许多公司，特别是一些小公司，因为缺乏资源或专家，难以靠自身能力提供一个安全度高的计算机能力环境。它们可以外购很多安全措施，通过安全管理服务提供商（Managed Security Service Provider，缩写 MSSP），MSSP可以监控网络活动，并且实施低性能测试以及进行侵袭侦查。BT counterpane、VeriSign以及Symantec都是顶尖的MSSP服务的提供者。

In computing, managed security services (MSS) are network security services that have been outsourced to a service provider. A company providing such a service is a managed security service provider (MSSP) The roots of MSSPs are in the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the mid to late 1990’s. Initially ISPs would sell customers a firewall appliance, as customer premises equipment (CPE), and for an additional fee would manage the customer-owned firewall over a dial-up connection.