December 2024

5 Ways MDR Keeps MSPs Ahead in a Competitive Market

As cyber threats become more sophisticated, networks grow more complex, and the shortage of skilled cybersecurity talent continues to widen, businesses are increasingly entrusting their critical IT functions to Managed Service Providers (MSPs). This trend presents MSPs with both a significant challenge and a unique opportunity: to meet the surging demand for skilled, always-on cybersecurity monitoring. Those who rise to this challenge stand to enhance their market presence and create deeper, lasting relationships with their customers.

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solutions empower MSPs to provide reliable, round-the-clock protection without requiring significant in-house resources. For MSPs already offering comprehensive security monitoring, partnering with the right MDR provider can be transformative. By outsourcing specialized monitoring and threat response to an MDR partner, MSPs can streamline their operations and reduce the burden on their internal teams, allowing them to focus on high-value activities.

With 97% of MSPs planning to expand their service in portfolios, particularly in security, MDR offers an essential path to staying competitive and addressing evolving client needs. Here’s how MDR can help MSPs build stronger client relationships while providing critical protection against today’s cyber threats.

1. Enhanced Threat Detection: A Shield for Your Customers
   Cybercriminals continuously develop new tactics to breach systems, and traditional perimeter defenses aren’t always sufficient to keep them out. MDR adds a vital layer by offering proactive threat detection and hunting. Using behavioral analytics, MDR solutions spot abnormal activity and potential threats early on, allowing MSPs to act before attacks become severe breaches. By offering these capabilities, MSPs can provide the cybersecurity focus the market demands, strengthening customer trust in a proactive security approach.
    
2. Smart Threat Prioritization: Tackling Alert Overload
   Alert fatigue is a real challenge for security teams, and this is particularly true for MSPs who manage security across multiple organizations. MDR helps service providers sift through the noise by intelligently prioritizing alerts and filtering out false positives. MDR solutions leverage context-driven analytics, allowing MSPs to act quickly to mitigate threats. Additionally, AI tools act like virtual assistants designed to enhance operations by providing personalized insights and immediate assistance. These tools can detect patterns, recommend actions, and automate routine tasks, enabling MSPs to respond more efficiently and focus on high-priority issues.
    
3. Comprehensive Analysis and Targeted Responses
   Each alert demands quick assessment and an appropriate response, but this is where many organizations lack resources. With MDR, MSPs can fill this gap. MDR solutions combine automated and human-led behavioral analysis to assess threats accurately, determining the severity and necessary remediation actions. Customers benefit from precise, prompt responses to threats without investing in their own security operations center (SOC).
    
4. 24/7 Monitoring and Global Threat Hunting
   Cyber threats don’t adhere to a schedule. By adding MDR to their portfolio, MSPs can ensure their customers are protected around the clock, with analysts available 24/7 to monitor and respond to incidents. This constant vigilance ensures that threats will be detected and handled, regardless of the hour. Expert cyber-threat hunting also means that advanced threats—those specifically designed to evade automated detection—are actively sought and neutralized.
    
5. Strengthening MSP-Client Relationships with High-Quality Support
   MSP customers often view their service provider as an extension of their own team. Beyond a transactional relationship, MSPs serve as trusted advisors, providing businesses with valuable guidance, expertise, and support. MDR strengthens this connection by delivering advanced threat intelligence, continuous monitoring, and rapid response capabilities. By addressing clients' evolving cybersecurity needs, MDR empowers MSPs to deliver a reliable, high-value service that deepens client trust and sets them apart in a competitive market.

Choosing the Right MDR Partner: Key Considerations for MSPs

To maximize the benefits of MDR, it’s crucial to partner with a reputable provider. Here are the main qualities to look for:

• Research and Intelligence Excellence: Opt for a partner backed by leading research capabilities for the most up-to-date threat intelligence.
• Round-the-Clock Operations: Ensure the MDR provider offers 24/7/365 monitoring to cover threats anytime, anywhere.
• Advanced Threat Hunting: Choose a provider with expert analysts skilled in detecting advanced, hidden threats.
• Proven Detection Capabilities: Look for independently tested solutions with high detection rates and low false positives.
• Customization Options: A flexible MDR offering that adapts to each client’s unique needs.
• Customer Support: Select a provider with high-quality, localized customer service.
• Research and Intelligence Excellence: Opt for a partner backed by a global presence and leading research capabilities for the most up-to-date threat intelligence.

Incorporating MDR services empowers MSPs to provide proactive, all-encompassing security for their customers, enhancing customer relationships and solidifying trust. For MSPs looking to grow and retain market presence, MDR is a powerful means to ensure both their customers’ safety and their own long-term success. Additionally, by broadening their offerings to include monitoring and managed security services, MSPs can position themselves as MSSPs, commanding higher service fees and unlocking new revenue streams.

ESET MDR: The Perfect Partner for MSPs

Scalable, Proactive Security Without the In-House SOC

For managed service providers looking to enhance their security offerings or streamline their customer threat response, ESET offers a robust and scalable MDR solution. Powered by a global team of cybersecurity experts, ESET MDR for MSPs offers 24/7 threat hunting, monitoring, and rapid response capabilities. Backed by 30 years of excellence in malware research, MSPs can rely on ESET’s global threat intelligence and dedicated local support for proactive incident response, advanced analysis, and comprehensive endpoint security assistance—all without the need for a full in-house SOC team.

ESET MDR offers MSPs monthly reporting and security advisories, with detailed insights on trends like phishing and brute-force attempts, and guidance on proactive defense. With ESET MDR, MSPs can confidently safeguard their customer environments, mitigate threats before they escalate, and maintain a high standard of service that sets them apart in today’s competitive landscape.