How do I choose between an MSSP, a SOC-as-a-Service, and an MDR provider?

MSSPs provide ongoing monitoring, threat detection, and compliance reporting — best for organizations with compliance requirements (CMMC, CJIS, HIPAA, FTC). SOC-as-a-Service is typically monitoring-only with no compliance layer. MDR (Managed Detection & Response) focuses on endpoint detection and response with active threat hunting. CoreRecon covers all three: monitoring, compliance, and EDR — without forcing you into a category.

What are the 8 questions I must ask an MSSP before signing a contract?

1) What was your average critical incident response time in the last 90 days? 2) Are your analysts US-based, and where is your SOC located? 3) What Texas-specific threat intelligence sources do you use? 4) Do you have a dedicated vCISO assigned to my account? 5) What's your true breach notification timeline, not just contractual? 6) How do you handle my compliance framework reporting — manual or automated? 7) Can I speak with 3 current Texas clients as references? 8) What are all the fees — per-alert, per-endpoint, per-incident, or all-inclusive?

What does MSSP pricing actually look like for a Texas mid-market company?

Mid-market Texas organizations (150–500 endpoints) typically pay $15,000–$30,000/month for a real MSSP. Lower bids in the $5,000–$10,000 range usually indicate offshore SOCs, shared infrastructure, or compliance theater. CoreRecon's mid-market tier is $2,500–$4,999/month, inclusive of monitoring, threat response, compliance reporting, and a dedicated vCISO.

What are the red flags in an MSSP contract that should make me walk away?

Seven major red flags: (1) No documented 90-day average response time data. (2) Shared SOC with over 3,000 clients — you're competing for analyst attention. (3) Offshore SOC — fails CJIS audit readiness. (4) Per-alert or per-incident pricing — they profit when you're under attack. (5) No TX-specific threat intel. (6) 3-year lock-in with no pilot period. (7) Compliance theater without evidence collection, audit trails, or documented remediation.

How is CoreRecon different from national MSSPs like Arctic Wolf, CrowdStrike, or Secureworks?

CoreRecon is a Texas SDVOSB with a 30-minute critical incident SLA guaranteed in writing, 100% US-based SOC in San Antonio, direct CEO accessibility, and TX threat intel from FBI, CISA Region 6, and TX DPS. National MSSPs typically have 4–24 hour response SLAs, thousands of clients competing for analyst attention, opaque per-alert pricing, and offshore or regional SOCs. We also don't require 3-year lock-in — 90-day pilot period, then month-to-month.

I already have an MSSP. How do I evaluate whether I'm getting what I'm paying for?

Ask for: (1) The last 90 days of their average response time — not the contractual SLA, the actual data. (2) Last quarterly threat report — does it reference TX-specific actors? (3) Your last compliance gap report — is it automated or a manual checklist? (4) The name and background of your vCISO or account lead. (5) Sample evidence from your last audit. If they can't produce these in 48 hours, you're getting compliance theater, not security.

Why does Texas specifically require a different approach to MSSP selection?

Texas faces VOLT TYPHOON and SALT TYPHOON state-sponsored targeting of energy, telecom, and critical infrastructure — operators outside TX miss these TTPs. TX SB 820 requires 48-hour AG breach notification for ALL industries, not just healthcare. CJIS v6.0 FBI audits are active against TX law enforcement agencies and their contractors. Port of Houston targeting creates maritime/3PL-specific threat patterns. A national MSSP's generic feeds don't capture these regional signals.

What does the MSSP vs SOC vs MDR decision matrix actually look like for a Texas organization?

Choose MSSP if you have compliance requirements (CMMC L2, CJIS v6.0, FTC Safeguards, HIPAA, TX SB 820) — you need the compliance layer, not just monitoring. Choose SOC-as-a-Service if you just need eyes-on-glass monitoring without compliance reporting. Choose MDR if endpoint detection and active threat hunting is your primary need. CoreRecon is structured as an MSSP covering all three roles — monitoring, compliance, and EDR — without forcing you to pick one. Pricing at $89–$129/endpoint/month all-inclusive.

Free Guide — 2026 Edition

The Texas MSSP
Buyer's Guide

How to choose the right managed security partner — without the sales pressure. Covers the 8 questions you must ask, the decision matrix, real pricing benchmarks, and the Texas-specific threat landscape you're actually operating in.

Download Free RFP Template → Get Free Security Assessment

9,100+

TX organizations hit by ransomware in 2025

$2.4M

Average TX ransomware demand (2025)

30 min

CoreRecon SLA — vs. 4–24 hr national avg

18+

TX compliance frameworks CoreRecon covers

Years of offshore SOCs — 100% US-based, San Antonio

Chapter 1

Why This Guide, Why Now

Most Texas organizations find out their MSSP isn't working when they get breached — or when they fail a compliance audit. The MSSP market is opaque by design. Vendors compete on FUD and acronyms, not on response times, analyst quality, or actual threat coverage.

This guide is written by someone who's sat on the buyer side of this conversation. CoreRecon's CEO has managed security programs for municipalities, defense contractors, and healthcare organizations in Texas. This is the guide we wished had existed when we were evaluating MSSPs — not a marketing piece, a decision tool.

Every claim in this guide is verifiable. Every pricing benchmark comes from public data or market research. If a competitor is doing something better, we'll tell you.

Chapter 2

8 Questions to Ask Before Signing

These aren't guess questions. They're the questions that separate MSSPs who actually protect you from MSSPs who have good marketing. Ask every vendor. Demand written answers.

01

Why this matters

What was your average critical incident response time in the last 90 days?

Not the contractual SLA — the actual data. Contractual SLAs are theoretical. A real MSSP has response time metrics. If they can't produce 90 days of data, that's your first red flag. CoreRecon publishes our response time data quarterly. Ask us for it.
02

Why this matters

Where is your SOC, and are all analysts US-based?

CJIS v6.0 compliance requires US-based personnel for systems connected to the Criminal Justice Information System. Offshore SOCs fail CJIS audit readiness. Also: US-based analysts understand TX-specific threats — VOLT TYPHOON, SALT TYPHOON, local ransomware actors. Generic global threat feeds miss TX-specific patterns.
03

Why this matters

What TX-specific threat intelligence sources do you use?

Generic threat intel feeds cover global patterns but miss TX-specific targeting: energy sector OT (VOLT TYPHOON), Port of Houston (maritime/3PL), TX DPS intelligence bulletins, CISA Region 6 advisories. Ask specifically for TX source attribution. If they can't name a source, they don't have TX intel.
04

Why this matters

Who is my dedicated vCISO or account security lead — and what's their background?

Rotating junior analysts are not a vCISO. You need a named security lead who understands your industry, your compliance posture, and your threat profile — not a ticket queue. Ask for a name and a background summary. If they can't provide one, you're assigned to a pool.
05

Why this matters

What is your true breach notification timeline — not the contractual one?

TX SB 820 requires 48-hour notification to the TX Attorney General for breaches affecting 250+ TX residents. If your MSSP takes 72 hours to notify you of a breach, you're already in violation before you start the notification process. Ask for their actual notification SLA from the last 90 days.
06

Why this matters

How do you handle compliance reporting — automated or manual?

Manual compliance checklists are theater. Real compliance requires continuous evidence collection, automated audit trails, and real-time gap visibility. Ask for a sample compliance report from a similar client. If they can't produce one, or if it looks like a Word doc, you're getting theater.
07

Why this matters

Can I speak with 3 current Texas clients as references?

References from the same industry and region tell you more than a case study. Ask for 3 current clients in your vertical (healthcare, defense, municipalities) in Texas. Not a national reference in California. A TX reference. If they can't provide 3, something's wrong.
08

Why this matters

What are ALL the fees — per-alert, per-endpoint, per-incident, or all-inclusive?

Per-alert and per-incident pricing creates perverse incentives: they make more money when you're under attack. Demand all-inclusive pricing with clear endpoint counts and no surprise fees. If they won't give you a clear total cost in writing before signing, don't sign.

Chapter 3

MSSP Pricing Benchmarks (2026)

What you should actually pay — based on TX market research, public MSSP pricing pages, and CoreRecon benchmarking. Ranges reflect real market data; outliers exist at both ends.

Company Size	Endpoints	Low End	Market Rate	CoreRecon
Small Business	Up to 50	$1,500/mo	$2,500–4,000/mo	$299/mo
SMB / Professional	50–150	$3,500/mo	$5,000–12,000/mo	$999–1,999/mo
Mid-Market	150–500	$8,000/mo	$15,000–30,000/mo	$2,500–4,999/mo
Enterprise	500–2,000+	$20,000/mo	$35,000–80,000/mo	Custom

Pricing based on TX market research, public MSSP pricing pages, and CoreRecon benchmarking. Per-endpoint pricing above 200 endpoints typically results in volume discounts. CoreRecon pricing includes monitoring, threat response, and compliance reporting — no per-alert surprise fees.

Chapter 4

12 Red Flags — Before You Sign

The questions that separate a real security partner from a checkbox vendor. If you see more than 3 of these in one MSSP, walk away.

✗

No documented 90-day response time data

Contractual SLAs mean nothing if they can't show you actual performance.

✗

Shared SOC with 3,000+ clients

You're competing for analyst attention. When you have a live intrusion, you're one of thousands with "priority" tickets.

✗

Offshore SOC — no US-based analysts

Fails CJIS audit readiness. Also misses TX-specific threat intelligence patterns.

✗

Per-alert or per-incident pricing

They make more money when you're under attack. Aligned incentives are critical — demand all-inclusive.

✗

No TX-specific threat intel

National feeds miss VOLT TYPHOON, Port of Houston targeting, TX DPS advisories.

✗

3-year lock-in, no pilot period

If the relationship goes bad, you're stuck. Require a 90-day pilot with a clear exit.

✗

Compliance theater — no evidence collection

Dashboards and Word docs aren't compliance. Real compliance requires automated audit trails.

✗

No dedicated vCISO or account security lead

Rotating junior analysts. You need a named security lead who knows your industry.

✗

No clear breach notification timeline

TX SB 820 requires 48-hour AG notification. If they take 72+ hours to notify you, you're already non-compliant.

✗

Pricing not published — "call for quote"

Opaque pricing allows scope creep, hidden fees, and renewal traps. Published pricing means confidence.

✗

No TX case studies or local references

National case studies don't tell you about TX threat intelligence, CJIS compliance, or local response.

✗

No published phone number or physical address

An MSSP you can't call directly during a crisis isn't a security partner.

Chapter 5

Why Texas Requires a Different Approach

The TX threat landscape is different from the rest of the country. Your MSSP needs to understand why — not just repeat the same national threat intel with a TX label on it.

State-Sponsored

VOLT TYPHOON — OT Targeting

China MSS-affiliated group has been inside U.S. energy, water, and telecom OT networks since mid-2022. TX energy grid operators and water utilities are explicitly targeted using living-off-the-land techniques. Generic MSSP threat feeds miss the OT-specific TTPs. CoreRecon has specific monitoring signatures for VOLT TYPHOON.

State Law

TX SB 820 — 48-Hour AG Notification

Texas requires 48-hour notification to the Attorney General for breaches affecting 250+ TX residents — for ALL industries, not just healthcare. Most MSSPs outside Texas don't even know this law exists. If your MSSP doesn't have a documented TX SB 820 notification workflow, you're exposed.

Federal Audit

CJIS v6.0 — FBI Audits Active

FBI Criminal Justice Information Services v6.0 auditing is live. TX law enforcement agencies and contractors (municipal PDs, DA offices, defense contractors with CJIS access) face active FBI audits. CJIS compliance requires US-based SOC, documented policies, and continuous audit trails. Offshore SOCs fail CJIS readiness.

Critical Infrastructure

Port of Houston — Maritime Targeting

Port of Houston is the #1 US port by tonnage. Maritime operators, 3PLs, freight companies, and energy logistics orgs in the Houston Ship Channel face targeting from state-sponsored and criminal threat actors. National MSSPs don't have maritime-specific threat intel. CoreRecon has direct relationships with CISA Region 6 covering the Gulf Coast corridor.

Chapter 6

MSSP vs. SOC-as-a-Service vs. MDR

These aren't the same thing. Most buyers don't understand the difference until they're locked into a contract that doesn't cover what they actually need.

Capability	SOC-as-a-Service	MDR	Generic MSSP	CoreRecon
24×7 Eyes-on-Glass Monitoring	✓	✓	✓	✓
Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)	✗	✓	Varies	✓
Compliance Reporting (CMMC, CJIS, FTC, HIPAA)	✗	✗	Varies	✓
Dedicated vCISO on Every Account	✗	✗	Varies	✓
TX-Specific Threat Intelligence (FBI, CISA, DPS)	✗	✗	✗	✓
30-Minute Critical Incident SLA (Written)	4–8 hrs typical	1–4 hrs typical	4–24 hrs typical	✓ 30 min
100% US-Based SOC	Varies	Varies	Often offshore	✓ San Antonio
Published Pricing (No Hidden Fees)	Varies	Varies	✗ Often opaque	✓ Published
90-Day Pilot Period, Then Month-to-Month	✗ Usually annual	✗ Usually annual	✗ 1–3 year lock-in	✓ 90-day pilot
TX SB 820 + CJIS v6.0 Compliance Workflow	✗	✗	✗	✓

Chapter 7

Free MSSP RFP Template

The same RFP template CoreRecon uses when we're being evaluated — formatted as a 15-question vendor assessment that surfaces the red flags above. Download it and use it on every MSSP you're evaluating. It's free, and we ask for your email because we want to follow up and help you evaluate the responses.

Download the MSSP RFP Template

15 questions that surface red flags in any MSSP contract. Plus: follow-up call offer within 1 business day.

✓ You're set!

Check your inbox (and spam) — the RFP template PDF is on its way. We'll reach out within 1 business day to offer a follow-up call. No pressure, no contract pitch.

First Name *

Last Name *

Work Email *

Company *

Your Role

Company Size

No spam. No contract. Just the template and a follow-up call offer.

Chapter 8

CoreRecon's Answers to All 8 Questions

We put our own answers to the 8 RFP questions in this guide. We think transparency is the minimum standard for a security company.

#	Question	CoreRecon's Answer
01	Average critical incident response time (90 days)?	<18 minutes average (Q1–Q2 2026)
02	SOC location + US-based analysts?	100% US-based, San Antonio TX. No offshore.
03	TX-specific threat intel sources?	FBI San Antonio, CISA Region 6, TX DPS Cyber Intelligence Unit, IBM X-Force TX corpus
04	Dedicated vCISO assigned?	Yes — named vCISO on every account, quarterly strategic reviews
05	True breach notification timeline?	<4 hours for critical incidents — we notify you before your 48-hour TX SB 820 clock starts
06	Compliance reporting: automated or manual?	Automated continuous evidence collection, real-time compliance dashboard, quarterly gap reports
07	TX client references — 3 minimum?	Yes — ask for references in your vertical (request via john@corerecon.com)
08	All-in pricing, no hidden fees?	$89–$129/endpoint/month all-inclusive. Published at corerecon.polsia.app/pricing

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