PODCAST: Why MSPs should stop trying to become MSSPs

The majority of MSPs should stick with what they do best and not try to become an MSSP, according to Sophos as part of Channel Partner Insight's Security Summit podcast series.

Speaking on the podcast, Sophos' VP of global MSP, Scott Barlow, urges MSPs to reconsider building security operation centres (SOCs) claiming that the huge up-front investment necessary will not be worth it in the long-term.

You can register to listen to the podcast in full here

Senior director of global threat response at Sophos, JJ Thompson, likened MSPs building a SOC today to the resellers that decided to build their own private clouds and datacentres amid the rise of the industry's' hyperscalers.

Sophos' comments come amid a rising opinion among MSPs that they must transform themselves into MSSPs in order to become more profitable and stand out from their competitors.

MSPs should instead look to provide managed security services through a third-party provider such as an MSSP or through their vendor partners.

"A lot of MSPs should really stay as MSPs and be great at what they do and partner with someone who can provide the extra "S" if they need to and do so with high quality, without that up-front capital investment and the risk that comes with that," says Thompson.

Listen to the podcast in full here as part of Channel Partner Insight's Security Summit.

This podcast, sponsored by Sophos is part of a three-part series by Channel Partner Insight that launches today. Click here to find out more about the podcast series.