MDR vs MSSP: what's the difference?

Q: Is MDR more expensive than MSSP?

Generally yes. MDR typically costs $8-35/endpoint/month vs $3-15/endpoint/month for MSSP. But MDR includes investigation and response, which reduces the internal team burden. Factor in the cost of internal analysts needed to respond to MSSP alerts.

Q: Can I use both MDR and MSSP?

It's uncommon. MDR typically replaces MSSP monitoring for the surfaces it covers. Some organizations use MSSP for compliance-driven log management while MDR handles detection and response.

When an MSSP detects something suspicious, they send you an alert and your team investigates. When an MDR provider detects something, their analysts investigate and take action directly, isolating endpoints, disabling accounts, or containing the threat before calling you.

Side-by-side comparison

Dimension	MSSP	MDR
Core function	Monitor & alert	Detect, investigate & respond
Response	Your team responds	Their team responds
Investigation	Minimal triage	Deep investigation per alert
Alert volume	High, you handle false positives	Low, they filter noise
Threat hunting	Rarely included	Often included
Price (per EP/mo)	$3–15	$8–35
Internal team needed	Yes, to respond to alerts	Minimal, provider handles response

When to choose MSSP

You have a capable internal security team that handles response
You need log management and compliance reporting (e.g., SIEM management)
Budget is limited and you can accept alert-based operations
You need broad coverage of infrastructure (firewalls, VPN, etc.) beyond endpoints

When to choose MDR

You don't have (or can't staff) a 24/7 security team
You want someone to take action during incidents, not just alert you
Alert fatigue is killing your team's effectiveness
You need detection quality (fewer false positives, faster investigation)

The real cost comparison

MSSP is cheaper per endpoint, but factor in the internal cost: you need analysts to investigate alerts, triage false positives, and execute response. An MSSP generating 50 alerts/day at $5/endpoint can cost more than MDR at $20/endpoint once you count the salary of analysts needed to work those alerts.

FAQ

What is the main difference between MDR and MSSP?

MSSP monitors your security tools and sends you alerts. MDR detects threats, investigates them, and takes response actions on your behalf.

Is MDR more expensive than MSSP?

Generally yes per endpoint, but MDR reduces internal team burden. Factor in the cost of analysts needed to respond to MSSP alerts.

Can I use both MDR and MSSP?

It's uncommon. Some organizations use MSSP for compliance-driven log management while MDR handles detection and response.