MSSPs Face Critical Choice: Building or Buying AI to Transform Security Operations

MSSPs at a Critical Junction with AI Integration

Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) face a pivotal decision: develop AI capabilities in-house or acquire them from external vendors. Larger MSSPs often attempt to build AI systems themselves but find the technical and operational challenges greater than expected. Effective AI integration requires embedding it directly into detection and response workflows, demanding a thorough grasp of data flow and security outcomes.

Introducing AI Agents for Security Operations

Conifers.ai offers MSSPs a new option through its AI agent-powered platform, which simplifies adoption for security operations centers (SOCs) and detection-and-response teams. Unlike chatbots that wait for prompts, AI agents operate proactively. They independently gather data, plan steps, adapt to evolving threats, and collaborate to solve complex problems.

These AI agents provide SOC teams with a richer understanding of security events. Instead of automating isolated tasks, they learn from each environment and evolving threats, helping analysts make faster, more informed decisions. They transform raw alerts into detailed, prioritized stories, reducing noise and highlighting genuine threats. This allows analysts to focus on applying their expertise where it matters most.

Enhancing Operations and Defenses with AI

Many cybersecurity vendors are integrating AI to help MSSPs and security teams reduce operational complexity and counter AI-powered attacks. Recent examples include SOCRadar’s AI assistant, Cisco’s AI-driven security innovations, and Google’s agentic AI for SOCs. Conifers.ai, established last year with offices in Tel Aviv and Dallas, recently raised $25 million to advance its platform.

Benefits for MSSPs

The newly unveiled program encourages MSSPs to adopt the Conifers.ai CognitiveSOC platform, which continuously ingests security event data and conducts automated investigations. The platform adapts to client-specific knowledge and technology stacks, producing investigations and dashboards that support targeted responses.

• Handles everything from basic Tier 1 alerts to complex Tier 3 incidents
• Reduces investigation time by up to 87%
• Supports more clients without increasing headcount, improving margins
• Boosts productivity and efficiency while lowering risk
• Offers predictable pricing and seamless integration with existing tools
• Simplifies onboarding and supports multi-tiered service offerings

Countering Threats by Fighting AI with AI

With threat actors using AI to scale attacks—such as generating sophisticated phishing emails or creating malware—MSSPs must respond with AI-driven defenses. Traditional tools and dashboards alone aren’t enough; AI cuts through complexity by streamlining investigations and easing analyst workloads.

This brings MSSPs back to the build-versus-buy question and their role in an AI-powered security future. The focus shifts from merely staffing and alert management to delivering smarter, quicker, and more context-rich outcomes. MSSPs that integrate AI deeply—using it as a force multiplier rather than an add-on—are setting themselves apart. For many, partnering with the right AI providers is more practical than building solutions from scratch.