What an MSP Does
A Managed Service Provider, or MSP, supports the day-to-day technology a business depends on. That often includes help desk support, device management, monitoring, patching, Microsoft 365 administration, vendor coordination, backup coordination, and technology planning.
The MSP role is operational. The goal is to keep people productive, reduce downtime, and make technology more predictable.
What an MSSP Does
A Managed Security Service Provider, or MSSP, focuses on cybersecurity. That can include endpoint protection, EDR/XDR, email security, MFA, DNS filtering, logging, alert review, vulnerability remediation guidance, security awareness, and incident response planning.
The MSSP role is risk-focused. The goal is to reduce the chance of compromise, detect problems sooner, and help the business respond more calmly when something suspicious happens.
Where the Lines Overlap
For small and mid-sized businesses, IT and security are not separate worlds. Microsoft 365 access, endpoint protection, backups, email security, and user onboarding are both operational and security issues.
That is why many companies prefer one provider that can handle managed IT and cybersecurity together, instead of asking one vendor to support users and another to interpret security alerts.
Signs You May Need More Than Basic MSP Support
- You handle patient, financial, legal, customer, or contract-sensitive data.
- You are asked about MFA, endpoint security, logging, backups, or incident response by cyber insurance, customers, or contracts.
- You have Microsoft 365 accounts without strong MFA or conditional access.
- You are unsure whether backups can actually restore critical data.
- You need help preparing for HIPAA, CMMC, or NIST 800-171 related requirements.
- You want someone watching security posture before a crisis occurs.
Questions to Ask
- Do you provide both managed IT and cybersecurity support?
- How do you protect Microsoft 365 accounts and email?
- What endpoint protection or EDR options do you support?
- How are security alerts reviewed and escalated?
- How do backups connect to ransomware recovery planning?
- Can you help with HIPAA-aware or CMMC/NIST-aligned technical controls?
- What is documented so leadership understands risk and progress?
Related Crestline Services
Learn more about Crestline's managed IT services, cybersecurity/MSSP services, Microsoft 365 support, backup and disaster recovery, and compliance-aware IT support.