The rise of technology across industries ushered in an unwelcome trend, which is the surge of cyber threats. Thus, channel partners should know and understand the top 4 MDR facts for MSPs. For instance, what should managed service providers know about managed detection and response? Is it essential for them to take a deeper dive into this realm? How would it benefit MSPs and their end-users or clients?
These are just a few of the important questions to look into when delving into the complex world of MDR. Let us start our quest into managed detection and response services and solutions in the MSP ecosystem:
What are the top 4 MDR facts for MSPs?
According to global research and advisory company, Gartner, organizations using MDR will increase 15 times in the coming years. Thus, it is not surprising at all that managed detection and response services are now trending among businesses. So, why the rapid surge in adopting this security online solution? Is it something that MSPs should know in understanding MDR? Should they offer it as part of their services to end-users?
Fact #1 – Cyber Threats are Inevitable Realities Today
It is quite unfortunate that cyber-attacks and threats would grow side by side technological innovations of today. However, this is a fact, and businesses and organizations know this by now. These online menaces are likewise growing or evolving in terms of sophistication and volume.
Organizations invest in adding stronger response and detection capabilities for the quick identification of threats. In doing so, responding or addressing the issues is vital to prevent any breaches, which may be irreparable.
The diminishing returns of investing in prevention technologies become the reasons for businesses to look somewhere else. Thus, is the emergence and demand for managed detection and response services. For instance, traditional security monitoring has lost its sufficiency due to rule-based analysis and limited log collection.
Businesses require something that would be effective against a new breed of cyber threats. The next-generation security operations must integrate other technologies that offer more than SIEM or traditional security information and event management.
Fact #2 – MSPs Bridge the Gap by Offering MDR
Although next-generation security capabilities are required, some organizations may find this not feasible. This is where MSPs come in by providing managed detection and response solutions. MDR provides future-ready and adaptive security operations with newer potentials for eye-on-glass monitoring. MDR unlike traditional security is more than use cases compliance or common attack visibility.
MSPs help bridge the gap through MDR particularly for advanced threat detection and response by offering it as a service. This means you skip the cost of in-house security operations and the complexity of building and establishing it.
Fact #3 – The Fundamental Truth about MDR
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) refers to a balance of skills and advanced technology offering security operations. The main function of MDR is to provide innovative threat detection, as the name implies. However, more than that, it also includes other security capabilities.
For instance, MDR is also delivering global threat intelligence, 24/7 collaborative reach response, as well as deep threat analytics. On top of that, the security operations likewise provide faster incident mitigation for rapid response.
What MDR is NOT
One important thing that MSPs should know about MDR is that it will not replace the function of traditional MSS. Managed security services include log monitoring, log management, security device management, and vulnerability scanning. All in all, these are different security solutions on their own.
What MDR does is enhance MSS solutions by focusing on the detection and response aspect. It detects and responds to breaches through complementary services and technologies. These innovations cover response orchestration, security analytics, and threat intelligence.
Specialized vendors or MSPs highlight threat management as their only service. MSPs may also focus on the organization’s existing MSS provided that it has integrated MDR capabilities. As an MSP, you should know that organizations highly prefer those that offer integrated MDR and MSSP services.
Fact #4 – What are MDR Solutions and Their Outcome
Managed detection and response services vary depending on the service provider or MSP. However, there are basic solutions that are available, based on the most relevant needs and demands of businesses. Here are some examples of different MDR services and their outcome:
⚫ Threat Prediction
Anticipation of potential cyber threats can also be considered intelligence of threat in action. The application of global threat intelligence particularly on the attacks as well as the attackers may vary in context. This will mainly depend on the context of every specific business or organization.
MSPs provide the best MDR that goes beyond the generic data, which are collated. These are then converted into actionable tasks to predict any threats that can happen. Most importantly, it covers the activities or operations to be taken in order to stop the attack in case it happened.
There are different threat feeds where the MDR platform can access and collect threat data. These may include but are not limited to social media, news, the dark web, and blogs. Measures will be implemented if the data and analysis would show that the threat is most likely to happen.
⚫ Threat Search
The MDR solution for this outcome involves security analytics where machine learning and data science are utilized. Other factors are also used such as IT data and user profiles to detect any hidden or unknown threats. MSPs should consider the different available security analytics technologies.
These technologies may include user behavior analytics, network threat analytics, and application threat analytics. Some complex tools have more comprehensive systems that cover endpoint threat and detection and response.
The best MDR service works in the conversion of such analytics data and turns them into actionable outcomes. The main result is the detection of potential threats, which usually bypass traditional security controls.
⚫ Security Monitoring
Security monitoring is one of the essential operations in managed detection and response. Detecting known attacks or breaches is done by applying the rules to security events and logs. Different MDR providers or channel partners offer their technologies to end-users.
Several security monitoring technologies are available depending on the demands of the organizations. The system fundamentally detects threats, compliance violations, policy, and risks by collection logs and security events. The analysis of the collected data is done after being encoded to the MDR platform.
MSPs would know that they are offering a good MDR solution if they are not following a static approach. Instead, the rules are constantly fine-tuned for the detection of non-compliance and threats. Furthermore, the alerts are monitored 24/7, sending out notifications based on their severity.
⚫ Response to Alert
This MDR outcome bridges the gap between the alert notification and activation of the incident response plan. The alerts are made to focus on the threats that are considered most relevant and pressing. Consequently, an investigation will be conducted to attack the chain, potential impact, and blast radius to the organization.
One of the important things an MSP should know is that not every alert requires an activated incident response plan. The extent of the impact will be investigated and measured carefully to determine the action. For instance, the MDR system will have to identify what, when, who, and how the attack will lead to.
⚫ Incident Response
A technology for response orchestration is essential in the MDR service. This particular solution carries out coordinated and quick activities to address the attack. Some of the security operations included in this service include remediation, containment, and recovery.
MSPs offer innovative MDR services by using a response automation platform on workflows, incident playbooks, and forensic tools. Incident response, which is offered on an as-a-service basis is more practical. MDR uses a collaborative approach between the specialized responder and organization.
The main target of this operation is to contain, recover, and mitigate huge attacks or incidents. Moreover, the service includes building and updating the response playbook. This is vital in getting ahead of potentially emerging or existing threats in the future.
⚫ Breach Management
An MDR service is highly important especially when incidents result in the attack and eventual breach of any protected data. This may happen to organizations when their protected or confidential customer data are breached. As you know, any leakage of such sensitive and private data could bring irreparable damage to the organization.
So, how does MDR work in terms of breach management? The best solutions include evidence collection, breach forensics, and proof retention. The services should also include the best practices on how to conduct breach notifications. Furthermore, breach management also covers the evaluation of impact using regulatory requirements for compliance.
Final Thoughts
Managed detection and response is a new industry segment, which is fast becoming a trend and demand. Moreover, it continues to show some significant evolution and growth. Thus, it is a promising venture especially for MSPs as more and more organizations see its relevance and benefits.
The MSP ecosystem is growing and becoming more competitive by and large. Offering the best MDR to help your clients handle and address vulnerabilities and threats effectively is a plus point. Call us now to know more about MDR, try our free tools or our best MSP intelligence application CWDash!
