MSP and MSSP, did you know these are initialisms and not acronyms? I'm not sure it matters, but the one letter difference sure does. Both describe businesses that provide outsourced IT services, and they're compatible but far from interchangeable. To help explain MSP vs. MSSP, let's take the conversation poolside.
MSP—your lifeguard, technician, and repair person too
Imagine your technical infrastructure as an enormous outdoor pool. And it's your responsibility to maintain it. It means you're constantly monitoring water levels, making adjustments to accommodate peak activity, and removing debris to provide smooth swim lanes.
But that's not all. You're also in charge of everything used in the pool. Let's lump all of the floats, flippers, goggles, and noodles into "applications." It's your job to ensure they're always available and always in top condition.
Enter your users—thousands of them. The elite performers dive right in with precision. While your management team talks poolside and waits for the hourly adult swim. But the vast majority splash wildly about, and all are under your watch.
Finally, there's data. Each splash, every ripple, must be collected, cataloged, analyzed, and returned. If ever it gets contaminated by a foreign drop in the shallow end, then you're disaster recovery too.
Even in this oversimplification, IT administration is a lot of work. Depending on the size and skill of the internal team and their project demands, it can quickly become unmanageable. Businesses call on a managed services provider, or MSP, to take on some or all of these responsibilities. An MSP has the knowledge and resources to provide 24x7 remote support and functions as a seamless extension of the internal IT team.
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An MSP performs operational tasks related to:
- Infrastructure, on-premise or in the cloud
- Business applications, like JD Edwards or SAP
- Technical support and troubleshooting
- Application security
- Data storage and backup
- Network management
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MSSP—your 24x7 surveillance
To understand the difference between an MSP and an MSSP, let's jump back in the pool. It's a members-only establishment, and among everything else, you guard the gate. Who can come in, who can bring a guest, and what can they do once inside? It's up to you to keep it straight. You must be on alert for misuse, fake passes, and break-ins at the same time.
Between the massive perimeter fencing and the endless flow of people, there's too much to cover alone. A managed security services provider, or MSSP, has your back. They provide the resources to monitor access and activity. They also have the tools and experience to prevent, detect, and respond to intruders. With support from an MSSP, you can ensure the gate remains closed and there's never a hole in your perimeter.
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An MSSP focuses on cybersecurity:
- Protecting networks and devices
- Identifying and shoring up vulnerabilities
- Monitoring for malware, ransomware, and other threats
- Responding to attacks swiftly to minimize the impact
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MSPs and MSSPs provide equally essential though distinctly different knowledge and skillsets. There's a good chance you need both. Use this analogy to visualize your gaps and identify the right technical partner for your business.
Want to take a holistic approach? ERP Suites offers managed services and managed security services to stimulate collaboration, exploration, and problem-solving.
Diane Hammons
Diane Hammons works with ERP Suites team of JD Edwards consultants, network engineers, and digital transformation advisors to simplify complex IT topics so our customers can feel better prepared to embrace tomorrow's ERP.
