Managed Security Service Improve Incident Response Times
The speed at which a cyber attack is detected and repelled is a critical measure of incident response times. It is important to understand the key elements that drive this process and how to optimize them in order to improve response efficiencies.
A managed security service provider can help organizations accelerate incident response times by providing around-the-clock monitoring and responding to threats as they emerge. In addition, these services can help minimize costs associated with maintaining internal SOC resources and hiring and training highly-demanded threat hunters and cybersecurity analysts.
MSSPs provide a range of cybersecurity services that include monitoring and management of security tools, conducting penetration testing (Pentests), managing a customer’s firewall, and identifying vulnerabilities with managed vulnerability scanning. These services can help reduce the risk of an incident, minimize downtime and data loss, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Detection Time: This measures the time from when an incident occurs to the point in which it is detected by systems or personnel. It is also known as Mean Time to Detect/Discover (MTTD). A reduction in detection time is an indicator of a more proactive and efficient approach to security.

How Can a Managed Security Service Improve Incident Response Times?
Containment and Eradication Time: When a threat is discovered, it must be contained to limit the spread of a breach, which can take from hours to days based on the severity of the incident. The next step is eradication, which involves removing the threat and ensuring no traces of the breach remain. The MSSP can play a key role in this stage, as they typically have faster and more sophisticated capabilities than internal teams.
Recovery Time: This phase is when a company restores their systems to normal operations and ensures that no traces of the incident remain. This can be accomplished by restoring from backups or through a test to make sure the system is clean. MSSPs can help streamline this process by providing a single dashboard that consolidates alerts and encourages team collaboration to accelerate responses.
The ability to speed up incident response is crucial to minimizing the financial and operational impact of a breach. This is why many organizations turn to an MSP to enhance their internal SOC. They can improve response times and protect the company’s reputation by safeguarding data and information from breaches.
A managed security service provider can be a valuable addition to any organization, especially those with limited resources and budgets. Using a security service provider can also free up staff to focus on higher-value projects, such as building a resiliency strategy and optimizing security configurations. It can also be an attractive option for companies that are struggling to find qualified cybersecurity candidates. In fact, 67% of corporate leaders indicate that a lack of qualified cybersecurity professionals is adding extra risks to their organizations. Whether your organization is considering an MDR or not, you should be discussing your incident response timelines with a security partner to see how they can help you mitigate risk.
