MSSP vs MSP: What's the Difference, and Which Does Your Business Need?
Two acronyms, one letter apart, and a surprising amount of confusion: MSP and MSSP. If you’ve been told “our MSP handles our security,” it’s worth understanding exactly what that does — and doesn’t — mean.
What an MSP does
An MSP — Managed Service Provider — looks after your day-to-day IT. That typically includes:
- Helpdesk and user support
- Setting up and maintaining computers, servers, and networks
- Managing email and software
- Handling backups and general troubleshooting
An MSP’s core job is keeping your technology running. Many include some security basics — antivirus, a firewall, routine patching — but security is one item on a long list, not the focus.
What an MSSP does
An MSSP — Managed Security Service Provider — is focused specifically on keeping your business secure. That includes:
- 24/7 monitoring of your systems for threats
- Detecting, investigating, and responding to attacks
- Threat hunting and endpoint detection and response
- Vulnerability management and compliance support
An MSSP’s core job is defending your business against attackers.
The real difference: running vs. defending
Here’s the distinction in one line: an MSP keeps your technology working; an MSSP keeps it protected. Those are different goals, and they need different tools, different skills, and a different mindset. An MSP measures success in uptime. An MSSP measures it in threats caught and contained.
It’s also why “our MSP covers security” is often a hidden gap. Most MSPs do some security, but few provide round-the-clock monitoring, active incident response, or threat hunting. There can even be a conflict of interest in asking the team that runs your IT to also audit whether that IT is secure.
So which do you need?
For most businesses, this isn’t an either/or question.
- You almost certainly need MSP-style IT support — someone to keep things running.
- As you grow, handle sensitive data, or face compliance expectations, you also need MSSP-level security — someone whose only job is defending you.
The two are complementary. A good MSSP works alongside your existing MSP or in-house IT team, not instead of them — focusing on security while your IT support keeps the lights on.
If you’re not sure whether your current setup leaves a security gap, get in touch. We’ll give you an honest assessment — and if your IT support already has it covered, we’ll tell you that too. You can also see exactly what we cover on our services page.