Managed Service Providers (MSPs) must balance security and usability when offering IT solutions to clients. That means selecting tools that enable operational security while keeping management costs under control. 

Additionally, the MSP security tech stack should have enough flexibility and scalability to meet client needs over time. If clients expand their footprint or expand their infrastructure, you must be prepared to provide them with security services that meet their standards. 

 Clients increasingly expect MSPs to include cybersecurity into their IT solutions. Managed services that come with reliable security capabilities delivered by market-leading tools have a competitive edge over less comprehensive alternatives.  

5 security tools every MSP should include in its tech stack 

No single security technology can mitigate every threat. To meaningfully reduce cybersecurity risk, you need multiple tools and technologies working together, with guidance and support from product experts. 

This calls for a consolidated approach that leverages the SOC Visibility Triad and expands on it to consistently improve security event outcomes. MSPs that incorporate the following technologies into their offering can truthfully claim to provide enterprise-level protection to clients. 

1. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) 

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms collect and analyze log data from across the organization. When they encounter suspicious logs, they trigger an alert that prompts an investigation. 

In the past, SIEMs operated according to static rulesets. Next-Generation SIEMs incorporate behavioral analytics and automation to serve a fundamental role in the modern Security Operations Center (SOC). User Entity and Behavioral Analytics (UEBA) dramatically transforms the SOC’s detection and response capabilities. 

Next-generation SIEM solutions enable analysts to rapidly identify and investigate threats. When combined with custom detection rules and on-demand management from product experts, they establish the foundation for incorporating robust incident response frameworks into your organization. 

2. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) 

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) provides comprehensive visibility and control into operations on endpoint devices. Laptops, mobile phones, servers, and virtual machines are all examples of endpoints that could potentially introduce malware to your network. 

EDR solutions add real-time and historical visibility into endpoint threats. This enables security teams to rapidly detect attacks on endpoint devices and use automation to trigger an immediate response. 

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) goes one step further, integrating security controls across endpoints, cloud applications, and other IT assets. Drawing on a larger set of data sources and connecting to third-party security tools allows XDR to contextualize suspicious activity and neutralize threats in real-time. 

3. Network Detection and Response (NDR) 

Network Detection and Response (NDR) monitors network traffic for evidence of unauthorized activity. This grants network-wide visibility to security teams, preventing threat actors from hiding on network assets or conducting lateral movement between them. 

Gleaning security insights from raw network traffic is a demanding task that requires modern advanced analytics techniques. Modern NDR solutions use machine learning to deliver security visibility across the entire network at scale.  

This allows NDR to detect rogue devices operating on the network. It can also detect when sensitive data gets moved from a secure IT asset to an unsecured location — even if the activity does not generate logs or trigger an endpoint alert. 

4. AI-powered Email Security 

Inbox security is fundamental to effective risk management. Every organization has to address phishing, social engineering, and account impersonation risks. However, even the best-trained employees can’t guarantee they will spot and avoid fraudulent emails with 100% certainty.  

Modern email security solutions use artificial intelligence to scan incoming mail and keep malicious messages out of the inbox. Filtering these emails is the best way to prevent employees from accidentally opening them. High-quality email security solutions constantly update their algorithms to reduce false positives and catch the latest threats. 

Email security should also include Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and anti-spoofing features like Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting & Conformance (DMARC). DLP triggers alerts when users send sensitive data to unsecured email destinations, and DMARC prevents hackers from spoofing domain names you manage. 

5. Dark Web Monitoring 

The moment employee credentials or other sensitive data end up for sale on the Dark Web, it means a cyberattack is imminent. However, there is still time to proactively mitigate risk and neutralize the threat.  

Dark Web monitoring enables security teams to stay ahead of data leaks, supply chain breaches, and credential-based attacks. Comprehensive digital risk solutions can also identify account impersonations, domain spoofing, and other signs that threat actors are preparing a coordinated attack. 

Organizations expect their MSP partners to detect these threats and take action against them. Dark Web monitoring provides visibility into threats that internal-facing security tools can’t discover. 

Expert-level security technologies require expert-level management 

Implementing security technologies is just the first step. Your MSP must also manage its security tech stack effectively, making sure each technology truly meets your client’s security and compliance needs. 

Ongoing management is vital to the success of your security initiatives, and it relies on specialist expertise. Building processes for threat detection, incident response, and compliance management demands input from diligent, human security professionals with deep experience in those fields.  

Expert configuration is especially important for advanced technologies that use automation, machine learning, and AI. An accidental misconfiguration can leave a lasting impact on your MSP’s reputation for security, even if it doesn’t result in a worst-case scenario data breach. 

Upgrade your cybersecurity capabilities with Lumifi  

Lumifi is a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) vendor that specializes in providing MSPs with scalable, on-demand security expertise and technology. Our team will help you integrate robust cybersecurity solutions into your MSP offering, making you a better and more trustworthy partner.  

Our proprietary SOC automation platform ShieldVision™ offers complete multi-tenant support, helping MSPs successfully manage and secure complex IT environments. Schedule a demo to find out how 24/7 monitoring and support through Lumifi’s multi-tenant, vendor-agnostic platform can enhance the value of your managed service offering.