WHAT CIOS SHOULD ASK THEIR MSSP IN FY25 PLANNING

As Australian enterprises enter FY25, cyber security is no longer just a technical function it’s a board-level priority. With threat actors growing more sophisticated and regulatory pressures mounting, CIOs and CSOs must critically assess whether their Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) is equipped to meet the moment.

Cybersecurity isn’t just a service it’s a strategic partnership. The right MSSP should not only defend your digital assets but also align with your business goals, compliance obligations, and risk appetite.

8 Essential MSSP Evaluation Questions for FY25

Do you provide 24/7 monitoring with real-time alerting and response? Cyber threats don’t follow business hours. If your MSSP isn’t offering round-the-clock coverage, your organisation is exposed during off-peak times when attacks often occur.
How do you integrate AI and automation in your SOC? AI-driven Security Operations Centres (SOCs) can dramatically reduce false positives and accelerate incident response. For SMEs and large enterprises alike, automation is no longer optional, it’s foundational.
Are your services aligned with NIST, ISO 27001, and the Essential Eight? Framework alignment ensures your security posture meets global and local standards. MSSPs should be able to demonstrate how their services map to these benchmarks.
What is your average response time for high-severity threats? Time is critical during a breach. Industry leaders commit to under 30 minutes for high-severity incidents. Ask for documented service-level agreements (SLAs).
Can you support hybrid infrastructure (on-prem, cloud, SaaS)? With cloud adoption accelerating, MSSPs must be agile across environments. Whether you're running legacy systems or modern SaaS platforms, your provider should offer seamless coverage.
Do you offer support during compliance audits? MSSPs should be more than passive monitors they should actively assist in gathering evidence, preparing documentation, and navigating audit processes.
What is your breach notification and escalation process? Transparency and accountability are key. Ensure your MSSP has a clear, documented process for notifying stakeholders and escalating incidents.
How do you ensure the continuous improvement of my security posture? Cyber security is dynamic. Look for MSSPs that offer quarterly reviews, threat intelligence updates, and proactive hardening, not just reactive fixes.

Actionable Tip

Create a formal MSSP evaluation checklist and review it annually. Align it with your broader business strategy, not just IT goals, to ensure security investments support growth, resilience, and compliance.