Closing a security gap.

The article reports on the need for government agencies in the U.S. to guard against hidden costs and performance shortfalls of managed security services. The function of managed-security service providers (MSSP) is to help information technology managers in local governments and federal agencies rein in costs, cope with shortages of technical talent and keep pace with stream of new vulnerabilities. It explains some factors agencies should consider when choosing MSSPs. It explores some pitfalls of managed security service to avoid when outsourcing security.