Managed Cybersecurity Services vs. Traditional IT Security: MSP vs. MSSP

You want your business to run smoothly and stay safe. You often hear two terms: MSP and MSSP. Both help, but they focus on different goals.

This guide explains the difference in plain language so you can choose what fits your needs and budget.

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The Goal

Understand where an MSP excels, where an MSSP goes deeper, how they overlap, and when to use one, the other, or both.

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Quick Definitions

MSP
A Managed Service Provider keeps your technology running smoothly. The focus is productivity—device setup, patching, backups, help desk, and basic security controls.

MSSP
A Managed Security Service Provider protects your business from threats. The focus is security outcomes—24/7 monitoring, advanced detection, incident response, and compliance evidence.

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The Core Focus of Each

MSP Focus

• Keep people productive and systems available

• Standardize devices and software for fewer issues

• Apply baseline security like patching, antivirus, and backups

• Resolve tickets quickly and reduce downtime

MSSP Focus

• Prevent, detect, and contain real attacks

• Monitor endpoints, cloud, identity, and network activity in real time

• Respond to incidents with playbooks and forensics

• Prove compliance with reports and audit-ready evidence

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The Crossover You Should Expect

MSPs care about security because outages hurt productivity. MSSPs care about productivity because secure systems must still be usable.

The difference is emphasis:

• MSPs focus on reliable operations with sensible protection.

• MSSPs focus on finding and stopping threats that bypass the basics.

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Tooling and Certifications

Typical MSP Stack

• Remote monitoring and patching

• Basic endpoint protection

• Backup and recovery

• Email and web filtering

• Device encryption and mobile management

• Automation for onboarding and offboarding

Typical MSSP Stack

• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) with human threat hunters

• Security information and event management (SIEM)

• Identity protection and conditional access

• Advanced email security and impersonation controls

• Vulnerability scanning and attack surface monitoring

• Incident response and forensics tools

Certifications and Roles
MSSPs typically hold advanced security certifications like GIAC and CISSP. MSPs focus on vendor and platform certifications such as Microsoft, networking, and cloud. Both invest heavily in training—MSSPs lean deeper into security labs and simulations.

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NOC vs. SOC

Both MSPs and MSSPs often operate a NOC—a Network Operations Center that monitors uptime, performance, backups, and patch compliance.

An MSSP also runs a SOC—a Security Operations Center that watches for suspicious behavior, investigates alerts, and responds to incidents in real time.

A SOC operates 24×7, because attackers don’t keep business hours.

Novatech operates both, including a 24×7 SOC, so clients get productivity support and true security response in one place.

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What This Means for Cost

MSP programs are priced for broad coverage and predictable support.
MSSP programs include human analysts, advanced tools, and around-the-clock operations.

That adds cost—but it also reduces the frequency and impact of incidents.
Many businesses combine an MSP for day-to-day IT with an MSSP for deeper protection.

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How to Decide What You Need

Choose primarily MSP when:

• You need reliable help desk and fewer daily issues

• You’re building a foundation with patching, backups, and device standards

• Your risk profile is low and you face few compliance demands

Choose primarily MSSP when:

• You handle sensitive data or must meet strict compliance

• You need 24×7 detection and incident response

• You’ve been targeted, phished, or disrupted recently

Choose a combined approach when:

• You want one accountable partner for both outcomes

• You need strong security that remains simple for users

• You want clear reporting for leadership, auditors, and insurers

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What a Good Engagement Looks Like

With an MSP

• Devices are patched and backed up on schedule

• New employees are ready on day one

• Tickets are resolved quickly and root causes reduced

• Baseline security hygiene is consistent

With an MSSP

• Alerts go to human analysts who investigate and confirm

• Threats are contained through isolation and remediation

• You receive monthly risk and exposure reports

• You have a tested incident response plan and tabletop exercises

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Common Questions We Hear

Can my MSP handle security?
Yes—and they should. Baseline controls start with your MSP. For advanced detection and response, an MSSP’s dedicated SOC offers better coverage.

Do I need both?
Many organizations benefit from both. The MSP keeps operations smooth; the MSSP stops attacks and proves compliance. Novatech offers both under one program.

Will an MSSP disrupt my users?
Good security reduces disruption. Strong identity controls and tested backups prevent long outages and frantic fixes.

How do I justify MSSP spend?
Estimate the cost of downtime, data loss, and recovery. Compare that to a program that reduces incident risk and severity—plus possible insurance savings.

Who owns what?
Ask for a shared responsibility matrix. It should clearly show what your provider manages, what your team manages, and how success is measured.

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A Simple Checklist to Get Started

• Do we have MFA everywhere and timely patching?

• Are backups immutable and tested for restore?

• Do we have EDR or MDR across all endpoints?

• Do we monitor identity, cloud, and email for suspicious activity?

• Do we have a written, tested incident response plan?

• Do we get a monthly scorecard with owners and due dates?

• Do we have 24×7 monitoring with authority to respond?

If you answered no to several of these, you’re a strong candidate for MSSP coverage or a combined program.

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How Novatech Helps

One Accountable Partner
We deliver MSP productivity and MSSP protection through one integrated roadmap and scorecard.

Round-the-Clock Security
Our SOC monitors, investigates, and responds in real time.

Clear Outcomes
You get monthly reports leadership can read in minutes, plus audit and insurance evidence.

Right-Sized Programs
We align tools and service levels to your risk, budget, and compliance needs.

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The Next Step

If you’re unsure which path fits best, send us a recent IT invoice and any security requirements you face.
We’ll map what you have today, show where MSP and MSSP services apply, and design a simple plan that protects productivity and reduces risk.

Ask Novatech for a combined MSP + MSSP review