Find Security Operations Companies

The directory includes 454 service providers across Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), Managed Detection and Response (MDR) firms, penetration testing companies, virtual CISO (vCISO) services, incident response teams, and compliance consultants covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

An MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) typically offers broad outsourced security operations including SIEM monitoring, firewall management, and compliance support. An MDR (Managed Detection and Response) provider specializes in 24/7 threat detection and active incident response, often with their own technology stack. MDR is more focused on detecting and stopping attacks; MSSPs offer wider but sometimes shallower coverage.

A virtual CISO (vCISO) is ideal for organizations that need senior security leadership but cannot justify a full-time hire. Common scenarios: companies under 500 employees, organizations preparing for SOC 2 or ISO 27001, businesses scaling rapidly, and teams needing board-level security reporting. A full-time CISO typically makes sense at 500+ employees or in highly regulated industries.

Penetration testing costs vary widely based on scope. Web application pen tests typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. Network pen tests range from $10,000 to $50,000+. Red team engagements can exceed $100,000. Pricing depends on attack surface size, depth (black box, gray box, white box), and reporting requirements. Always request scoped quotes from at least 3 providers.

Evaluate on five criteria: (1) Specialization match — MSSP, MDR, pentest, vCISO, IR, or compliance; (2) Certifications — SOC 2, ISO 27001, CREST, OSCP for individual testers; (3) Industry experience — healthcare, fintech, SaaS, government; (4) Geographic and language coverage; (5) Pricing model — retainer, project-based, or per-incident. Always check client references and request sample reports.

SaaS startups typically need a vCISO for strategic guidance, an MSSP or MDR for monitoring once they have meaningful customer data, and a penetration testing firm for annual compliance and customer assurance. Compliance consultants help with SOC 2 Type II, the most common framework for SaaS companies. Filter providers by service type to compare options.