The key difference lies in the level of ongoing service and support provided to the customer.
While both MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers) and resellers involve selling products or services, their roles and responsibilities differ significantly, especially in the realm of cybersecurity and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). Let's break down the distinctions:
MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider)
- Ongoing Management and Support: An MSSP provides continuous, proactive management and support for security services. This includes monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and security updates.
- Long-Term Relationship: MSSPs typically establish long-term relationships with their clients, acting as an extension of their internal IT team.
- Proactive Security: Focus is on preventing security breaches and mitigating risks through constant vigilance and expertise.
- Examples: An MSSP might provide 24/7 security monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and managed firewall services.
Reseller
- Sales-Focused: A reseller primarily focuses on selling a product or service. Their involvement often ends after the sale is complete.
- Limited Ongoing Support: Resellers may offer basic support, but they generally don't provide ongoing management or proactive monitoring.
- Transactional Relationship: The relationship is typically transactional, centered around the purchase of the product or service.
- Examples: A company that sells antivirus software licenses or SaaS subscriptions.
Key Differences Summarized
| Feature | MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) | Reseller |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Ongoing management, support, and proactive security | Sales of products or services |
| Relationship | Long-term, proactive partnership | Transactional |
| Support | Comprehensive and continuous | Limited, primarily focused on initial setup and basic troubleshooting |
| Responsibility | Actively manages security infrastructure and responds to threats | Facilitates the sale and may offer basic support |
| Reference | Provides ongoing support and manages the product or service for their customers. | Usually ends the relationship after the sale. |
In conclusion, an MSSP provides a comprehensive, managed security solution, while a reseller primarily facilitates the sale of a product or service. The difference comes down to ongoing management and support.
