Reflective IT's managed security services take the day-to-day management of cyber security off your hands.
We protect your users, devices, email and data, monitor for threats around the clock and continually improve your security as your business changes. That means you get one ISO 27001-certified team, one accountable partner, and IT and security experts working together.
What are managed security services?
Managed security services give your business an external team that takes responsibility for running and improving its cyber security. It’s a practical model of cyber security for small businesses, where the cost and expertise of an in-house team can be out of reach.
Instead of relying on security products to look after themselves, or expecting an IT team to investigate every alert, a managed security service provider monitors your environment, manages security controls, investigates suspicious activity and take action when something looks wrong.
A managed security service can cover your users, devices, Microsoft 365 environment, email, networks and business data. Depending on the level of support you need, this can also include 24/7 threat monitoring and response, vulnerability management, endpoint and identity security, threat intelligence, security configuration, compliance support and ongoing improvement.
For growing businesses, this provides access to security specialists and 24/7 capability without having to recruit and maintain a full internal security function.
When should you consider managed security services?
You don't need to wait for a serious security incident before bringing in specialist support. Businesses typically come to Reflective IT when one or more of the following applies:
No dedicated cyber security team: Your IT team keeps systems running, but cyber security needs specialist skills, tooling and constant attention.
No 24/7 security coverage: Threats peak outside business hours. Managed security provides round-the-clock monitoring and response without an internal rota.
Your security tools aren’t being fully used: Microsoft Defender, Intune and Entra ID only deliver their full value when they’re properly configured, monitored and managed.
Your internal IT team needs specialist support: Add expertise in threat monitoring, investigation, vulnerability management, security engineering and compliance.
Security questionnaires are getting harder to answer: Clients, insurers, investors and supply chains want proof that cyber security is actively managed, not a list of products you own.
You need Cyber Essentials or ISO 27001 support: Managed security puts the technical controls, processes and evidence in place to achieve and maintain certification. Explore our Cyber Essentials certification support.
You’ve had a security near-miss: A compromised mailbox, phishing incident, suspicious login or fraudulent invoice often exposes weaknesses a one-off fix won’t solve.
Our managed security services
Reflective IT combines the people, technology and processes needed to continually protect and improve your environment.
24/7 threat monitoring and response
Our Security Operations Centre monitors security activity around the clock, investigating suspicious behaviour and responding to genuine threats, without you having to staff and manage your own SOC.
Managed detection and response
Security alerts are investigated to establish what happened, what’s affected and what action is needed. When a threat is genuine, our experts contain the incident and support the response through to resolution.
Microsoft 365 security
We configure and manage the security capabilities in your Microsoft 365 environment, including Microsoft Defender, Intune and Entra ID, maximising the value you get from what you already own.
Endpoint and device security
Laptops, desktops, mobile devices and other endpoints are configured, protected and continuously monitored to reduce the risk of malware, account compromise and unpatched vulnerabilities.
Identity and access security
We strengthen the controls around who can access your systems and data, including multi-factor authentication, conditional access policies and account management, to prevent unauthorised access.
Email security
Email is one of the most common ways into a business. We put controls in place to reduce phishing, compromised accounts, malicious attachments and links, and business email fraud.
Vulnerability management
Security weaknesses are identified, prioritised and fixed before attackers can exploit them, so you know which issues carry the most risk and what needs fixing first.
Threat intelligence and proactive threat hunting
We use threat intelligence to track emerging attacks and proactively hunt for indicators of malicious activity in your environment, catching threats that automated alerts can miss.
Security configuration and hardening
Existing systems and security products are reviewed and configured to reduce your exposure, closing gaps left by default settings, misconfigurations and changes made over time.
Compliance and security assurance
We help maintain the controls and evidence needed for frameworks such as Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001, with regular reporting that shows leadership teams, insurers and clients how security is managed.
Benefits of a fully managed security service
24/7 protection
Maintaining continuous internal coverage requires considerably more than employing one security specialist. Managed security gives you access to Reflective IT’s established security team, processes and technology without building the capability from scratch.
Access to specialist security expertise
Cyber security covers identity, endpoints, cloud platforms, threat detection, incident response, vulnerabilities and compliance. Managed security gives your internal team access to specialists across those disciplines whenever they’re needed.
Faster threat detection and response
Continuous monitoring means suspicious activity can be investigated when it happens rather than waiting for somebody to notice a problem the next working day.
Reduce pressure on your IT team
Your internal IT people can concentrate on users, infrastructure and business priorities while security specialists handle monitoring, investigation and security improvement.
Maximise your existing technology
Many organisations already own substantial security capability through Microsoft 365. We configure and manage the tools you already have before recommending additional technology.
A security service that can grow with you
Your security requirements will change as you add users, systems, locations, clients and compliance obligations. Managed security provides a way to increase the level of protection without continually rebuilding your internal team.
Managed security that works around your existing team
You do not need to outsource everything to benefit from managed security. Reflective IT can take full responsibility for your managed security or work alongside an existing IT team.
Fully managed security
We take responsibility for the ongoing operation of your security controls, monitoring, investigation and security improvement.
Best suited to: organisations without a dedicated internal cyber security function.
Co-managed security
Your internal IT team retains the areas it wants to own, while Reflective IT provides specialist security capability, 24/7 monitoring and additional capacity.
Best suited to: organisations with internal IT capability but limited security resource, specialist expertise or out-of-hours coverage.
Managed security vs SOC, MDR and IT support
These services are related, but they solve different problems. Here's how:
Service
What it does
When you may need it
IT support
Keeps users, devices, systems and infrastructure operational
You need day-to-day IT support and management
Managed Security
Manages the wider cyber security environment, controls and security programme
You want an external partner to take ongoing responsibility for security
Managed Detection & Response (MDR)
Detects, investigates and responds to threats
You need specialist threat detection and active response
Security Operations Centre (SOC)
Provides continuous monitoring, investigation and response through security analysts and technology
You specifically need 24/7 security coverage
Managed security can incorporate SOC and MDR capabilities, but its generally broader.
If your main requirement is specifically 24/7 monitoring, detection and response, see our Security Operations Centre service.
Reflective IT's managed security services are priced per user, per month, with the final cost depending on the level of service and the environment being protected.
The main factors considered when defining the service include:
Number of users and devices
Current Microsoft and security technology
Level of monitoring and response required
Existing internal IT or security resources
Compliance and reporting requirements
Complexity of the environment
Required service tier
The aim is to build the appropriate level of protection around the systems and licences you already have rather than sell unnecessary technology.
Managed security services vs an in-house security team
Building cyber security capability internally can make sense for organisations with the scale, budget and recruitment capacity to maintain it. For many small and medium-sized businesses, managed security provides access to broader capability more quickly.
In-house security
Reflective IT managed security
Coverage
Dependent on internal staffing and working hours
24/7/365 security coverage
People
Recruit and retain security specialists
Access an existing security team
Specialist skills
Expertise limited to the people you employ
Access to security specialists across multiple disciplines
Time to protection
Recruitment, technology and processes must be established
Existing security operation and onboarding process
Technology
Select, buy, integrate and maintain tools internally
Existing tools managed and additional technology integrated where required
Management overhead
Internal responsibility for recruitment, training and security operations
Managed as an ongoing service
Cost model
Salaries, training, technology and staff turnover
Predictable monthly service cost
Our onboarding process
Contact
Fill out our contact form, give us a call or ping us an email.
Discovery
We'll reach out to hear more about your environment, users, and security challenges.
Recommendation
You'll get bespoke recommendations for your business, with no technical jargon.
Onboarding
We manage the transition carefully, coordinating with any existing providers to avoid disruption to your team.
Support
Your IT security is proactively monitored and supported, with our team on hand whenever you need help.
Success stories
BESS company scales globally with fully outsourced IT department
An energy storage business needed to build an entire IT function from scratch to support expansion into 10 international markets. We provided vCTO strategic leadership, a fully staffed service desk and 24/7 monitoring across multiple time zones, giving them the structure and confidence to scale rapidly without IT becoming a constraint on growth.
Commodities merchant gains senior IT expertise and stronger security
A City-based commodities firm had a sole IT manager stretched beyond capacity. We provided vCTO advisory alongside their existing resource, implemented systematic patch management across their estate and delivered a targeted Office 365 security hardening programme to close gaps their auditors had flagged.
Real estate firm boosts reliability by moving to outsourced service desk
A London property company with multiple offices was experiencing inconsistent IT performance and slow ticket resolution. We replaced their internal function with a managed service desk, introduced defined SLAs and monthly reporting, and reduced average resolution times significantly within the first quarter.
As an external auditor, it was an absolute pleasure to work alongside such a professional and committed team. Reflective IT Solutions Ltd consistently demonstrated a strong dedication to their customers and employees. The level of professionalism and collaboration displayed throughout the audit process was highly impressive.
— Claire-Leigh Gloyne
Rakib was on hand this morning to assist with various issues. He was polite, funny, and called back to check all was okay. Thank you, Rakib, for your assistance this morning. I appreciate your attention to calling me back. 5* for you. Keep up the great work.
— Janet
Everyone at Reflective are always so supportive. They are an invaluable support service for our company. Nothing is ever too much trouble.
— Valued Customer
Prompt, knowledgeable service with the human touch every time whether it is resolving service issues or planning new solutions delivered year after year.
— Brendan Thomas
Dan and Arjun both provided helpful support for a series of complex IT issues over the course of 3 days. Thanks to both of them for being so diligent.
— Vincent
They went the extra mile to be helpful in replying to my query form overseas. They made sure I could remain connected. Great service
— Sue
A UK managed security service provider
Reflective IT has supported businesses from Central London since 2003.
Our team supports organisations across the UK remotely, with engineers available on site across London and the South East when hands-on support is required.
Combining IT management with managed cyber security means clients have one accountable partner for both the technology their teams rely on and the security controls protecting it.
Our independently audited standards and technology partnerships underpin the IT support and security we deliver.
ISO 9001 certified
Quality management, independently audited. Certified since 2015.
ISO 27001 certified
Information security management, independently audited. Certified since 2015.
Cyber Essentials
Accredited against the government-backed baseline for cyber security.
Microsoft Partner
Microsoft 365 and Azure expertise for a secure, productive workplace.
Our technology partners
Established platforms for backup, protection, hardware, applications and email.
Frequently asked questions
Managed security services are cyber security functions operated on your behalf by an external provider. They can include 24/7 monitoring, threat detection and response, vulnerability management, Microsoft 365 security, security configuration and compliance support.
A managed security service provider, or MSSP, monitors and manages cyber security for its clients. It can investigate threats, manage security tools, address vulnerabilities, support compliance and provide specialist security expertise without the client building the capability internally.
An MSP primarily manages IT systems, users, infrastructure and support. An MSSP focuses on cyber security, including monitoring, threat detection, response and security management. Reflective IT provides both managed IT and managed security services.
A Security Operations Centre concentrates on continuous monitoring, detection, investigation and response. Managed security is broader and can combine SOC capability with preventative security, vulnerability management, Microsoft 365 security, identity controls, compliance and ongoing improvement.
Managed Detection and Response concentrates specifically on detecting, investigating and responding to threats. Managed security services can include MDR alongside wider security management such as hardening, vulnerability management, identity protection and compliance support.
Yes. Responsibilities are agreed during onboarding so your internal team retains the areas it wants to manage while Reflective IT provides the additional security capability required.
Yes. Reflective IT builds on security capabilities available through Microsoft Defender, Intune and Entra ID before recommending additional technology where it is required.
Reflective IT prices managed security per user, per month. The final cost depends on your environment, number of users, service tier and required level of security coverage. A Microsoft 365 security assessment provides the information needed to recommend an appropriate service.
Implementation begins with an assessment and agreed security plan. Monitoring is then onboarded and identified security gaps are addressed in priority order so improvements can be made without unnecessarily disrupting users.
Reflective IT's managed security tiers include 24/7/365 attack detection and response through its Security Operations Centre.
Managed security is worth considering if you lack dedicated security resources, need 24/7 monitoring, have an overstretched IT team, face growing compliance requirements or want specialist support managing security across users, devices and Microsoft 365.
Find out where your security gaps are
Start with a free Microsoft 365 security assessment.
We'll review your existing controls and Microsoft Secure Score, identify where you're exposed and explain what needs fixing.
From there, we'll recommend the level of managed security support appropriate to your organisation.
