Bitdefender rolls out Managed Detection and Response for MSPs

Bitdefender has announced that its managed service providers (MSPs) will now be able to leverage Bitdefender Managed Detection and Response services.

The decision to roll out the offering follows an increase in security risks caused largely by the mass shift to remote working, often using personal networks and equipment, as well as other disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Bitdefender, which currently has around 20,000 MSP partners, a number of attacks "target MSPs as an efficient means to compromise a large base of managed businesses and organisations", creating the need for the Managed Detection and Response services to protect MSPs’' customers.

Alina Draganescu, senior director of Security for Managed Service Providers at Bitdefender, described the current threat landscape as "complex", adding that "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," she said.

According to Bitdefender’s recent survey of MSP organisations, more than half (52%) admitted that they are seeking to expand their security portfolio with EDR capabilities, while just under a quarter (23%) said that they are aiming to add managed detection and responses (MDR) services to serve their customers.

Jarret Raim, senior director of Managed Services at Bitdefender, said that "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," said Raim.

MSPs have an array of new security tools to choose from. Last week, LogMeIn announced that it would be bringing its LastPass Enterprise password tool to the channel, allowing MSPs to sell, manage, and support LogMeIn’s password management and single sign-on solution LastPass Enterprise, as well as offer it to their customers as an additional security application.

The new functionality aims to provide MSPs with increased visibility and control over every access point of their customer’s business.