Email is still one of the easiest ways attackers get into healthcare systems. Hospitals handle constant communication, and much of it includes patient information. Even with filters, incoming emails can still be suspicious or malicious. That small percentage is enough to cause major damage, credential theft, and account compromise. HIPAA violations often start with a single click.
In one BMJ Health Care Informatics study of a major healthcare institution, 2.2% of all email traffic was identified as potential threats during a single month, revealing how persistent phishing attempts are in clinical environments. As the authors explain, “Hospitals receive a significant volume of potentially malicious emails. While many staff appear to be aware of phishing and respond appropriately, ongoing education is required across the spectrum of cybersecurity.”
Most managed service providers (MSPs) manage IT well, but email security now requires dedicated expertise and nonstop monitoring. MSSPs fill that gap. They watch email traffic 24/7, investigate unusual behavior, and stop threats before they spread. They also add advanced protections like behavioral analytics, DMARC enforcement, sandboxing, and machine-learning-driven filtering, tools most MSPs don’t deploy at full scale.
People remain the biggest risk in email security, especially in fast-paced care environments. Even smart, tech-savvy staff can fall for a realistic phishing lure when stressed or rushed. Managed security service providers (MSSPs) strengthen MSP defenses by running ongoing anti-phishing training and realistic simulations, helping staff build instinctive pause and verify habits. The result is fewer clicks, fewer incidents, and stronger HIPAA compliance.
MSPs take on the heavy lifting of email security. They filter spam, block malware, flag phishing attempts, prevent data leaks, and encrypt sensitive messages. Combining traditional tools like signature-based detection with newer AI and machine-learning systems that spot suspicious behavior and adapt to emerging threats.
The shift accelerated when remote work exploded during the pandemic; as ‘Information Security Threats and Working from Home Culture: Taxonomy, Risk Assessment and Solutions’ explains, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, most organizations were forced to implement a work-from-home policy… This sudden shift in the work culture was accompanied by an increase in the number of information security-related threats which organizations were unprepared for.” Email attacks followed employees home, and in healthcare, one wrong click can still turn into a HIPAA-level crisis.
Strong identity controls sit at the center of this. MSPs enforce standards like DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to verify where messages come from and shut down impersonation attempts. They secure traffic with TLS encryption, reducing the chance of interception or man-in-the-middle attacks. These safeguards make it harder for hackers to spoof trusted senders or slip into inboxes.
Monitoring happens around the clock. MSPs watch email traffic, login attempts, and activity patterns, then respond fast when something looks off. Smarter tools help here too: behavioral analytics can tell the difference between a real employee and a hacker pretending to be one, cutting down false alarms and catching threats sooner. For healthcare teams already stretched thin, having that layer of protection without building an in-house security operation is a major win.
Human behavior still plays a huge role. Even the best tools can’t save an organization if someone clicks the wrong link on a busy day. MSPs counter that with ongoing user training and realistic phishing simulations. Over time, staff get better at spotting scams, reporting suspicious messages, and pausing before they click. When people get smarter and systems get tougher, email becomes far less dangerous.
MSSPs are specialized security partners that handle the heavy, round-the-clock work of protecting organizations from cyberattacks. Most MSSPs run 24/7 Security Operations Centers staffed with analysts who watch for suspicious activity and stop threats before they spread. They use tools like SIEM platforms, EDR, and threat-intelligence feeds, along with AI-driven analytics, to catch attacks such as phishing, ransomware, business email compromise, and insider threats. Their job is simple: spot danger faster and act before it becomes a breach.
For MSPs, partnering with an MSSP expands their capabilities without building an in-house security team. The MSSP handles advanced protection, endpoint monitoring, network defense, compliance reporting, vulnerability assessments, and incident response, while the MSP focuses on delivering strong IT support. Together, they give healthcare organizations deeper security coverage, better HIPAA alignment, and a stronger defense against modern threats.
Human behavior remains one of the biggest risks in cybersecurity, which is why awareness and training matter just as much as technology. As the research paper, ‘Reconceptualizing cybersecurity awareness capability in the data-driven digital economy’ puts it, “Updating the technological side of the cybersecurity system will not benefit an organization if the people working in the system are ignored.” MSSPs add this layer of protection too, helping organizations build smarter security policies, improve staff readiness, and strengthen their culture against social engineering.
The first line of defense is smarter filtering. Instead of relying on basic spam tools, MSSPs use layered systems that scan messages for known malware, suspicious links, spoofed domains, and unusual patterns. Modern filters also lean on machine-learning analysis to catch new or targeted attacks that traditional tools miss. As one Security Journal study puts it, “Phishing emails have permeated our digital communication, taking advantage of vulnerabilities that the information technology system poses to users,” which makes adaptive filtering necessary.
Threat feeds and detection models are updated constantly, so defenses evolve as attackers do. Authentication is another major piece. MSSPs configure and enforce domain protections like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to prevent spoofing and forged email senders. This matters because, as researchers warn, “Increased investments in cybersecurity training by many organizations reveal the critical role of human vulnerabilities for which the organization’s infrastructure alone cannot compensate.” Stronger email identity checks mean fewer fake messages ever reach users in the first place.
See also: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide (2025 Update)
Not always. Many organizations keep an internal IT person or team and use MSPs to extend their capabilities and reduce overload.
MSPs manage IT. MSSPs manage security. MSPs keep tech running smoothly, while MSSPs focus on advanced cybersecurity like threat monitoring and incident response.
They handle day-to-day tech operations, network maintenance, device setup, software updates, user support, and security basics like patching and monitoring.