Choosing the right MDR: What matters most when navigating today’s cyber threat landscape

Speakers:

• Nick Brownrigg, Group Director of Solution Architecture

• Brian Martin, Group Director of Product Management

Topic overview:
This session explored the rapidly evolving MDR landscape and how organisations can make informed decisions when selecting a provider. Key areas covered included:

• Current market dynamics:
  MDR remains a growing field, with projected annual growth of 15% globally over the next five years. Organisations are still actively seeking or evolving their MDR strategies.

• Core challenges MDR solves:
  The speakers outlined typical security monitoring challenges, such as alert fatigue, internal skill gaps, and lack of 24/7 detection capabilities.

• MDR maturity models:
  The conversation highlighted the wide spectrum of MDR capabilities in the market—from basic alert triage to advanced threat hunting and integrated response.

• Key considerations for selecting an MDR provider:

  • Depth of detection & response capability

  • Integration with existing tools & environments

  • True 24/7 human-led analysis

  • Level of customisation & flexibility

  • Proven threat intelligence integration

  • Transparency in service delivery & reporting

• Real-world insights:
  Nick Brownrigg shared practical examples from client engagements, detailing what successful MDR implementation looks like and how poor-fit providers often fail to deliver tangible value.

• Closing message:
  Organisations must cut through vendor noise and focus on aligning MDR capabilities with their unique risk landscape and operational reality.