How MSSPs benefit small healthcare practices

Small healthcare practices operate with limited IT resources and budgets, making them particularly vulnerable to cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing, and data breaches, which have proliferated in healthcare due to the high value of protected health information (PHI). 

Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) provide these practices with 24/7 monitoring and proactive threat detection using advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to identify suspicious activities and vulnerabilities in real-time. This continuous surveillance is beneficial because smaller providers rarely have the internal staff to detect or respond promptly to sophisticated cyberattacks. 

Research shows that cloud computing solutions in modern healthcare IT provide scalable and secure platforms for electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine applications. A Journal of Medicine and Life study on the challenges and solutions that come with healthcare cloud computing, “Security is one of the focal issues in cloud computing technology, and this study aims at investigating security issues of cloud computing and their probable solutions.…data security, availability, and integrity, as well as information confidentiality and network security, were the major challenges in cloud security.”  MSSPs help configure and maintain these environments with appropriate access controls and encryption standards that preserve the confidentiality and integrity of patient data.

What are MSSPs?

A Healthcare Management Forum study notes on the challenge of managing cybersecurity, “To address this challenge effectively, healthcare organizations must educate and establish a shared ownership system for security between IT professionals and clinicians.”

Unlike Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who may manage general IT or outsourcing needs, MSSPs focus exclusively on cybersecurity, integrating advanced defensive technologies, security analytics, and expert oversight into daily healthcare workflows. 

A central element identified is the persistent threat environment in healthcare; organizations face a dual challenge of insufficient internal expertise in information security and a rapidly evolving landscape of threats, including ransomware, phishing, unauthorized access to EHRs, and vulnerabilities introduced by the proliferation of connected devices like the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). 

Small and mid-size healthcare organizations often lack the budget and personnel to implement best-practice security frameworks or respond immediately to incidents, a deficit directly addressed by MSSPs' round-the-clock monitoring via their security operations centers (SOCs).

How MSSPs address security challenges 

Cost effective security solution

The cost of a breach can be crippling to even large healthcare organizations; one study notes, “From a financial standpoint, however, the NHS unambiguously estimates the costs associated with the WannaCry attack to be at least £92 million (US$115 million)...Presbyterian Hospital [...] paid $17,000 in bitcoin ransom to the criminal perpetrators.”

Small healthcare entities typically lack the capital and scale to build and maintain highly skilled internal security teams or to invest in sophisticated cybersecurity infrastructures. MSSPs alleviate this burden by offering managed security services on a subscription or pay-as-you-go model, strategically transforming large capital expenditures into predictable operational expenses. 

Shifts enable small practices to access advanced security without the need for costly upfront investments in hardware, software, or specialized personnel. MSSPs pool resources and expertise across multiple clients, achieving economies of scale unavailable to individual practices. This shared-resource model decreases unit cost per practice while enhancing the quality and sophistication of security services available to smaller providers.

A study on the cost effective nature of digital interventions notes, “Findings on cost-effectiveness of digital interventions showed a growing body of evidence and suggested a generally favorable effect in terms of costs and health outcomes.”

Beyond cost savings in technology and personnel, MSSPs also reduce indirect financial risks associated with cyber incidents, which can be devastating for small practices lacking risk absorption capacity. The improved security posture MSSPs maintain lowers the incidence of costly breaches, ransomware attacks, and compliance fines. 

MSSPs support operational continuity by minimizing downtime from cyberattacks, which can disrupt revenue-generating activities and undermine patient trust. The cost-effectiveness extends to service delivery and protects financial viability.

Access to advanced security tools 

The MDPI study, ‘Managing Security of Healthcare Data for a Modern Healthcare System’ notes the function of cybersecurity, “Security is a top priority because medical information systems frequently view, handle, or keep huge amounts of sensitive data. Since the equipment is typically attached to an internal network that is linked to the Internet, it is also susceptible to viruses from devices and other equipment carried into hospitals.”

MSSPs operate centralized SOCs equipped with technologies including Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, threat intelligence platforms, intrusion detection and prevention systems, machine learning-based anomaly detection, and encryption technologies tailored for health data protection. These tools are continuously updated and calibrated to emerging threats.

The scalability MSSPs offer is necessary in healthcare, where practices require adaptable security architectures that grow with technological adoption. MSSPs integrate these diverse systems into coherent protective environments. 

Its ability to democratize access to artificial intelligence and machine learning-powered security analytics, which are beyond practical reach for smaller entities due to cost and expertise demands. These analytics identify subtle attack signatures and abnormal behavioral patterns, providing predictive insights that enable preemptive threat mitigation. Without MSSP mediation, small healthcare practices would often rely on reactive or outdated tools, increasing their exposure to sophisticated cyberattacks.

Compliance support

A study on the management of legal compliace in third party service providers notes, “To achieve a high level of quality, it is often required to rely on third parties for data processing. Therefore, sensitive data that has been provided by the service customer is often shared with third parties.”

MSSPs offer technical security controls and embed compliance as a foundational element of their managed services. For small healthcare practices, MSSPs serve as both security guardians and compliance partners. They assist with continuous risk assessments that identify potential vulnerabilities and gaps in data protection aligned with HIPAA standards. 

These assessments inform the development and enforcement of tailored security policies and procedures that encompass access control, encryption, audit controls, and data integrity measures. Literature notes that MSSPs conduct regular compliance audits and maintain documentation indispensable for demonstrating HIPAA compliance during regulatory inspections or breach investigations. This alleviates burdens on small healthcare practices that typically lack dedicated compliance officers skilled in interpreting and applying evolving regulations.

See also: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide (2025 Update)

FAQs

What is a business associate agreement (BAA)?

A BAA is a legally binding contract between the MSSP (business associate) and the covered entity that outlines the permitted uses and disclosures of PHI, security requirements, breach reporting procedures, and other HIPAA compliance responsibilities.

Are MSSPs liable for HIPAA violations?

Yes. MSSPs as business associates can be held directly liable for HIPAA violations, including breaches caused by their negligence or failure to implement required safeguards. This liability shows the need for MSSPs maintaining strict compliance and robust security controls.

Do MSSPs have to manage subcontractors who access PHI?

If MSSPs engage subcontractors who handle PHI, they must have separate Business Associate Agreements with these subcontractors to ensure that the PHI is protected at all points in the service chain, maintaining compliance with HIPAA requirements.

Can MSSPs be outsourced or have designated HIPAA officers?

Yes. MSSPs typically appoint or outsource dedicated HIPAA Privacy and Security Officers responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance with HIPAA standards and conducting necessary administrative and technical management functions.