With the firehose of threats blasting hackers and defenders at unprecedented speed and scale, MSSPs and MDR vendors are vital partners in white-knuckled cyber operations. Their experience and expertise assist in overcoming the challenges of threat detection and response at scale. These services have historically offered round-the-clock monitoring, directly tackling the urgent issues of alert fatigue and ongoing workforce shortfalls. Technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are quickly becoming mainstream in security operations centers (SOCs). Given this huge development, it’s worth asking several deep questions about the effectiveness and value of MSSPs/MDRs.
With the growing adoption of AI in cybersecurity, experts are questioning the legacy approach that most MSSPs and MDRs take. These vendors do need a minimum of seven rotating analysts, on three shifts, to ensure 24/7 monitoring. This setup almost always leads to crippling recurring costs, starting at a minimum of $100,000 annually. Then throw in internal staffing and integration costs, and budgets can rapidly be overstretched. Moving from traditional SOCs to AI-based SOCs can offer a more organized, efficient, and cost-saving approach.
This article explores the current state of MSSPs and MDRs in light of emerging AI technologies, examining their operational challenges, financial implications, and potential pathways for adaptation.
Operational Challenges Facing MSSPs and MDRs
MSSPs and MDR vendors have been the go-to for organizations who have wanted to outsource their cybersecurity requirements. Right now there are a lot of operational challenges that make it hard for them to be an effective tool. One major complaint is the lack of depth in investigations which are frequently a result of analysts’ lack of experience in a given environment. When an MSSP or MDR vendor gets between dozens and hundreds of clients, those all-important nuances get missed. These nuances are critical to understanding when performing robust threat assessments.
Additionally, systemic problems surrounding alert overload still affect these providers. Analysts are inundated with alerts, leading to fragmented responses and potentially overlooking genuine threats. The brutal response coordination handoffs between response teams can lead to gaps and delays that often make vulnerabilities worse. Cyber threats are getting more sophisticated by the minute. With this evolution comes a different type of threat that MSSPs and MDRs must reexamine their monitoring strategy to combat.
Another operational hurdle is the dependence on outdated and/or third-party intelligence feeds. While these feeds can aid in identifying threats, they often lack the specificity needed for precise threat detection within unique organizational contexts. This dependence can hinder the quality of investigations, potentially exposing organizations to increasing threats.
Financial Implications of MSSPs and MDRs
This is the part of the MSSP and MDR vendor financial model that makes security teams considering these vendor services nervous. These vendors provide invaluable support for your classroom needs. Their annual pricing can be fairly high, even higher than AI-SOC platforms that offer superior threat detection and response capabilities. The price differences are more pronounced when we include additional expenses. These costs encompass costs associated with building internal capacity, performing program integration work, and dual-spend periods during transitions.
Organizations have to wrestle with the confusing value propositions that MSSPs and MDRs throw at you. These vendors balance hundreds of clients each day. Consequently, they often have a hard time demonstrating their distinct advantages over newer technologies. Their market positioning is further complicated by a new focus on monitoring and rapid response. This is particularly hard as AI-driven solutions are rapidly gaining supremacy.
While a 30-60 day proof of concept (POC) can validate an MSSP or MDR’s triage accuracy and integration quality, many organizations find it challenging to justify the investment without clear metrics demonstrating return on investment. Organizations, more than ever, are looking to get the most bang for their cybersecurity buck. They are challenging the relevance and cost-effectiveness of traditional solutions in an ever-evolving landscape.
The Path Forward for MSSPs and MDRs
To remain competitive in an age where AI-SOC platforms are gaining traction, MSSPs and MDR vendors must adapt their offerings to meet the changing needs of organizations. One possible way forward would be to focus more on analyst training, deepening analysts’ knowledge of their non-profit client’s in-country environments. By fostering institutional knowledge within their analyst teams, these vendors can ensure a higher quality of investigation, as well as a quicker response time.
Additionally, incorporating advanced analytics and machine learning into their operational frameworks may help MSSPs and MDRs address alert overload more effectively. These providers automate much of the user-friendliness and innovative threat detection in-house. This leaves analysts free to focus on deeper, more complicated investigations that require human intelligence.
Additionally, openness and honesty when discussing potential value propositions can lay a foundation of trust between vendors and clients. By clearly articulating the tangible benefits of their services, such as tailored threat intelligence or customized incident response plans, MSSPs and MDRs can strengthen client relationships and demonstrate their unique contributions within the cybersecurity landscape.