Bitdefender Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services are now available to MSPs (managed IT service providers), the cybersecurity software company says.
As part of the effort, MSPs can leverage Bitdefender's 24x7 security operations center (SOC) in San Antonio, Texas. The company's SOC employees are trained to hunt, identify and neutralize adversaries to protect new and existing MSP partners and their customers, Bitdefender indicates.
In a follow-up email about the MDR service, MSSP Alert asked Bitdefender a few questions about the service and its capabilities. Alina Draganescu, senior director, security for MSPs at Bitdefender, replied with her perspectives.
Bitfedender MDR Services: More MSP Details
Here are some key questions and answers we covered.
MSSP Alert: Can MSPs co-manage the Bitdefender MDR services, or is Bitdefender managing the entire MDR platform for end-customers?
Draganescu: The offering comes with a phased roll out and there are two engagement options: Expert Advice and Expert Response.
- With the Expert Advice option, the MSP can fully manage their end customer environments, with the Bitdefender MDR team providing curated recommendations for the MSP to take during customer incidents.
- With the Expert Response option, which will be available by the end of August 2020, the Bitdefender MDR team will perform real-time changes in the customer’s environment when security incidents are identified, based on a set of actions agreed on with the MSP.
MSSP Alert: Does the Bitdefender MDR service have a multi-tenant dashboard for MSPs to use while managing end-customer security?
Draganescu: Yes, we provide the MDR services within a multi-tenant MSP specific environment.
MSSP Alert: Does the Bitdefender MDR service integrate with PSA (professional services automation) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) software used by MSPs, such as tools from ConnectWise, Datto, Kaseya and SolarWinds MSP (for example)?
Draganescu: As this is a phased rollout, for the moment we have not integrated the MDR services with PSA or RMM platforms, this will be included in our services development roadmap, in the next stages.
Bitdefender MDR Seeks to Protect MSPs and End-Customers
The Bitdefender MDR service apparently seeks to protect both MSPs and their end-customers. Throughout the announcement, the software company mentions that MSPs are now prime targets for hacker attacks, and hackers typically leapfrog from MSP systems to end-customer systems.
Indeed, Bitdefender mentioned a recent U.S. Secret Service warning about hackers targeting MSPs.
In a prepared statement, Draganescu added:
“As the threat landscape has become so complex and the number of attack vectors has grown significantly in hybrid work-from-home and work-from-office environments, IT managed services providers are telling us they need to partner with experts to manage and deliver security to meet their customers’ expectations and properly protect them 24/7."
Added Jarret Raim, senior director, managed services, Bitdefender:
“Deploying disparate endpoint, network, and cloud security solutions or tools from different vendors increases complexity and drives a high number of alerts which is not manageable anymore. Moreover, many IT service providers lack experienced analysts and 24x7 capabilities to investigate alerts and respond to incidents. However, they are fully responsible for keeping all their small and mid-sized customers secure.”
MDR and Threat Monitoring for MSPs
Numerous cloud and software companies now promote MDR and threat monitoring services for MSPs to offer to end-customers. But only a few of the services are specifically promoted for MSPs to safeguard their own systems.
In addition to Bitdefender MDR for MSPs, Perch Security recently launched a threat monitoring service that safeguards MSP RMM software from attackers.
