MDR Explained: Your Guide to 24/7 Security Monitoring

How to Choose the Right Managed Detection and Response Service for Your Business

Continuous security monitoring is both a best practice and a compliance requirement – ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, etc., mandate ongoing security monitoring and threat detection.

You've likely heard of SOC as a Service and 24/7 threat detection. MDR (Managed Detection and Response) takes these concepts further, combining continuous monitoring, threat detection, and rapid response into one comprehensive package.

As cyber-attacks grow more frequent and complex, and compliance requirements become more stringent, choosing the right MDR provider is crucial for protecting your business and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Why Evaluating MDR Vendors Matters

With so many security options, picking the right MDR solution can be tricky. A poor choice could leave gaps in your defenses, while the right partner can significantly improve your security. That's why you should know how to assess MDR vendors.

7 Key Factors to Evaluate When Choosing an MDR Vendor

1. SOC team expertise: Ensure the SOC team has certified engineers (TIER 1,2,3) with offensive security experience and proven ability to manage multi-step investigations.
2. 24/7 threat hunting & incident response: Look for vendors offering continuous monitoring, proactive threat hunting, and 24/7 response without hidden fees.
3. Technology compatibility: Check for support of modern EDR/SIEM solutions and the ability to integrate with your existing tools (like Microsoft 365).
4. Customizable playbooks & fast response: Automated playbooks and 1-click threat containment capabilities should minimize response times (MTTR).
5. Client-focused service: Look for direct access to SOC analysts via chat and a dedicated account manager.
6. Proven reputation: Verify the vendor’s public reputation through reviews on platforms like Gartner and their position among global leaders in incident response.
7. Cloud security & compliance: Ensure the vendor provides cloud security hardening, compliance visibility, and vulnerability scanning for all cloud and data center assets.

Know Your Security Needs

Before you invest in MDR, you need to understand your specific security challenges. This MDR Buyer's Guide includes a 12-point checklist to help you identify your main security concerns.

What to Ask MDR Vendors

Once you've shortlisted potential providers, it’s time to dig deeper. Here are the essential questions to ask to ensure you’re choosing the right MDR partner:

• How do you detect, investigate, and respond to threats, and what methods do you use for proactive threat hunting?
• Will your solution integrate smoothly with my existing tools and systems, and how do you optimize them over time?
• How do you support our compliance needs—SOC2, ISO, HIPAA, or others?
• What types of assets do you monitor and protect—cloud, on-prem, endpoints, and more?
• Can you explain the qualifications and certifications of your SOC team, and how often will I have direct access to them?
• What’s your average response time, and how do you minimize it to reduce the impact of incidents?
• How do you measure and report on security incidents and overall performance?
• Are there any hidden fees in your pricing model, and how flexible are your service packages?
• Do you offer any incident protection warranties or financial backing in case of breaches?

Make an Informed Choice

Picking an MDR provider is an important decision that affects your entire security strategy. Our MDR Buyer's Guide gives you the information you need to make the right choice.

Download the guide to get:

• Detailed criteria for evaluating MDR providers
• A checklist to assess your security needs
• Expert advice on what makes a good MDR service
• Tips for adding MDR to your current security setup

Don't try to figure out MDR on your own. Use our guide to make a choice that will protect your business now and in the future.

Download the MDR Buyer's Guide >>

Get the right MDR solution for your business. Download our guide and take the first step towards better security monitoring today.

UnderDefense MDR: Comprehensive Protection for Your Business

As you consider your MDR options, we'd like to introduce you to UnderDefense MDR, a solution designed to meet your security and compliance needs effectively.

UnderDefense MDR Benefits:

• Immediate, personalized support and 24/7 protection: Access dedicated SOC analysts anytime, with 24/7 protection for your networks, clouds, and critical data.
• Comprehensive attack detection and custom threat identification: We detect threats proactively, tailored to your business needs, with actionable remediation advice.
• Tooling optimization and operational transparency: We reduce alert noise by 82% and give you full visibility into alerts, threats, and reports—all in one place.
• Customer ownership with complete visibility: You own all tools and processes and have 360° visibility across your network, endpoints, and cloud.
• Automated remediation and root cause analysis: Swift incident response and root cause analysis to prevent future threats.
• Unlimited log ingestion and deep investigations: Collect and analyze logs without limits, supporting investigations and compliance, with easy, on-demand access to your data.

Ready to learn more about how UnderDefense MDR can protect your business? Get a customized quote using our pricing calculator or explore MDR pricing pre-built tiers starting at $11 per device monthly.