MSP vs MSSPs: Understanding the Difference
Originally published at MSP vs MSSPs: Understanding the Difference by EasyDMARC.
Understanding the difference between an MSP and an MSSP can feel tricky, especially when both seem to offer similar support for your business.
Is Your AppSec Program Truly Mature?
Originally published at MSP vs MSSPs: Understanding the Difference by EasyDMARC.
Understanding the difference between an MSP and an MSSP can feel tricky, especially when both seem to offer similar support for your business. In reality, their roles are quite different. This MSP vs MSSP guide explains what each provider does, where they differ, and how they work together. By the end, you’ll know exactly which option fits your goals, budget, and security needs.
What is an MSP?
When understanding MSSP vs MSP, it’s important to understand what an MSP actually does. An MSP (Managed Service Provider) is basically your outsourced IT team. They take care of everyday tech needs like managing networks, maintaining infrastructure, updating software, and providing help desk support whenever something breaks or stops working.
An MSP:
Keeps your IT systems running smoothly without interruptions.
Ensures your data is accessible, your tools work properly, and your employees can get help quickly when issues arise.
Handles tasks like adding new users, setting permissions, managing logs, and helping with new app rollouts so nothing crashes on day one.
All in all, MSPs are cost-effective for businesses that want strong IP operations without maintaining a big internal tech team.
What is an MSSP?
An MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) is your dedicated cybersecurity partner. Instead of handling general IT tasks, they focus completely on keeping your business safe from online threats. Their goal is to spot attacks early and respond before they cause you operational, reputational, legal, or financial damages.
An MSSP:
Monitors your systems 24/7 using tools such as SIEMs, SOC services, and MDR.
Detects threats such as phishing attempts, malware, or unusual activity in real time.
Performs regular vulnerability scans and guides you on fixing security gaps.
Helps you stay compliant with frameworks like ISO 27001, GDPR, and PCI DSS.
Assists with the deployment and ongoing management of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, ensuring your email domain stays protected from spoofing and impersonation attacks.
Overall, MSSPs bring deep security expertise and constant monitoring that most organizations might not have in-house. They safeguard your business while your MSP or IT team focuses on day-to-day operations.
MSP vs MSSP: Key Differences
While MSPs and MSSPs often work side by side, they differ in how they think, plan, and react.
MSPs proactively maintain your systems to keep them stable and reduce downtime. Their decisions revolve around performance, scalability, user needs, and cost control. So, as your business and team grow, your MSP will be responsible for expanding your tech stack smoothly.
MSSPs, however, operate with a completely different mindset. In the MSSP vs. MSP comparison, MSSPs monitor threat patterns, vulnerabilities, and unusual behavior across your environment. Their work is less about keeping things running and more about keeping things safe.
Another key difference is in the type of data each team uses. MSPs track data like network health, device performance, and support tickets, while MSSPs rely on security telemetry such as alerts, threat intelligence, and anomalies. That’s why MSPs work from NOCs, and MSSPs from SOCs built for real-time threat monitoring.
Here’s a quick summary of the key differences between the two:
Feature
MSP
MSSP
Area of Focus
IT management services
Cybersecurity services
Goals
Improve daily efficiency and productivitySupport business scalingMaintain network and systems
Stop breaches and reduce risk Keep systems secure and compliantMonitor & protect infrastructure 24/7Respond to intrusions
Cybersecurity Level
Basic security, like system mmonitoring, email monitoring, and patching
Advanced security, like endpoint protection, threat detection, threat hunting, and incident response
Operates Out Of
NOC (Network Operations Center)
SOC (Security Operations Center)
Common Functions
Technical supportHelp desk servicesEnd-user managementRemote work monitoringCloud migrationAutomationIT operations optimization
Antivirus, anti-malware, anti-spam 24/7 security monitoringEmail SecurityThreat intelligenceVulnerability managementReporting, auditing, and complianceAccess & identity managementEndpoint securitySecurity awareness training
How to Choose Between an MSP and an MSSP
Making the right choice between MSSP vs MSP comes down to one question: Is your biggest challenge managing your technology or protecting it?
The best way to decide is to match your goals, like uptime, growth, compliance, or threat prevention, with the provider that specializes in those needs.
When Should You Consider an MSP
Choose an MSP when your main focus is keeping daily IT operations stable, up to date, and efficient. MSPs are ideal if you need support with networks, devices, software, and user management, especially when you do not have a full in-house team. Their strength is maintaining smooth, scalable, and interruption-free systems.
When Should You Consider an MSSP
Pick an MSSP if cybersecurity risks, compliance needs, or data protection are your top concerns. MSSPs offer specialized skills, advanced monitoring tools, and quick incident response. They are a strong choice for businesses that face regular threats or handle sensitive information. Their goal is to reduce risk and keep your systems secure.
When Your Business Needs Both
A combined MSP and MSSP approach works well when you need strong operations and security simultaneously. Many companies depend on MSPs for general IT management and use MSSPs for threat detection and response. This mix keeps your technology running smoothly while strengthening your overall security posture.
Wrapping Up: Balancing IT and Security in the MSP vs MSSP Choice
An MSP helps you run your technology smoothly, while an MSSP helps you protect it from threats. Some businesses need only one, while others benefit from both. The right choice depends on your goals, the risks you face, and the resources you have. What matters most is building a setup that keeps your systems working well and your data safe.
If you are an MSP looking to offer email authentication and DMARC solutions to your clients, explore our MSP Partner Program and Boost Sales with EasyDMARC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an MSP become an MSSP over time?
Yes, many MSPs expand into security by adding services like monitoring, incident response, or email authentication tools. However, becoming a true MSSP requires specialized staff, 24/7 monitoring, advanced security tools, and a dedicated SOC, all of which require significant investment and expertise.
Is it expensive to work with both an MSP and an MSSP?
It depends on your needs. Many small and mid-sized businesses use both by choosing flexible, scalable plans. An MSP handles routine IT tasks while an MSSP covers security. This combination often costs less than building a full internal IT and security team from scratch.
The post MSP vs MSSPs: Understanding the Difference appeared first on EasyDMARC.
*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from EasyDMARC authored by EasyDmarc. Read the original post at: https://easydmarc.com/blog/msp-vs-mssps-understanding-the-difference/
About Author
