Managed Service Providers (MSPs) take on a great deal of responsibility for their clients. Apart from deploying and managing IT infrastructure, MSPs must also guarantee the security of the solutions they offer. 

IT leaders are increasingly relying on their MSP partners to provide security services alongside their core offering. This is especially true for small and mid-size organizations that want to avoid bloating their tech stack with additional providers. 

Cybersecurity is now a core MSP expectation 

With cyberattacks increasing in severity and frequency every year, the need to include security in managed IT services is clear. MSPs that can’t meet their clients’ security needs are missing a valuable opportunity to expand growth and earn new revenue. 

But choosing the right security solution isn’t easy. Every organization is unique, and what works for one might not be the right choice for another. MSPs that can tailor cybersecurity solutions to meet client needs stand to benefit the most. 

5 things to consider when building your security tech stack 

Your reputation depends on the quality and reliability of your security services. Take time to implement solutions that serve your clients’ needs in a consistent, scalable way. 

1. Client requirements come first 

Every organization has its own business objectives and security requirements. Take time to deeply understand the way your clients’ business logic impacts their security posture.  

For example, healthcare organizations must adhere to strict regulatory frameworks. Their security depends on robust access controls and HIPAA-compliant encryption policies. On the other hand, an e-commerce business may need a more flexible solution for working with remote employees and third-party partners. 

Unless your MSP strictly addresses a single niche, you will have to extend different security solutions to different clients according to their needs. Balancing different solutions for endpoint security, cloud security, identity, and more can take a great deal of energy away from your core IT services.  

Consider working with a reputable Managed Detection and Response (MDR) vendor who can provide on-demand security expertise to clients based on their needs. This frees up your IT team to focus on the tasks it does best. 

2. Scalability is mandatory 

If your security solutions do not scale well, you will eventually run into problems managing growth. Your clients’ security needs will continue to evolve over time, and your organization will need to tap additional resources to adapt. 

Some security tools and processes are much more scalable than others. For example, Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) enables organizations to respond to predefined security incidents without relying on time-intensive manual investigations first. This dramatically improves incident response performance in a variety of event scenarios. 

But SOAR solutions do not configure themselves. You’ll need access to specialist expertise that can build the appropriate detection rules into each of your clients’ environments according to their needs.  

When implemented properly, cross-platform automation and optimized incident response workflows enable MSPs to scale their security operations effectively and ensure consistent growth over time. Without these technologies, manual operations become a roadblock to growth. 

3. Easy implementation pays dividends over time 

All of your clients rely on a unique combination of applications, assets, and existing IT infrastructure. Any new technology you provide — especially monitoring solutions like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) — will need to be compatible with your clients’ systems. 

SIEM platforms work by capturing log data from every data-generating tool, application, and asset in the network. Integrating all of those systems into a SIEM can be a daunting task. This is especially true for MSPs that plan on regularly onboarding new clients as their business grows. 

Every mistake, delay, and miscalculation that occurs during SIEM implementation comes with costs. Lost productivity is a clear opportunity cost, but these events can also damage your reputation. 

Working with vendors, resellers, and product experts who can help guide you through the implementation process ensures the best outcome. Making this process as painless as possible is one of the best ways to earn your clients’ trust. 

4. Watch out for different pricing structures 

Cybersecurity technologies come with a wide range of pricing and licensing structures. Not all of them are especially well suited to the demands of an MSP environment. 

Most vendors charge different rates depending on whether you choose an on-premises or cloud-based deployment. These are typically structured as operating expenses, but with different levels of predictability. 

For example, some SIEM vendors charge based on Events per Second (EPS) or Flows per Minute (FPM), which doesn’t offer a very predictable price structure. Some charge based on data throughput volume per day, which can also be unpredictable. 

You may get more predictability from an asset-based or user-based licensing approach. However, predictability doesn’t necessarily mean you pay less — especially in an MSP context. There are ways to control less predictable pricing options in ways that ensure optimal performance and efficiency for MSPs. 

5. Your vendor’s reputation is also your reputation 

You will need to partner with cybersecurity vendors to deliver security solutions to your clients. Cybersecurity is a $200 billion market that continues to grow every year, and new vendors continue to pop up all the time. 

Finding the right vendors is a steep challenge for MSPs because you implicitly stake your reputation on these partnerships. If your vendor fails to offer you the support your clients need, when they need it, your clients may rightfully blame you for the result. 

Choosing reputable vendors helps reduce this risk, but it doesn’t eliminate risk entirely. Even market leaders can suffer preventable disruptions. This is where having an expert team of security professionals on your side can truly make a difference. 

Should a sophisticated cyberattack take place, your reputation will depend entirely on how quickly and professionally it is addressed. Having scalable access to highly experienced incident response personnel gives you a powerful advantage when handling delicate attack scenarios.  

Make Lumifi your trusted security partner 

Beyond routine support, you need to know you can access specialist knowledge from experts who deeply understand your business, your clients, and your environment. Consider entrusting your MSP security services to a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider like Lumifi to ensure optimal security event outcomes for your clients.