Although they are similar in many ways, there is a fundamental difference between MDR (Managed Detection and Response) services and SOCaaS (SOC as a Service) or Managed SIEM.
The key differentiator is the ‘R’ in MDR. An MDR service typically involves responding to cyber threats, not just detecting them. As an example, this could include isolating an endpoint that is showing suspicious activity, or providing incident response support.
On the other hand, SOCaaS or Managed SIEM services usually focus on detecting threats and monitoring logs, rather than responding to them. Response actions with these services are often limited to providing remediation advice for security events that have been identified.
When you’re choosing between MDR vs SOC as a Service, it’s important to consider the security outcomes that you would like to achieve and who will be responding to threats. Depending on the needs of your business, you may choose to outsource everything to an MDR provider to free up your internal resources.