WatchGuard Launches MDR Service for MSPs

WatchGuard Technologies has unveiled a new service with the intent of making managed detection and response (MDR) services more accessible to managed service providers (MSPs), the company announced.

WatchGuard MDR is designed to “address soaring customer demand” for managed cybersecurity delivery, the company said. Accordingly, the new service is managed by “an elite team of cybersecurity experts and powered by AI.”

Bridging the Talent Gap

Requiring no investment in a traditional security operation center (SOC) infrastructure, advanced technologies or security experts, WatchGuard MDR addresses the pressures of scarce cybersecurity professionals and funding faced by MSPs, the company noted.

Explaining the inspiration behind WatchGuard MDR, Andrew Young, the company’s chief product officer, said:

“As a 100% channel-driven company, we wanted to deliver an enterprise-class MDR solution that would allow our MSP partners to expand their business without the expense of building their own SOC or adding to the challenges they already face in finding cybersecurity talent. We are dedicated to supporting our MSP community, and the launch of WatchGuard MDR represents another milestone in the long-term trusted relationships we build with our partners.”

Key Features and Benefits

WatchGuard MDR capabilities include:

WatchGuard Buys Cyglass

In September 2023, WatchGuard purchased Cyglass, a specialist in network detection and response (NDR) and eXtended detection and response (XDR). WatchGuard is using CyGlass' technology to deliver its NDR service and provide AI-based detection of network anomalies.

The CyGlass acquisition comes after WatchGuard in July 2023 announced the AuthPoint Total Identity Security bundle for MSPs.    

AuthPoint Total Identity Security blends AuthPoint multi-factor authentication (MFA) with dark web credential monitoring capabilities and a corporate password manager. MSPs can use AuthPoint Total Identity Security to provide credentials monitoring, dark web exposure alerts and password management to their customers.

WatchGuard offers the WatchGuardONE channel partner program for MSSPs, MSPs and other technology providers.

Partnering with the Seattle Kraken

WatchGuard Technologies is the new Official Cybersecurity Partner of the National Hockey League's Seattle Kraken and an Official Partner of the team's home ice at Climate Pledge Arena.

As part of this partnership with WatchGuard, the team will upgrade its cyber defenses off the ice with WatchGuard's Unified Security Platform, deploying advanced network security, MFA and EDR services.