10 Best Managed Security Services for SMBs (2024) – Channel Insider

Small businesses often turn to MSSPs to manage their security needs. Compare the best security services for SMBs in 2024.
Collins Ayuya
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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 in 2024:

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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.
✔=Yes —= Limited
Best MSSP overall
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.
Check Point Services structures its pricing based on its various capabilities, with details available upon inquiry.
Best for centralized security management for SMBs
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.
Reach out to Sophos for pricing information.
Best for integrated security across networks
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.
Contact Cisco for pricing information.
Best for AI-powered cybersecurity
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.
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.
Best for core offerings
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.
With the plethora of tools and solutions IBM offers, it’s best to contact them directly for pricing information.
Best for compliance and data protection
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.
Trustwave encourages SMBs to contact them directly for pricing information that’ll be in line with their needs.
Best for cyber risk management
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.
Request a quote from Cybriant to get a pricing estimate.
Best for integrating cybersecurity with business processes
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.
Contact the provider for their pricing information.
Best for firewall management
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.
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.
Best for network-driven security services
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.
Lumen invites you to contact them for specific pricing information.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Collins Ayuya
Contributing writer
Channel Insider combines news and technology recommendations to keep channel partners, value-added resellers, IT solution providers, MSPs, and SaaS providers informed on the changing IT landscape. These resources provide product comparisons, in-depth analysis of vendors, and interviews with subject matter experts to provide vendors with critical information for their operations.
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