myriad risks they face each day. The process of knowing which tools are the optimal fit for the job can be complex. Cynet 360 offers complete breach protection services, providing a single multi-tenant platform that simplifies the task of delivering holistic security across your entire customer base.

Cynet 360 is the ultimate force multiplier, enabling MSSPs to provide their customers with unmatched security, without the need for multiple products and resources. It provides maximum threat visibility and responsiveness, enhancing security team productivity and increasing ROI. Only Cynet 360 gives the power of proactive 24/7 MDR services, continuously monitoring all alerts across your customers’ environments to keep them protected at all times, even from the most complex threats.

Key benefits of Cynet 360 for MSSPs include:

Designed for MSSPs: Cynet 360 offers a scalable multi-tenant platform with true client separation down to the data, a centralized dashboard for alerts, forensics, and remediation, and supports both full-management and end-client management.
Enables a highly differentiated service: Cynet 360 is a complete XDR platform including NGAV, EPP, EDR, UBA Rules, Network Detection Rules, and Deception. It offers fully automated threat response workflows and proactive 24/7 MDR services for all clients.
Reducing management and delivery costs: Cynet allows extremely rapid deployment, replacing multiple solution providers with a single pre-integrated offering and a lightweight agent that minimizes maintenance requirements.
Tailored for your success: Cynet’s partner pricing structure enables higher margins to partners. It offers marketing, sales, and technical support across deployment, management, and maintenance. Partners also get access to the Cynet Academy, which includes sales and technical training, sales videos, and certification.

With Cynet, your customers can enjoy proactive protection from dynamic and advanced cyber threats. Become a partner today!