What is MSSP in Cyber Security?
Overview of Cyber-Security:
In simple terms, it is a set of measures that ensure the security of information from or in a system from unauthorized access. This has been evolving over the years and now encompasses not just computer data, but also for example mobile phones, tablets and smart TV’s.
One Way to think about cyber-security is as an inverted cone with at one end a set of very well protected systems, say the financial system where banks have spent billions on their IT infrastructure to protect transactions.
At the other end are personal computers at home which are as secure as a sieve! In between these two extremes lies an enormous amount of equipment ranging from SCADA controllers for water supply to air traffic control systems etc. All this equipment must be kept secure yet accessible so they can be used for their intended purposes, hence the need to implement cyber-security.
Role of MSSP:
Multi-level Security Protection or often shortened to Multi-level Security or “MLS” is a security model that provides more than one layer of security protection.
MLS was developed around 1990 by the National Security Agency (NSA), a U.S. intelligence agency that serves as the national authority on information security, and is based upon the Bell–La Padula model of computer security – one of the first formal models of data confidentiality which was published in 1972.
MSSP is a term used to describe a Managed Security Service Provider. It extends the traditional ISP (Internet service provider) relationship by business customers into security services that monitor and protect networks against cyber attacks.
MSSPs provide 24×7 monitoring, incident response and management of security devices such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus software and more. They also perform vulnerability assessments and penetration tests to determine how secure an environment is and if any changes should be made to counter potential threats.
MSSPs typically charge a monthly fee for their services which can vary based on the number of devices monitored as well as other factors such as priority service levels or extra features like malware protection. Some MSSPs work exclusively with one client whereas others serve multiple clients under one umbrella.
This is where MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) fits in:
An MSSP will take care of all or some aspects of your company’s security and support you with advice, best practice (which frankly most companies ignore but it would be ill advised not to do) and if necessary manage incidents when things go wrong.
Let’s look at an example of how this works. If your company has implemented firewalls on its intranet then that adds one layer of protection against intrusion into the inner workings of your network. However it requires constant updating, configuring and monitoring otherwise hackers might breach them. The MSSP does this for you so your IT department can focus on projects that add value to the company rather than being a slave to monitoring and patching firewalls.
In today’s world where cyber-crime is very sophisticated, it would be practically impossible for an organization without an in-house team of highly trained security experts to protect its data from multiple attacks by hackers with different skill sets. The only way to do this cost effectively is with the help of a competent MSSP . Even companies who have in-house expertise usually outsource some elements, such as malware analysis which requires expensive equipment and constant training in new techniques used by hackers.
Another area where MSSPs come into their own is when a breach occurs through a social engineering attack rather than a technical attack. An MSSP can help you with both aspects and provide a 24/7 Emergency Response Team to handle any incidents that do occur, thus reducing the negative impact on business operations.
In short an MSSP provides peace of mind so your organization can concentrate its efforts on growing the business rather than be distracted by security concerns.
Key Benefits of MSSP in Cyber Security:
1. Increased Security : The MSSP will provide additional security by implementing security tools
2. Cost reduction by reducing IT workload : By outsourcing the security services to MSSPs, organizations can save their internal IT resources which they can utilize in other productive areas
3. Emergency Response Team (ERT) for handling incidents when they occur.
4. Peace of Mind that your security is in good hands with highly skilled professionals at all times.
5. Providing external expertise to supplement internal teams which are essential but limited in resources.
6. Consistent Security Policy across all of your organization’s sites.
7. Risk mitigation by avoiding the high costs and downtime associated with security breaches such as viruses and hackers accessing/stealing data of our Organization.
8. Hardened Infrastructure optimized for performance and security to eliminate vulnerabilities in the network environment.
Conclusion:
I hope this article helped you to understand what MSSP in Cyber Security is. As we can see, managed security services providers help organizations by bringing down the cost of maintaining security infrastructure and providing enhanced services for fighting against cybercrime. It is very important for companies to outsource their security requirements for gaining peace of mind having a reliable security partner who can guarantee strong protection, data privacy and availability.
