What is an MSSP?
An MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) is a third party that manages, monitors and operates cybersecurity services on behalf of an organisation. This can range from Security Monitoring and Incident Response to Vulnerability Management, SIEM administration and Threat Intelligence.
MSSPs are used to provide 24/7 monitoring, expertise and scalable security solutions without an organisation needing to build all of these capabilities in-house.
🧠 Why use an MSSP?
Many organisations — especially in industrial environments — have limited internal capacity or need specific OT knowledge. An MSSP then provides:
- Continuous monitoring of IT and OT networks
- Rapid threat detection through a SOC (Security Operations Center)
- Access to specialist knowledge (e.g. ICS/SCADA security)
- Cost reduction through economies of scale
- Faster response to incidents via playbooks and SLAs
🔐 Typical MSSP services
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| SIEM administration | Real-time log collection, correlation and alerting |
| Threat Intelligence | Information on threats, attacks, zero-days |
| Vulnerability Management | Scanning and prioritising vulnerabilities |
| Patch management support | Advice on or rolling out security updates |
| Incident Response | Direct action in case of intrusions or malware incidents |
| SOC (Security Operations) | 24/7 monitoring of systems and networks |
| Penetration tests & Red Team services | Regular security testing |
| Compliance reporting | Support for NIS2, IEC 62443, ISO 27001, FISMA |
🏭 MSSP in OT environments
| Application | Example |
|---|---|
| OT network monitoring | IDS/IPS on Industrial Ethernet, SPAN or TAP connections |
| Historian analysis | Detection of abnormal data collection or outbound connections |
| Remote Access auditing | Jump Server logging, MFA, Protocol Filtering |
| Asset discovery | Inventorying PLCs, HMIs, Drives, SCADA systems |
| Patch advice | Risk-based advice on firmware or OS updates in OT networks |
Some MSSPs specialise in ICS/OT security and use OT-specific tools such as Claroty, Nozomi, Dragos or Tenable.ot.
✅ Benefits of an MSSP
- Quick access to expertise, including for niche environments
- Scalable – suitable for small and large organisations alike
- Continuity in security monitoring and incident response
- Insight into trends via centralised intelligence and dashboards
- Supports compliance and audit-ready documentation
⚠️ Considerations when selecting
- Does the MSSP have knowledge of OT/ICS systems?
- What SLAs apply to detection and response?
- Are logs processed on-premise or in the cloud?
- Which model is used: MSSP or MDR (Managed Detection & Response)?
- How well does it integrate with existing tooling and network architecture?
📌 In summary
An MSSP is an external partner specialising in the management and monitoring of Cybersecurity, including OT and industrial networks. The right MSSP helps organisations respond more safely, more rapidly and more efficiently to digital threats.