MSSP Evaluation Checklist
Helping Small Businesses Choose the Right Cybersecurity Partner
Choosing the right Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) is crucial for your business's cybersecurity. Use this interactive checklist to evaluate potential providers side-by-side and ensure you're getting enterprise-grade security at a small-business scale.
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Service Coverage
Do they provide 24/7 monitoring with live analysts?
Is patch management included (with testing before rollout)?
Do they offer incident response support and a clear response time?
Will you receive regular reports & dashboards?
Do they include employee security awareness training?
Technology & Tools
Which tools do they use (SIEM, EDR/XDR, firewalls, email security)?
Do they support cloud & SaaS apps (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, QuickBooks)?
Can they secure remote workers and mobile devices?
Are tools proprietary or third-party vetted solutions?
Compliance & Legal
Does their program align with NIST, IRS WISP, HIPAA, PCI DSS?
Can they help with audit preparation?
Do they carry cyber insurance or warranty-backed services?
How do they handle legal evidence & chain-of-custody?
Data Protection
Where is your data stored and who has access?
Is your data encrypted in transit & at rest?
Do they monitor for insider misuse of access?
What happens to your data if you end the contract?
Contracts & Pricing
Is there a long-term contract or month-to-month flexibility?
Are there hidden onboarding fees?
Can pricing scale up or down with your business size?
Do they provide a smooth offboarding process?
Accountability
Do they guarantee results with a Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
Can they provide references from other small businesses?
Do they offer proactive testing or tabletop exercises?
How do they differentiate from break-fix IT providers?