What Is the Difference Between MSP and MSSP?

What an MSP Does

Managed Service Provider—handles day-to-day IT:

• Helpdesk support (phone, email, portal)
• Device management and patching
• User administration (onboarding, offboarding, changes)
• Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace management
• Server and network management
• Backup management
• Basic security (antivirus, firewall, MFA)

MSPs keep your IT running. They're your outsourced IT department.

What an MSSP Does

Managed Security Service Provider—focuses on security:

• 24/7 security monitoring (SOC)
• Threat detection and analysis
• Incident response
• Vulnerability management
• SIEM management
• Security assessments
• Compliance support

MSSPs protect your organisation from threats. They're security specialists.

The Traditional Model

Historically, organisations used:

• Internal IT team OR MSP for day-to-day IT
• Separate MSSP for security operations

This made sense when security was a specialist add-on. It creates challenges:

• Two providers to coordinate
• Gaps between IT and security
• Higher total cost
• Finger-pointing when things go wrong

The Modern Reality

The line has blurred. Good MSPs now include significant security capability:

• EDR/MDR as standard
• Security awareness training
• Advanced email protection
• Vulnerability scanning
• Some level of monitoring

Meanwhile, pure MSSPs often struggle with day-to-day IT context. They see security events but don't understand your business operations.

Which Do You Need?

Pure MSP (basic security) if:

• Low risk profile
• No compliance requirements
• Limited budget
• Basic protection is acceptable

MSP + separate MSSP if:

• You have an MSP you like but they lack security depth
• Compliance requires dedicated security monitoring
• You need formal SOC capabilities
• Large or complex environment

Security-focused MSP if:

• You want one provider for IT and security
• You're in a regulated industry
• You need compliance evidence
• You want integrated service

Questions to Ask Your MSP

Not all MSPs do security equally. Ask:

• Do you provide MDR or just antivirus?
• What happens when a threat is detected at 2am?
• Can you provide compliance evidence and reporting?
• What security certifications do you hold?
• Is security included or an add-on?

If security is an afterthought or an upsell, that tells you something.

Our Approach

We're an MSP that leads with security. Not security bolted on—security built in:

• MDR included in managed services
• SIEM for clients who need it
• Compliance reporting as standard
• Security expertise, not just IT support
• CISSP-certified leadership

We don't think IT and security should be separate conversations. For regulated industries especially, they're the same thing.