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Why MSPs think MSS players are going to eat their lunch

Typically, if you are an MSP you’re a business person, and if you are an MSS you’re probably a security person. In turn the way you look at things are slightly different. If you are a business person and you see another person doing services of any nature you may ask yourself if that person is a potential competitor, causing some MSPs to try and avoid contact with the world of MSS. In some cases the MSS have come to the MSP and asked if they would like to bundle my security services, my 24/7 managed sock, they said, I don’t know this sounds like a gateway to you stealing my customers. But it’s not the case, because the two businesses come from completely different backgrounds, and the last thing the MSS wants to do is manage somebody IT they don’t want to do it. They don’t want to touch it.

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Rowe: Clearing up the Confusion: MSP v MSS

Analyst and contributor Phelim Rowe clears up the confusion on labels surrounding cybersecurity solutions. Rowe’s analysis starts with analyzing the Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the client. Does the client need (or will they pay for) military grade security. Rowe defines Managed Security Service (MSS). Rowe also discusses his event model that combines MSPs, MSS and Customers.

Rowe: Global MSS Workshops

Phelim Rowe directs UK-based CTG Intelligence, an integrated events and education concerns for both channel partners and customers in the security technology space. After we do a “Hello World” we move on to talk about the use of acronyms and labels in our community: MSP, MSSP and MSS. Lean in, listen intently and discover the finer points between these earned and unearned (marketing) titles. And we end with a shout out to Forrester analyst Jay McBain who recently spoke at Rowe’s Miami security workshop.

Rowe: Difference between an MSP and MSSP


An attendee from across the pond, attendee Phelim Rowe isn’t your average participant at a security conference. Rather he’s a subject matter expert (SME) in the field and he orchestrates a series of partner security events global. In this conversation at the Acronis Global Summit Conference (Miami, October 2019), Phelim speaks towards the fine distinction between someone who is a Managed Services Provider (MSP) versus someone else who acts as a Managed Security Services Provider. A new twist on a hot topic.