How Managed Security Services Bridge the IT-Security Divide

Beyond IT: Why Managed Security Services Are Essential 

Internal IT teams are the unsung heroes in many organizations. They work behind the scenes, keeping systems running smoothly, managing various technologies, and troubleshooting issues to facilitate everyone’s work. But the nature of cybersecurity is different. It requires unique security tooling and expertise to enable organizations to move from putting out fires to preventing them before they start. 

With cyber threats evolving rapidly, dedicated security resources are crucial to prevent data breaches and emerging risks that can tarnish an organization’s reputation (and empty some pockets). This is where Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs) step in—not to compete with existing IT resources but to complement their work, as they bring unique security expertise and access to advanced tooling.  

Understanding Where IT Ends and Security Begins 

IT ensures seamless technology infrastructure operations by maintaining servers, managing networks, deploying software updates, and troubleshooting user issues. For instance, an IT team might track the performance of email systems to ensure they remain online or verify that corporate applications are running efficiently. 

In contrast, security teams have a risk-based approach. They protect systems and data from threats by implementing practices and tools for threat detection, vulnerability assessments, and incident response. For example, a security team might investigate a phishing attempt, patch a critical system vulnerability, or establish protocols to comply with regulatory frameworks like the ​​Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC 2.0). 

While IT ensures operational uptime—”keeping the lights on” for your systems—security goes beyond availability to protect the organization from evolving risks. IT departments are highly skilled in managing and optimizing operational technology but have a different focus and expertise than cybersecurity specialists. Recognizing this distinction allows businesses to allocate resources effectively, ensuring operational reliability and robust protection against threats. 

Mind the Gap: The Risks of Relying on Your IT Team For Security  

Today’s IT departments are stretched thin. 72% of professionals report that IT and security data are siloed within their organizations, while 41% note challenges in collaborative cybersecurity management. Without specialized resources, many organizations rely on their IT teams to manage advanced security requirements. But this approach often results in critical experiential and focal gaps, such as: 

• Limited 24/7 monitoring: Persistent malware and lateral movement threats often go undetected without round-the-clock vigilance. Plus, IT monitoring focuses on operational disruptions, such as outages or performance degradation, typically the final stages of an attack. Persistent threats, however, are designed to remain hidden and may not trigger alerts in traditional IT monitoring systems until it’s too late. 

• Compliance risks: A lack of regulatory expertise increases the likelihood of compliance flaws, exposing businesses to penalties.  

• Cloud complexity: Modern cloud environments demand specialized skills to secure workloads and manage vulnerabilities effectively. 

• ​​​​​Alert fatigue: IT teams often receive an overwhelming volume of alerts. Some of these are false positives and take time and resources away from pursuing alerts for real vulnerabilities that must be addressed. This can lead to missed critical vulnerabilities or delayed response times. 

By understanding these limitations, organizations can ensure that they invest in the right resources and expertise to bridge the IT security gap.  

When companies lack the resources to hire new security personnel or the expertise to decide what security aspects to prioritize, external Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs) can steer leaders in the right direction. An MSSP should complement internal IT efforts rather than compete with them.  

What to Expect From Managed Security Services  

The divide between IT and security is one problem, but certainly not the only one. Another significant barrier companies face is tailoring their security investments to their unique risk profile.  

Every organization’s risk profile is different. While a healthcare provider is concerned with protecting patient data from breaches, a retail business might focus on securing customer payment information and preventing transaction fraud. The unique blend of challenges each business faces requires a security strategy that is anything but generic. 

Managed Security Services can help you address these gaps effectively and quickly without resource strain. Richey May’s range of Managed Security Services, which are tailored to each business’s goals, compliance obligations, and operational needs, include:  

1. CISO Services 

A virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) is a part-time or outsourced strategic security leadership service. This service aligns security measures with business objectives, helping organizations manage cybersecurity risks without needing a full-time, in-house executive.  

In Richey May’s MSSP model, the vCISO plays a pivotal role by leading the team and setting the strategic direction for security efforts. They bridge technical teams and executive leadership, translating complex cybersecurity risks into clear business terms. With this leadership, organizations can make informed, risk-based decisions and ensure security strategies are aligned with long-term operational goals. 

2. Customized Frameworks and Plans  

As an MSSP, Richey May tailors security frameworks such as NIST and ISO 27001 to meet each client’s unique needs. By customizing controls based on industry, risk tolerance, and exposure to sensitive data, Richey May ensures compliance and security without overburdening internal teams. For example, healthcare organizations benefit from focusing on HIPAA compliance, while financial institutions address stringent SEC regulations. 

Richey May delivers effective and efficient security solutions aligned with business priorities through customized frameworks and tools designed for each client’s environment. 

3. Cybersecurity Maturity ​​Assessments 

The first step in any MSS engagement involves evaluating the client’s security posture. An initial assessment is critical regardless of the systems and technologies you use, as it provides a baseline understanding of existing vulnerabilities, strengths, and compliance gaps. 

A comprehensive assessment requires industry expertise, the right tools, and the experience to tailor each step to specific business needs and goals. Partners like Richey May can help map out and execute the entire process, making it as customized as necessary.  

4. Proactive Threat Management 

Threat management is a proactive security strategy designed to prevent and mitigate potential threats before they escalate into significant issues or full-scale attacks. This approach involves continuous monitoring, analyzing vulnerabilities, and implementing targeted mitigation workflows. It is essential not only for preventing attacks and their potentially catastrophic consequences but also for minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity. 

Richey May provides advanced threat management by deploying the best security tools tailored to each organization’s needs. The team continuously assesses and fine-tunes its tooling to effectively combat evolving threats, such as ​​AI-driven attacks and cloud vulnerabilities. Through 24/7 monitoring and rapid incident response, Richey May helps organizations stay ahead of emerging risks and maintain business resilience. 

The Benefits of Partnering with a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) 

Partnering with a dedicated Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) isn’t only about patching holes in frameworks or addressing a loose access control configuration. This partnership lays a proactive foundation that anticipates emerging threats, ensuring future-proof resilience across your organization. 

A tailored MSS solution enables businesses to align their operational goals with robust security measures without any added pressure on resources, timings, and workloads. Here are some of the key benefits MSS solutions can bring to your organization:  

• Scalability: MSSPs offer tailored solutions that evolve with your organization’s needs. From essential monitoring to advanced services like a virtual CISO, their flexibility ensures your cybersecurity strategy grows with your budget and operational priorities. 

• Compliance Confidence: MSSPs bring expertise in compliance, ensuring your business stays aligned with industry regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS, as you enter new markets or engage with larger clients.  

• Reduced Workload: Cybersecurity is a 24/7 job, and constant alerts can overwhelm your internal teams. By outsourcing critical security functions to an MSSP, you can significantly reduce the burden on your IT staff, ​​leaving them to focus on their core areas while increasing the efficacy of security measures. 

• Holistic Support: From proactive threat detection to incident response and recovery, MSSPs act as an extension of the business, offering end-to-end security coverage. 

• Incident Response: In the event of a security breach, MSSPs provide rapid, expert incident response. They leverage advanced tooling to contain the damage, mitigate risks, and recover critical systems, ensuring minimal impact on your operations. 

• Access to Expertise: Staying ahead of the latest threats requires specialized knowledge and experience. MSSPs bring a wealth of expertise to the table with teams of professionals skilled in the newest security tools, techniques, and best practices.  

The Easy Button for Cybersecurity 

One-size-fits-all security approaches fail to address today’s evolving threats and only increase your vulnerability to future risks. They are a band-aid solution for a deepening security wound—your expanding IT and security gap, mounting system vulnerabilities, and ever-tightening compliance requirements. 

Partnering with an MSSP gives businesses an “easy button” for security. Organizations shouldn’t worry about day-to-day security operations—that is our job at Richey May. With the help of a trusted and experienced partner backed by decades of cybersecurity expertise, organizations can minimize disruptions, maximize protection, and focus on growth. 

Ready to enhance your security with a trusted MSSP? Learn more here.