Managed security service providers (MSSPs) equip small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with security solutions previously accessible only to larger corporations while addressing the challenges and resource constraints of smaller enterprises. The top providers utilize vendor products to address issues like threat intelligence and analytics, 24/7 monitoring and incident response, and firewall management. To help you choose, we’ve examined many options and finalized a list of the best ones.
Here are our top 10 picks for managed security vendors for SMBs:
- Check Point Services: Best for a mix of features, security operations, and integration
- Sophos Professional Services: Best for centralized security management for SMBs
- Cisco Security Services: Best provider for integrated security across networks
- CrowdStrike: Best MSSP for AI-powered cybersecurity for small businesses
- IBM: Best managed security service provider option for core features
- Trustwave: Best service provider for compliance and data protection
- Cybriant: Best managed security service provider for cyber risk management
- Capgemini Services: Best for integrating cybersecurity with business processes
- McAfee Security Services: Best security platform for firewall management
- Lumen Connected Security: Best MSSP for network-driven security services
Featured Partners: Managed Service Provider (MSP) Software
Top MSSP for SMBs software comparison
For a quick glance at the differentiating features between the top vendors, here’s a table with the top features to expect, ranging from threat intelligence and analytics to vulnerability management.
| Threat intelligence and analytics | 24/7 monitoring and incident response | Firewall management | Endpoint protection | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check Point |  | | | |
| Sophos | | | | — |
| Cisco | | | | |
| CrowdStrike | | | | |
| IBM | | | | — |
| Trustwave | | | — | — |
| Cybriant | | | — | |
| Capgemini | — | | | — |
| McAfee | — | | | |
| Lumen | | | | |
=Yes —= Limited
Check Point Services
Best MSSP overall
Overall rating: 4.4/5
- Core offerings: 4.8/5
- Cost: 3.2/5
- Security operations: 5/5
- Ease of implementation: 4.7/5
- Integration and scalability: 5/5
- Customer support: 3.2/5
Check Point is our top pick for cybersecurity for SMBs as it blends advanced offerings, reliable security operations, and seamless integration. Their Quantum Spark Next Generation Firewalls offer flexible connectivity, including 5G and Wi-Fi 6 to make sure SMBs access cutting-edge security. Harmony Email & Office for SMBs enhances security posture by safeguarding communication channels, positioning Check Point as the ideal partner for businesses seeking not only comprehensive security but also modern cybersecurity solutions.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Advanced technologies for threat prevention | Limited details on SMB-specific security packages |
| Vast security suite tailored for SMBs | Optimization may require technical expertise |
| Unified console simplifies security management | Lacks readily available pricing information |
Pricing
Check Point Services structures its pricing based on its various capabilities, with details available upon inquiry.
Offerings
- Quantum Spark Firewalls: Offer your teams advanced connectivity options, including 5G and Wi-Fi 6, to ensure they have prevention performance of up to 6.5 Gbps.
- Harmony Email & Office: Secure your communication channels and safeguard against various email and office suite threats to enhance the overall security posture.
- CloudGuard Connect and CloudGuard Edge: Deliver cloud-based security solutions that are tailor-made for SMBs and seamlessly integrate with existing IT infrastructure.
- Unified Security Management Console: Ease your security management process by offering a single pane of glass for overseeing all security aspects.
Sophos Professional Services
Best for centralized security management for SMBs
Overall rating: 4.3/5
- Core offerings: 3.8/5
- Cost: 3.1/5
- Security operations: 5/5
- Ease of implementation: 4.9/5
- Integration and scalability: 5/5
- Customer support: 4.5/5
Sophos Professional Services offers SMBs enterprise-grade cybersecurity solutions with centralized management, which helps simplify security operations. SMBs get a product range of both desktop and rack-mounted options, employing deep learning technology for enhanced threat detection and providing unparalleled network visibility through deep packet inspection. It also offers EDR, XDR, and MDR, which help SMBs to maintain robust security with ease.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Centralized management across all security features | Higher pricing compared to some competitors |
| Advanced threat detection using deep learning | Advanced features may need cybersecurity knowledge |
| Highly intuitive user interface | Integration with non-Sophos products has room for improvement |
Pricing
Reach out to Sophos for pricing information.
Offerings
- Sophos Central: Leverage a unified console to simplify the management of your security features and enhance operational efficiency.
- High-performance options: Choose between desktop and rack-mounted units for flexible security solutions to meet your business needs.
- Deep learning technology: Utilize advanced AI techniques to detect and respond to threats for robust protection against cyberthreats.
- XG Firewall: Apply next-generation firewall protection with advanced threat defense, VPN, and SD-WAN capabilities to your environments.
Cisco Security Services
Best for integrated security across networks
Overall rating: 4.2/5
- Core offerings: 4.9/5
- Cost: 3/5
- Security operations: 4.3/5
- Ease of implementation: 4.3/5
- Integration and scalability: 4.7/5
- Customer support: 4.4/5
Cisco Security Services offers SMBs a comprehensive suite of security solutions designed to protect every aspect of their network. From advanced SMB firewalls that ensure secure access to VPNs and emails to multi-factor authentication systems that safeguard all applications employees use, Cisco provides an integrated security framework that’s both robust and scalable for small businesses. It also bridges the gap with complex enterprise level security for SMBs.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Advanced firewall solutions for SMB networks | Premium pricing for advanced features |
| Scalable solutions grow with your business | Some solutions are complex to set up |
| Thorough network protection | Limited customization in entry-level packages |
Pricing
Contact Cisco for pricing information.
Offerings
- Advanced SMB firewalls: Offer your users comprehensive network protection with tools like advanced firewalls for secure access.
- Scalable security solutions: Implement scalable security solutions designed to grow with your business and adapt to changing security needs.
- Integrated network security: Integrate security across all endpoints, cloud, and applications for thorough protection against threats.
- Intrusion detection and prevention: Identify and mitigate potential security breaches in your environments with state-of-the-art systems.
CrowdStrike
Best for AI-powered cybersecurity
Overall rating: 4.2/5
- Core offerings: 4.2/5
- Cost: 3.4/5
- Security operations: 5/5
- Ease of implementation: 4.9/5
- Integration and scalability: 3.7/5
- Customer support: 3.9/5
CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform offers AI-powered cybersecurity specifically designed for SMBs, providing award-winning protection with just a few clicks. This user-friendly platform ensures that small businesses can easily deploy and manage top-tier cybersecurity measures. Its AI capabilities analyze trillions of endpoints every week to help SMBs immediately deploy pre-configured protection, verify protection, and protect data from theft.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Has bundled services for SMBs | Limited third-party integration options |
| AI-powered cybersecurity tailored for SMBs | Advanced features might be overkill for very small businesses |
| User-friendly platform for easy management | May require additional training to extract full value |
Pricing
CrowdStrike offers two plans specifically for small businesses. Falcon Go, which starts at $4.99 per device per month for a minimum of 5 devices on a 1-year contract, and Falcon Complete, which is a fully managed solution that requires you to contact their sales team for pricing.
Offerings
- AI-powered threat detection: Leverage AI algorithms to identify and neutralize threats and ensure your business stays ahead of cyber risks.
- Endpoint protection: Use advanced technologies to safeguard the endpoints in your environments against a wide array of cyberthreats.
- Cloud-native architecture: Provide your teams with scalable and easily deployable security solutions built on a cloud-native platform.
- 24/7 threat hunting: Offer continuous protection to your environments with round-the-clock monitoring and proactive threat hunting.
IBM
Best for core offerings
Overall rating: 3.9/5
- Core offerings: 5/5
- Cost: 2.4/5
- Security operations: 5/5
- Ease of implementation: 2.9/5
- Integration and scalability: 4.7/5
- Customer support: 2.5/5
IBM’s security offerings for SMBs are designed to provide advanced threat protection through a multi-tenant dashboard that simplifies managing multiple customers. It offers SMBs a combination of expert advisory, integration, and managed security services. With multi-cloud availability, IBM ensures SMBs can leverage their security solutions across various cloud environments, enhancing their cybersecurity posture and competitiveness in their industries.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Advanced threat protection with multi-tenant capabilities | Complexity may be challenging for some SMBs |
| Simplified management for multiple customer accounts | Premium pricing for IBM’s advanced features |
| Access to IBM’s extensive cybersecurity expertise | Customer support responsiveness varies |
Pricing
With the plethora of tools and solutions IBM offers, it’s best to contact them directly for pricing information.
Offerings
- Multi-tenant dashboard: Simplify the management of multiple customer accounts with a multi-tenant dashboard.
- Multi-cloud security solutions: Protect your assets across cloud environments with IBM’s multi-cloud security solutions.
- IBM’s cybersecurity expertise: Tap into IBM’s cybersecurity knowledge, resources, and industry-leading expertise.
- Threat detection & response: Speed up your response time with threat detection and response that uses AI and automation.
Trustwave
Best for compliance and data protection
Overall rating: 3.8/5
- Core offerings: 4.3/5
- Cost: 2.4/5
- Security operations: 5/5
- Ease of implementation: 3.3/5
- Integration and scalability: 4.2/5
- Customer support: 3.3/5
Trustwave delivers a suite of integrated security tools designed to protect SMBs from cybercrime and data breaches. With a focus on compliance and data protection, Trustwave offers more than a dozen new tools that ensure SMBs can safeguard their critical data effectively. It integrates its security tools with the PCI compliance process and uses features like remote access security and web malware monitoring ensure SMBs can safeguard their data.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Integrated with PCI compliance process | Pricing may be steep for smaller businesses |
| Offers 12+ integrated security tools | Support availability varies by region |
| Includes mobile and POS security | Complexity in managing multiple security tools |
Pricing
Trustwave encourages SMBs to contact them directly for pricing information that’ll be in line with their needs.
Offerings
- Integrated security tools: Shield your business from cybercrime and data breaches using a suite of integrated security solutions.
- Compliance-focused solutions: Use solutions made to ensure adherence to regulatory standards and data protection laws.
- Digital Forensics & Incident Response: Leverage expert digital forensics and incident response services to respond to security incidents.
- Advisory & Diagnostic Services: Take advantage of expert guidance on cybersecurity strategies and best practices.
Cybriant
Best for cyber risk management
Overall rating: 3.7/5
- Core offerings: 3.8/5
- Cost: 3.1/5
- Security operations: 5/5
- Ease of implementation: 3.6/5
- Integration and scalability: 3.2/5
- Customer support: 3/5
Cybriant offers SMBs a strategic approach to cybersecurity, focusing on critical areas like enhanced malware defense, network hardening, social engineering training, and backup planning. It gives CybriantXDR, specifically catering to SMBs, by combining 24/7 managed SIEM, managed detection and remediation (MDR), and comprehensive vulnerability management into a unified solution that manages cyber risk.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strategic focus on cyber risk management | Services can be too much for very small businesses |
| Network hardening enhances security infrastructure | Opaque pricing |
| Backup planning ensures data recovery capabilities | Direct support options could be expanded |
Pricing
Request a quote from Cybriant to get a pricing estimate.
Offerings
- CybriantXDR & MDR: Get comprehensive threat detection, analysis, and rapid response capabilities through Cybriant’s Extended Detection and Response (XDR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services.
- Managed SIEM with 24/7 Security Monitoring: Ensure round-the-clock monitoring and Managed Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) services, complemented for continuous vigilance over your digital environment.
- Enhanced Malware Defense: Implement advanced malware defense mechanisms that provide reliable protection against a wide array of malicious software to safeguard your critical assets, users, teams, and environments.
- Network hardening services: Fortify your infrastructure against potential vulnerabilities and attacks and strengthen your network’s security posture with Cybriant’s network hardening services.
Capgemini Services
Best for integrating cybersecurity with business processes
Overall rating: 3.6/5
- Core offerings: 3.9/5
- Cost: 2.3/5
- Security operations: 4.6/5
- Ease of implementation: 3.4/5
- Integration and scalability: 4.5/5
- Customer support: 2.1/5
Capgemini’s Managed Security Services offer SMBs instant access to skilled cybersecurity professionals and advanced technology, ensuring extensive and scalable protection as well as accelerated growth. Their business-focused approach to security means that security solutions can be built around the businesses of their clients more deliberately. This approach also allows SMBs to enjoy enterprise-level protection based on their business needs and challenges.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Access to skilled cybersecurity professionals | Enterprise-level pricing may deter some SMBs |
| 360-degree visibility into security posture | Support services vary by region and package |
| Scalable services for SMB growth acceleration | Pricing isn’t listed publicly |
Pricing
Contact the provider for their pricing information.
Offerings
- MDR services: Utilize Capgemini’s managed detection and response services to proactively identify and mitigate threats and maintain the security of your environments.
- Security posture assessment & training: Assess your security posture and get tailored training to enhance your team’s cybersecurity awareness and skills.
- IAM services: Implement Capgemini’s identity and access management services to control user access and protect sensitive data across your organization.
- Skilled cybersecurity professionals: Gain access to skilled cybersecurity professionals capable of securing your users against evolving cyberthreats.
McAfee Security Services
Best for firewall management
Overall rating: 3.4/5
- Core offerings: 4.2/5
- Cost: 3.9/5
- Security operations: 2.2/5
- Ease of implementation: 3.7/5
- Integration and scalability: 2.5/5
- Customer support: 2.8/5
McAfee Security Services is recognized for its endpoint protection, offering robust antivirus, firewall, and antispam capabilities. Their firewall management capabilities act as a first line of defense, filtering and examining information coming through the internet connection to protect against cyberthreats. These firewalls offer a multifunctional network security solution that combines intrusion prevention, network firewall protection, and VPN services in one appliance.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive antivirus and firewall protection | Customer support response times can vary |
| Effective anti-spam capabilities | Integration with certain third-party tools can be improved |
| User-friendly interface | No specific pricing information for services |
Pricing
Even though McAfee lists prices for some of its products, it offers no detailed pricing for its security services, meaning prospective users have to reach out to them for pricing information.
Offerings
- Endpoint Protection: Deploy endpoint protection to secure hardware like desktops, laptops, and servers against cyberthreats.
- Web and messaging security: Leverage web and messaging security to protect your infrastructure and communication channels.
- Data protection: Use robust data protection to ensure the sensitive information of your users remains confidential and secure.
- Mobile Security and Management: Utilize mobile security and device management to offer controlled access to your networks.
Lumen Connected Security
Best for network-driven security services
Overall rating: 3.4/5
- Core offerings: 4.4/5
- Cost: 2.3/5
- Security operations: 4/5
- Ease of implementation: 2.9/5
- Integration and scalability: 3.2/5
- Customer support: 2.5/5
Lumen offers SMBs managed data security solutions that emphasize network and cloud-based security, featuring device management, threat intelligence, predictive analytics, and incident response and recovery. Lumen supports SMBs with 24/7 monitoring and management of their hosted or on-premises environments. Its incident response and analysis services detect, protect, and respond to security threats and malicious activities.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Advanced network and cloud-based security solutions | Integration with existing systems may require technical expertise |
| Cutting-edge threat intelligence and analytics | Customer support experiences can vary |
| Scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes | Opaque pricing |
Pricing
Lumen invites you to contact them for specific pricing information.
Offerings
- Advanced security: Protect your network and cloud environments with solutions like 24/7 monitoring and management.
- Predictive analytics: Proactively identify and respond to security threats before they impact your business environment.
- Incident response: Effectively manage and mitigate security incidents, minimizing potential disruptions.
- Scalable security: Leverage security solutions that are designed to accommodate the growing needs of your business.
Key offerings of MSSPs for SMBs
Threat intelligence and analytics
This is all about collecting and analyzing data on emerging threats from many sources to predict and prevent potential security incidents. Like large enterprises, SMBs need to stay ahead of threats with proactive measures so that their defenses are always updated against the latest cyberthreats.
Firewall management
Firewalls act as a first line of defense by controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on an organization’s security policies. Proper firewall management is essential for small businesses to prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data.
Endpoint protection
With the increasing use of mobile devices and remote work, securing every endpoint that connects to a business’s network is non-negotiable. Endpoint protection solutions for small businesses encompass antivirus, anti-malware, and other security measures to protect devices from threats.
Data loss prevention (DLP)
DLP technologies help prevent sensitive information from leaving the network, intentionally or unintentionally. Small businesses that handle customer data, financial information, or intellectual property will assign greater importance to this feature.
Cloud security
As small businesses increasingly adopt cloud services for their flexibility and cost-effectiveness, making sure the security of data stored and processed in the cloud becomes all the more important. Cloud security features should include data encryption, access controls, and secure data transfer protocols.
How we evaluated managed security service providers
To determine the top security vendors for SMBs, we evaluated many providers based on six categories. Each category was weighted according to importance and had a possible total score of five points. The provider with the highest score in a category was the category winner, and the one with the highest score overall became our top pick. We also determined the key use case for each of the 10 service providers that scored highly enough to make our list.
Evaluation criteria
For offerings directed at serving small businesses, two critical criteria immediately stand out: pricing and features. As a result, we placed the greatest importance on those two. We then considered security operations and the ease of implementation as you want a solution that actually has the right structures to offer robust security and that’s easy to set up for your business. Then integration, scalability, and customer support rounded up our criteria for evaluation.
- Core offerings (25%): We went through the key security services MSSPs give SMBs, such as threat intelligence, incident response, firewall management, and endpoint protection, among others.
- Criterion winner: IBM
- Cost (20%): We looked at how affordable and transparent each MSSP’s pricing model is, including the availability of free trials/demos, the flexibility of pricing plans, availability of bundled plans, and any hidden or additional costs. Though it’s worth noting that most of these providers prefer to be contacted for their pricing information.
- Criterion winner: McAfee
- Security operations (20%): Then we sought to understand how efficient each MSSP’s security operations are, including the expertise of its security team and the availability of a 24/7 security operations center (SOC).
- Criterion winner: Multiple winners
- Ease of implementation (20%): Here we considered how simple and how fast SMBs can launch and use an MSSP’s services.
- Criterion winner: Multiple winners
- Integration and scalability (10%): We based this on how capable MSSPs are to integrate with current IT infrastructures as well as scale their services based on the needs of SMBs.
- Criterion winner: Multiple winners
- Customer support (5%): Finally, we examined the availability and quality of the support channels provided to businesses, how responsive they are, and how users rated these support services.
- Criterion winner: Sophos Professional Services
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is an MSSP?
An MSSP (managed security service provider) is an MSP that offers network security services to organizations, acting as a third party to alleviate IT team strain and support the expansion of business operations. They provide a range of services, from real-time monitoring to incident response, based on the security requirements of an organization.
How do I choose the right MSSP for my business?
Selecting the right MSSP involves evaluating the expertise, technology, responsiveness, cost-effectiveness, and organizational effectiveness of an MSSP. Make sure they offer customized solutions that are in line with your business goals and security needs. Consider their track record, customer reviews, and the flexibility of their services to adapt to your evolving security landscape.
Which security services are best for SMBs?
For SMBs, the best security services include advanced threat protection, 24/7 monitoring and incident response, firewall management, endpoint protection, data loss prevention, and cloud security. These services ensure comprehensive protection tailored to SMBs’ specific challenges. Give priority to services that offer scalability, ease of use, and are in line with your business’s regulatory compliance needs.
Bottom line: Consider the best tools for SMBs
SMBs today face the same cybersecurity issues as their enterprise counterparts but often lack the staff to monitor their networks 24/7. MSSPs help SMBs bridge that gap, but small businesses need to know the kind of protection services they require to secure their businesses. To make sure you choose correctly, understand your needs and budget. Reach out to the provider that you believe could be the best fit, and ask their sales team any questions you have.
If you prefer a more general approach to security service providers rather than considering SMB-focused companies, check out our best MSSP article.