A new digital dawn of progress awaits as Malaysian organizations make the most of the possibilities unlocked by digital transformation. However, this has also invited cyber threats that aim for digital assets and data. As cyber threats cause nationwide disruptions, regulators had to tighten the data security and cybersecurity requirements expected from organizations to ensure fundamental resilience.

Due to the increased cybersecurity and compliance pressure, more Malaysian organizations are looking for a solution that helps them address both needs.

Going solo in cybersecurity can present multiple challenges. Learn why Malaysian organizations must consider MDR services, along with a closer look at some of the top MDR providers in Malaysia.

What is MDR?

Managed Detection and Response service offers organizations the people processes and technology they need to keep their organization’s data, infrastructure, and networks secure from cyber threats on a round the clock basis.

It is a completely outsourced service that provides an affordable way to achieve cybersecurity and compliance goals. It differs from a SOC that requires organizations to make a big investment and ensure the human expertise and technology which are expensive and challenging to find and retain.

Why do Malaysian organizations need MDR?

MDR offers a convenient and affordable means for Malaysian organizations especially SMBs to customize their defenses as per their specific business, security, and compliance needs in an evolving threat and compliance landscape.

Some key features to expect in an MDR service

Before picking a provider, it is essential to have awareness of cybersecurity and compliance requirements and how the provider can cater to those needs.

For example, an organization would need a team of experts that specialize in working with a specific vendor (like Microsoft).

Here are some common features to expect from an MDR service:

Round-the-clock monitoring

Organizations get round-the-clock security monitoring of their infrastructure, getting the cybersecurity technology and people to keep their digital assets secure from threats that don’t wait for opening hours.

Threat hunting

As a part of the service, organizations get a dedicated threat hunting team that scans the internal and external environment for cyber threats and helps integrate the latest threat intelligence to keep up with the evolving threat landscape.

Threat detection

Through the service, organizations get a team of cybersecurity experts who can help fine-tune their security tools to boost the accuracy of threat detection and response. They can help enable pre-emptive prediction and identification of threats using AI/ML.

Customization

MDR offers them the freedom to accommodate their current and future needs. With this service, they can get their service customized as per their size, setup, and workflows.

On-demand access to cybersecurity experts

Organizations can leverage MDR to supercharge their limited team with dedicated cybersecurity expertise to address several aspects of cybersecurity. They can get subject matter experts to address a specific challenge.

Compliance

MDR can offer organizations solutions to centralize their control and visibility of security posture and improve their overall compliance with the applicable data security and privacy regulations.

Top MDR Service providers in Malaysia

1. SharkStriker

Best Advanced MDR Service Provider in Malaysia

Overview

SharkStriker is a global cybersecurity company that offers holistic, human-led, tech-driven managed security services. With SOCs across 30+ countries, it helps global organizations address their cybersecurity challenges with a blend of human expertise and technology.

SharkStriker’s MDR service offers organizations the people, process, and technological expertise to address cybersecurity challenges like a widening skills gap, limited visibility, and rising compliance risks while helping gain ROI from existing cybersecurity investments.

It adds compliance to the Monitoring, Detection, Investigation, and Response processes of MDR service, helping organizations not just to keep up with evolving threats but also the changing compliance landscape. They offer dedicated expertise to adhere to and improve compliance with regulations like Malaysia’s PDPA regulation.

The service is delivered by a team of round-the-clock experts with dual expertise in cybersecurity and compliance through a purpose-built compliance-centric security platform that unifies security, extends visibility, and centralizes control.

Organizations that have used SharkStriker MDR have observed faster MTTR, enhanced savings in data retention costs, and improved data security.

Features of SharkStriker MDR

EDR/XDR/NDR 

With EDR, XDR, and NDR, SharkStriker MDR services offer round-the-clock protection of infrastructure, including endpoints, network, and cloud.

Full-Cycle Incident Response

Through the service, organizations can get 24/7 support for incident response for the complete cycle of the incident, from containment to recovery.

Host-Based Vulnerability Assessment

Organizations can proactively identify and address risks across and get detailed information on all the vulnerable hosts with this service. 

Network Vulnerability Assessment (Internal & External)

Their team of network security experts proactively takes action based on continuous scanning and vulnerability assessment of the network for internal and external risks. 

Annual Network Penetration Testing

With this service, organizations can get an annual in-depth assessment of the network for cyber risks using real-world techniques, such as pentesting. 

Security Audit of Controls (EDR, EPP, Cloud)

SharkStriker’s team of security and compliance experts audits security controls, ensuring that they are in line with the regulations and are effective in keeping the endpoints and the rest of the infrastructure secure from cyber threats.

Security Advisory & Posture Review

With this service, organizations can get security advisories and get their posture reviewed for risks to proactively secure their infrastructure against emerging cyber threats. 

Multi-Sourced Threat Intelligence

Organizations can benefit from multi-sourced threat intelligence from reputed sources and get their defenses tuned as per frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK and DEF3ND. 

Third-Party Tool Integration

The service helps organizations seamlessly integrate their third-party security tools across multiple vendors over a purpose-built security platform for centralized visibility and control. 

Weekly & Monthly Security Reports

They offer weekly and monthly reports based on a comprehensive assessment of security posture. 

Regional data centers  

Organizations get latency-optimized services delivered via locally hosted data centers that are compliant with regulations like PDPA.

Strengths of SharkStriker MDR

• Offers dual expertise in cybersecurity and compliance with regulations like PDPA and certifications and standards like ISO27001, ISO27017, PCI DSS Lvl 1., SOC1, SOC2, and SOC3.
• Extends visibility, decentralizes cybersecurity control, and offers real-time insights
• Offers customizable reports
• Purpose-built security platform, STRIEGO, with a vendor-agnostic layer
• Specialized in proactive risk management and threat hunting
• Integrates AI and machine learning to detect sophisticated threats
• Hyper customization options
• Affordable pricing model
• Improves compliance with data security and privacy regulations (like APP, IRAP, and E8) with data sovereignty  
• Localized threat detection, faster failover/recovery, rapid incident response, and quicker access to data and threat intelligence.

Gartner review  

“SharkStrikers MDR service has helped us enhance our threat detection and automated response to threats the platform was easy to use and worked smoothly with multiple vendors providing 360-degree visibility of security operations across the infrastructure. With on-demand expertise in cybersecurity and their highly versatile platform, we were able to address threats and suspicious behavior based activities before they got too big to deal with. Their platform has helped us take control of our defenses, assisting us to quickly evolve our defenses by leveraging best practices, mitigations and global threat intelligence. with this service, we were able to focus better on improving the service experience while keeping what is secure and what is precious to us.” 

2. Qloud

Overview

Qloud MSP is a Kuala Lumpur-based Managed Security Provider founded in 2008. It specializes in Next Gen IT managed Services, managed cloud services, AI cybersecurity, Network monitoring, and enterprise backup & recovery services. They are driven to help businesses reach their full potential by helping them eliminate complexities in an affordable way.

Features

AI-based threat detection

Qloud MSP’s team helps tune the defenses to automatically detect threats using AI.

Security monitoring

It offers a Security Operations Center team that oversees the infrastructure for a timely response to cyber threats.  

Security guidance

Enables organizations to tune their defenses from time to time as per assessments.

Incident response  

Organizations get a team of incident responders who help respond, contain, recover, and remediate from incidents.

Strength

• Strongly focuses on SMEs and affordability

3. Akati Sekurity

Overview

AKATI Consulting Group is a Kuala Lumpur-based cybersecurity service provider that is focused on providing proactive cybersecurity defenses based on real-world experience. It was founded in 2007 with a mission to offer strategy intelligence and precision for organizations to build their cyber resilience.

Features 

24×7 threat monitoring

AKATI Sekurity’s team continuously monitors the organization’s network, endpoints, and cloud for threats.

AI-driven analytics

Offers AI-driven analytics for high-precision security operations.

Threat hunting

A threat hunting team proactively scans the organization’s internal and external environment for threats using relevant threat intelligence.

Incident response

A dedicated IR team to quickly respond to threats with the right action.

Strengths 

• Possess strong expertise working with government and banks

4. Vigilant Asia

Overview 

Vigilant Asia is a Managed Security Service Provider offering tailored cybersecurity solutions and services in Malaysia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Efficient E-solutions Berhad. With its CREST-accredited SOC, it ensures that its clients are well equipped to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber threats.

Features 

24×7 monitoring

Vigilant Asia’s team continuously monitors infrastructure for prompt detection and response to threats.

Continuous vulnerability monitoring services

With this service, an organization gets solutions and experts who continuously monitor infrastructure for risks.

Endpoint detection and response

It offers EDR with this service for prompt detection and response to threats.

Compliance consulting

Organizations get compliance consulting on subject regulations and standards.

Strengths

• Strong focus on SMEs and affordability

5. Condition Zebra

Overview 

Condition Zebra is an NACSA (National Cyber Security Agency) certified cybersecurity services provider in Malaysia with over 15 years of experience in Information security and risk management. It provides advanced cybersecurity solutions, training, and education services to private organizations and government institutions & agencies. It focuses on combining key technologies with exclusive expertise to mitigate operational, legal, and financial threats.

Features 

Threat detection

Offers complete visibility of security posture and threat intelligence-led detection of threats.

Threat hunting

Condition Zebra’s team of threat experts scans the internal and external environment for threats using the latest threat intelligence.

Investigation

It offers expert-led root cause analysis of alerts, determining context, and triage.

Incident Response

A dedicated IR team for an instantaneous response to threats.

Compliance

Provides a team that assists in tuning security posture as per compliance requirements.

Strengths

• Strong expertise in pen testing
• Offers MDR with system hardening

6. Dell Malaysia

Overview 

Dell is a global technology solutions provider known for its personal computers, repair services, switches, software, and peripherals. It offers a range of services from its Malaysia wing, including professional services, lifecycle services, training and certification services, and other services.

Features 

24×7 security

Dell’s MDR services cover round-the-clock security of the client’s infrastructure.

Detection and investigation

Through the service, its team tailors alerts, automates daily operations, and offers reports.

Security configuration

Dell’s team configures security setup to automate detection and response.

Incident response

Provides 40hours of annual remote incident assistance.

Strengths 

• Offers a big global team with instant IR

7. Cybertronium

Overview 

Cybertronium Sdn. Bhd. is a Kuala Lumpur-based information security services provider that is focused on offering clients the best strategic security practices. Its services include Managed Detection and Response, Cloud security services, and training programs (through the partnership with Cyber Security Malaysia).

Features 

Threat detection and response

Cybertronium offers advanced technologies to detect and contain threats.

Integration

It offers scalability to SMEs to integrate their existing security setup/solutions.

Compliance consulting

Provides consultation to organizations to adhere with the data security and privacy regulations.

Incident response

An IR team for quick response to security incidents and to minimize damage.

Strengths

• Strong focus on SME security

8. Nexagate

Overview 

Nexagate Sdn Bhd is a Malaysia-based cybersecurity consulting and services provider with 15+ years of experience delivering solutions to more than 400 clients in Asia. Their mission is to help organizations improve their security processes and achieve compliance through enhanced data security.

Features 

24×7 monitoring

Nexagate 24/7 SOC team for round the clock security against threats.

Detection analysis

Offers accurate detection based on analysis and offers recommendations for treatment.

Threat hunting

Provides a team of threat hunters who proactively look for threats across multiple environments.

Reporting

Alerts organizations with reports on endpoint security posture.

Strengths

• Expertise in web-application firewall

9. IshanTech

Overview

IshanTech is a Selangor-based IT provider that offers IT solutions for businesses across industries in both domestic and international sectors. It offers robust IT infrastructure and cybersecurity services with a mission to provide the best ICT solutions that enable businesses to excel and deliver solid results.

Features

24×7 monitoring

Ishantech’s SOC team monitors the client enviornment for quickly detecting and responding to threats.

Integration

It helps integrate various solutions from different vendors.

Incident response

Provides a team for detection, analysis, and responding to security incidents.

Security assessments

Performs regular scanning of the infrastructure for risks and threats.

Reporting

Offers security reports that reflect security posture based on assessment.

Strengths

• Strong expertise in regional implementation

10. Elitery

Overview  

Data Sinergitama Jaya Tbk, or Elitery, is a managed IT services provider that is originally from Indonesia with a subsidiary in Malaysia. It is a cloud services provider committed to offering high-quality cloud and cybersecurity services to government and private customers from multiple industries.

Features

Threat hunting

Elitery offers a team of threat hunters who scan the environment for potential cyber threats.

Incident response

Offers a team of security experts that will help detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents.

Threat intelligence-based investigation

Utilizes the CrowdStrike threat intelligence support throughout the incident.

24×7 monitoring

Delivers a team of threat hunters who monitor infrastructure for threats.

Strengths

• Expertise in resource optimization

List of Top 10 MDR Service providers in Malaysia

1. SharkStriker

2. Qloud

3. Akati Sekurity

4. Vigilant Asia

5. Condition Zebra

6. Dell Malaysia

7. Cybertronium

8. Nexagate

9. IshanTech

10. Elitery