3. When Does It Make Sense to Keep Security Operations Internal?
Building an in-house security team is a significant undertaking. It requires an investment in both people and technology that often isn’t within the constraints of a small-business budget. With that said, there are some cases where it might make sense to build your own security team due to your specialized needs. For example, if you handle unusually sensitive data, work in a tightly regulated industry or operate specialized technology, you might benefit from building in-house expertise.
4. Can a Hybrid Model Deliver the Best of Both Worlds?
In a hybrid model, the organization maintains an in-house team that determines security strategy, manages vendors and provides deep subject-matter expertise on the technologies supporting the business. This team may work only during normal business hours. The MDR provider provides 24/7 monitoring and response services to handle the day-to-day operations of the security infrastructure. It escalates to the in-house team when necessary but handles routine work on its own.
This approach acts as a force multiplier, enabling your team to focus on specialized work that delivers the most value to your business. It also serves as a stepping stone for organizations moving their work to an internal team over time.
5. How Should Small Businesses Evaluate MDR Providers?
You’ll want to go beyond the slick marketing materials and learn how the MDR service actually operates. The best way to do this is to track down a customer and talk through the service they’re receiving. Begin by understanding the onboarding process for new clients. You’ll want to know what to expect as the MDR provider deploys and tunes their technology in your environment. Then, get a sense of the day-to-day service offering. What will you hear from the service on a routine day without emergencies? What happens when something goes wrong in your environment? What are the procedures for emergency situations? How will the MDR service scale up to support your organization during a critical incident?
You should also carefully review the financial terms of the contract. How will the cost of the service change as your organization changes in size or scope?
