Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) solutions have long been a staple for large corporations. They provide 24\/7 monitoring, continuous threat handling, and rapid incident response \u2014 all without the need to deploy and maintain in-house infrastructure. Crucially, they also make cybersecurity costs predictable. It sounds like an ideal option for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well. In practice, however, this isn\u2019t always the case. For an SMB, a standard MXDR solution may end up complicating matters for the internal IT security team instead of simplifying them, overloading the team members with a barrage of confusing alerts and an abundance of tools.<\/p>\n
This post discusses the differences between an MXDR service suitable for a large enterprise, and one that would fit perfectly into the security framework of a growing SMB. We\u2019ll also outline the qualities that we believe the ideal MXDR solution for SMBs should possess.<\/p>\n
Large companies typically already have a dedicated cybersecurity team with relatively mature processes and qualified experts on board who are capable of smoothly integrating and competently managing the service. Therefore, large businesses often use MXDR solutions as part of a hybrid SOC model: an external provider\u2019s team handles some tasks, but a significant portion of the work remains with the in-house team.<\/p>\n
Most SMBs lack the necessary arsenal of solutions and, most importantly, a dedicated in-house cybersecurity team \u2014 at least one with a sufficient understanding of attacker tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), along with the skills to counteract them. They often don\u2019t have enough time or expertise to integrate multiple telemetry sources, set up correlation rules, or analyze a flood of alerts. More often than not, security in SMBs falls to IT team members who simply don\u2019t even have the bandwidth for continuous communication with external analysts.<\/p>\n
The result of trying to integrate an enterprise-level solution in SMB infrastructure is often an overload rather than a simplification of processes: a deluge of incident alerts with no one to analyze them, and complex interfaces and processes that the team simply gets lost in. Under these conditions, it\u2019s extremely difficult to develop in-house expertise: the team is simply too busy just trying to maintain an adequate level of company security. This is precisely why SMBs need a different MXDR format: one that is clearer, built on partnership, and focused on developing the internal team rather than replacing it.<\/p>\n
When the internal team needs to not only ensure security, but also develop its own expertise, the MXDR service should provide support from experienced and qualified experts rather than simply replace the cybersecurity function. This should be a partnership where the provider doesn\u2019t just take on some of the responsibilities and helps neutralize threats, but also:<\/p>\n
In other words, the ideal MXDR service for an SMB works with the team \u2014 not instead of it. Below, we look at the specific qualities this solution should have.<\/p>\n
SMBs can vary not only in their needs, but also in their degree of cybersecurity maturity. Therefore, an MXDR service shouldn\u2019t be limited to basic automation or one-size-fits-all scenarios. The solution provider must be able to adapt to the specifics of each client.<\/p>\n
This means that detection and alert triage rules must be configured based on the characteristics of the infrastructure, the software and security tools in use, and the behavior of various user groups. This makes it possible to distinguish a real threat from normal activity and, as a result, reduce the number of false positives.<\/p>\n
This level of customization helps reduce the number of clarifying requests that MXDR experts have to address to the client\u2019s team \u2014 for example, whether a certain user running PowerShell is standard or anomalous behavior. It speeds up threat detection and incident response, and reduces the workload on the client\u2019s internal cybersecurity team, allowing them to focus on strategic tasks.<\/p>\n
For the team responsible for cybersecurity at an SMB, it\u2019s critical not to get drowned in hundreds of notifications. It needs to quickly understand what is truly a threat, what actions were already taken, and what steps need to be taken next. Therefore, a high-quality MXDR service team must analyze not only obviously malicious events, but also suspicious activity from legitimate software. From there, out of thousands of alerts, only those related to adversarial activity should be selected. The client should be presented not with a multitude of hypotheses, but a clear, ready-made picture of what happened, consolidated into a single incident and accompanied by context. This includes the identified root cause, related events, and affected assets.<\/p>\n
To make it easier for the business to navigate, the provider should offer an overview of all protected company assets and their current status so the client can open a dashboard at any time and see what\u2019s under control and what needs attention. If the internal team still has questions, it should always be able to reach out directly to the service\u2019s experts to work together \u2014 for example, go over the details of an incident.<\/p>\n
Another element of transparency is reporting. There should be an option to customize the reports to meet the client\u2019s needs and requests; for instance, by providing a convenient bi-weekly overview with key takeaways and, if required, a detailed description of incidents. Flexibility in communication methods is also vital; for example, the client should be able to choose the most convenient channel \u2014 whether a messaging app, email, or something else \u2014 to ensure the internal team can be reached in a timely manner when an incident requires a decision. This helps company management keep a close eye on things, while technical experts can monitor events at a reasonable pace and dive deeper when needed.<\/p>\n
Thanks to this approach, MXDR alleviates one of the biggest challenges for SMBs: the need to independently parse and prioritize hundreds of notifications.<\/p>\n
In case the in-house team prefers to handle hypothesis testing and root cause analysis internally, it\u2019s essential for the MXDR solution to enable proactive threat hunting and artifact analysis using the available XDR tools. Therefore, the MXDR provider needs to grant the client access to knowledge bases on current attacker techniques and tactics (threat intelligence), information on new campaigns, and relevant analytics. However, if needed \u2014 such as when the client\u2019s team realizes its expertise is insufficient despite having the TTP data \u2014 it still needs to have the option to escalate the alert to the MXDR team for analysis.<\/p>\n
A large portion of incidents begins with employee error. Therefore, a good MXDR provider should help the client foster a healthy cybersecurity culture within the organization. This is largely done by raising the awareness of rank-and-file employees about the modern tricks used by attackers.<\/p>\n
The most effective approach doesn\u2019t entail abstract lectures, but training based on real-life incidents that have actually occurred within the company. For example, if an attack began with employees in a certain team opening a phishing email, that team should undergo training that focuses on that exact scenario. Ideally, its progress should be tested with a simulated phishing campaign. Such proactive measures help mitigate risks associated with the human factor, thereby reducing potential financial losses \u2014 a critical concern for growing organizations.<\/p>\n