Implementing security technologies such as a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform will only protect your organization if they are effectively managed, which is why you must consider embracing managed detection and response (MDR).

MDR isn’t a technology, it’s a service with SIEM acting as key pillar of its foundation, as well as endpoint detection and response (EDR). Delivered by a third-party service provider, it allows you to tap into cybersecurity expertise that’s in high demand and difficult to attract and cultivate internally. Your managed service provider (MSP) is a great resource for accessing MDR and a team of skilled professionals who can help you manage and optimize your security.

It’s also more proactive – security experts on staff with your service provider leverage SIEM and EDR to monitor and analyze events so they can identify dangerous threats before they can have a negative impact on your business. MDR delivered by an MSP is better able to keep up with volume of anomalous events to discern whether they will result in a serious data breach or malicious attack by a threat actor.

The most compelling reason to seek out a service provider who can deliver MDR is they can do it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. For most small and medium sized businesses, it’s simply mot feasible to staff your IT team with security experts all the time, including holidays. Even if you can attract the skilled personnel, it’s better to have them focused on more strategic IT and security initiatives. An MDR provider reduces the burden on your own people, so they have more time to breath, given all their other responsibilities.

An MDR analyst with the latest and greatest tools can better sift through the vast amounts of data being ingested from different sources and endpoints and analyze it. They are also able  to understand how to automate security tools to work more effectively so they’re only handling incidents that require human intervention. Their ability to interpret data not only helps them prevent and mitigate vulnerabilities, but also prevent future attacks by applying lessons learned to make your organization more resilient.

A managed service provider is best equipped to optimize security platforms including SIEM and EDR as part of an MDR solution because they can better access and scale these advanced security tools and the necessary skilled professionals capable of using them effectively.