MDR, MSSPs, and Managed EDR: Differences, Benefits & Requirements

In today’s highly competitive and risky world, scammers are constantly on the lookout for just one loophole or error in your security system to break into your network. Businesses continue to struggle to improve their security postures because they fail to keep up with advanced security threats with an in-house IT team and limited resources. It creates a gap between the businesses and their desired security level, which only a managed security services can fulfil. It proves the surge in the managed security market in the past decade, and it is also likely to grow at double the speed in the near future.  

A market research anticipated managed security industry to generate a revenue of $87,162.8 Million and grow with an annual rate of 14.7% in 2021-2030.  

As per the study, the managed security segment is evolving faster than the security industry. Why? Because managed security service providers, such as MDR, MSSPs, and managed EDR help resolve issues that arise due to talent shortage, lack of resources, or advanced AI-based tools.   

Moreover, managed security is a scalable, cost-effective service for companies compared to the cost of maintaining an in-house security team and falling prey to advanced cyber threats. Apart from saving you money, outsourced security expertise enables businesses to enhance their security posture and compliance.  

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 Types of Managed Security Providers  

Since security is a vast industry, different types of managed security vendors exist that focus on different levels of services. Before a business chooses a managed security solution, it must consciously evaluate its critical needs and seek the right solution.  

The three major types of Managed Cybersecurity Solutions are:  

• Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs)  
• Managed Detection and Response (MDR)  
• Managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) 

Many businesses confuse these three as the different names for the same thing. However, these are very distinct regarding the functioning and services they offer. Let’s unveil the differences between EDR vs. MDR vs. MSSP to find which managed cybersecurity service your business needs the most.  

 #1 Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)  

Managed Security Service Providers, famously known as MSSPs, are like any other managed service providers but offer security as their leading service. Traditional MSSPs only identify known threats and often don’t offer managed detection and response. Hence, they are generally best suited for organizations that don’t deal with sensitive data or a severe security industries like finance or government and would like to outsource their essential security functions.   

How Does an MSSP Work?  

In a nutshell, Managed Security Service Providers manage a company’s overall basic security hygiene. They carry out two critical activities to offer absolute security: outsourced monitoring of the IT environment and smooth management. You can expect common services from an MSSP, including scanning intrusion, vulnerability detection, managed VPN and firewall, antivirus services, etc.  

MSSPs will perform almost all necessary security management functions putting IT teams at rest and allowing them to focus on the primary tasks they are supposed to serve rather than worrying about the organization’s cybersecurity all the time.    

Benefits of MSSP  

Some of the primary benefits of having a managed security service provider are:  

• Round-the-clock support on security (via email or live chat)  
• Monitoring the security infrastructure for possible cyberthreats  
• Ensuring the efficiency of firewalls and web gateways  

Who needs an MSSP?

MSSPs are an ideal choice for enterprises that want to outsource their security but are not facing an extremely challenging threat landscape from nation-state actors with advanced hacking capabilities.   

However, some SIEM MSSPs, such as ACE Cloud Hosting, offer a large span of services that can also target different essential micro-security segments. Their cybersecurity service suite has already integrated MDR and EDR capabilities for a seamless cybersecurity experience. 

#2 Managed Detection and Response (MDR)  

MDRs are threat detection and response experts. Since they are subject matter specialists, they offer advanced threat detection on endpoints, firewalls, and cloud and server infrastructure. Hence, MDRs are often a better option than legacy MSSPs.   

How Does an MDR work?  

Like MSSPs, MDRs also offer security monitoring and management for businesses but better!   

MDRs offer a more in-depth security analysis than many MSSPs, as they usually have highly skilled cybersecurity experts who leverage AI, machine learning, and other advanced technologies. It enables Managed Detection and Response Service Providers to offer a much more profound threat analysis, incident responses, and threat monitoring while providing a more customized level of support.  

A Managed Detection and Response provider will scan your security landscape for more sophisticated cyber threats using advanced tools and resources. They then find and flag the suspicious files/behavior to investigate thoroughly. They will allow the activity to pass if it is a false positive. However, if the file is found malicious or infected, they will investigate the source of the attack and block it instantly to protect the network.   

Other things to expect from an MDR are monthly compliance reports and suggested resolutions for existing scenarios.    

Benefits of MDR  

Some of the key benefits of having a managed detection and response provider are:  

• 24x7x365 security monitoring and management  
• Advanced AI and ML-based technology  

• Consultation with a dedicated security advisor  
• Real-time threat hunting  
• Monthly compliance reports  
• SOC-validated detections  
• Quick Breach response to block attacks  

Who needs an MDR?  

If your company deal with several IP and data assets that you must protect, MDR might be the ideal choice for your business. An MDR will be a cybersecurity force multiplier for your in-house IT teams. However, MDRs often do not excel in attaining regulatory compliance, and only certain MDRs might provide compliance reporting if their clients ask them for it.  

Hence, investing in a managed cybersecurity service like Ace Cloud Hosting offers the benefits of both MSSP and an MDR is wise.    

Now let’s move on to understanding EDR which is probably the most trending managed security solution today.   

 #3 Managed Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)  

The term EDR was coined by Gartner, which is the acronym for Endpoint Detection and Response. EDR is sometimes referred to as ETDR, which stands for Endpoint Threat Detection & Response. Most people confuse EDR with MDR since both services offer threat detection and response. However, the primary difference is that EDR primarily focuses on endpoint (end-user devices) security. It secures the devices such as mobile phones, computers, laptops, and tablets connected to a network and is not responsible for anything that is not an endpoint.   

Managed EDR providers like Ace Cloud Hosting offer an excellent endpoint security service, including real-time threat detection and response, MITRE ATT&CK-Based Detection, and proactive threat hunting.    

How Does an EDR work?  

EDR security solutions monitor events on end-user devices such as laptops, desktops (PCs), mobile phones, tablets, servers, and systems that work as an endpoint – for suspicious activity. EDR ideally focuses on advanced threat detection and responding to incidents on the endpoint. EDR tools typically monitor and record all endpoint and network events to identify any malicious behavior on the user-end device. Once detected, they send alerts to the security team or send that data back to a central repository.   

At this central repository, all focal activities are carried out, including investigation, analysis, and blocking of attacks.   

Whether you opt for an EDR tool or a managed EDR service, both solutions monitor endpoints, detect advanced threats, and further analyze identified threats. However, only managed EDR services will detect and respond to external attacks while spotting internal threats to keep your security infrastructure safe and robust. Most businesses lose their data security to the least expected insider attacks. An experienced managed EDR service provider will detect those breaches (or attempts to data breach) by continuously monitoring user behavior on the endpoints.   

They also make the best use of the response part of an EDR acronym; help your IT team respond to an endpoint infiltration instantly once they detect an infiltration. They do it by figuring out how the attempt to the attack started and how it spread. It keeps an infiltration from becoming a full-blown security breach. Hence, a managed EDR solution is any day a better option than an unmanaged EDR tool, as the former excel at helping IT teams respond to threats much faster than the latter.  

Benefits of Managed EDR  

Here are the top benefits of a managed EDR solution for businesses of all sizes:  

• EDR is known to identify undetected threats and stop them quickly   
• AI-based advanced algorithms to analyze user behavior and flag suspicious activities  
• Quick incident response with guided investigations and suggested remediation steps  
• Reduced false positives when a flagged event turns out to be harmless (non-malicious) after investigation   

Who Needs a Managed EDR?  

EDR solutions are best for businesses that already have robust cloud and network security but need enhanced endpoint protection. Since managed EDR service providers are good at recording endpoint events, patterns, and logs, these are great solutions for IT teams who wish to have granular visibility at the endpoint level to spot and investigate potential malicious activities.   

Final Thoughts  

An MSSP is suitable for managing your basic security needs while helping you keep up with compliance regulations. On the other hand, an MDR service provider offers a more holistic approach towards a more robust cyber-security by providing active threat hunting, granular visibility, and real-time incident response capability than an MSSP. It secures your overall security infrastructure, including your servers, cloud, and IoT networks. Hence, if you are still confused about the one service that will suit your business the best, go for MDR services.   

And Managed EDR services stay relevant in today’s date and time as it accurately observes the events on your endpoints and proactively hunts for possible sophisticated threats across your endpoint estate, keeping your endpoints safe from security breaches.  

Now, whether you opt for MSSP, MDR, or managed EDR – know that outsourcing services to a managed security provider will eradicate the complexity and cost of maintaining an in-house team. The managed service providers have the right technologies and dedicated resources to defend your enterprise against aggressive threats. Also, consider critical aspects like custom compliance reporting, industry experience, lesser pricing, and consistent customer support to have a seamless experience. 

Author Bio

I am Zoya Arya, and I have been working as Content Writer at Rananjay Exports for past 2 years. My expertise lies in researching and writing both technical and fashion content. I have written multiple articles on Gemstone Jewelry like Larimar Jewelry and other stones over the past years and would love to explore more on the same in future. I hope my work keeps mesmerizing you and helps you in the future.