Tim Bandos on Elevating MDR: How Critical Start Enhances Security Operations

In a recent interview on the Security Strategist Podcast, Tim Bandos, Field CISO at Critical Start, shared expert insights into how Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers can help organizations navigate three top cybersecurity challenges by focusing on visibility, alert fatigue, and the importance of human-driven response.  

The Top Challenges Facing Security Teams  

Cybersecurity teams are struggling with three key problems, according to Bandos: 

1. Lack of Visibility  
   • Many organizations lack complete visibility across their IT environments. Over 60% of organizations have only a basic asset inventory, leaving critical gaps where attacks can go undetected. Without a comprehensive view of your security landscape, attackers can exploit blind spots, making visibility the foundation of any successful MDR solution.  

2. Alert Fatigue  
   • Security Operations Center (SOC) teams often face an overwhelming number of alerts from various security tools. This leads to alert fatigue, where real threats can hide among false positives. Managing these alerts effectively is essential for security teams to avoid burnout and unseen risks.
   • Bandos notes it is important “to automate some of those routine tasks like clearing logs, log correlation, doing initial incident triage, gathering threat intelligence from various sources. This really helps free up analyst time and focus on more complex threats.” 

3. Limited Skilled Resources 
   • The cybersecurity talent shortage means many organizations don’t have the internal resources to maintain a well-functioning SOC. Bandos emphasizes that the right MDR provider must extend beyond technology, supplementing a company’s team with deep security expertise to ensure a robust defense.  

How Critical Start’s MDR Tackles These Challenges  

Critical Start’s MDR service provides a comprehensive solution that addresses these challenges practically and proactively.  

Enhanced Visibility Across the Attack Surface  

Critical Start’s platform integrates with your existing tools, offering a unified view across both IT and OT environments. This includes asset inventories and continuous monitoring to identify gaps in endpoint coverage.  

Bandos stressed the importance of “implementing a solution that provides centralized logging and monitoring for all of your critical systems and devices throughout your environment.” 

Prioritizing High-Value Alerts to Overcome Fatigue  

Critical Start uses a tiered approach to prioritize alerts based on asset criticality to combat alert fatigue, so the most important threats are addressed first.  

24x7x365 Monitoring for Teams with Limited Resources  

Many organizations struggle to monitor their environments around the clock. Critical Start’s 24x7x365 monitoring service operates as an extension of your team, providing continuous coverage even with limited internal resources.  

“Your first deliverable needs to be that 24×7, 365 days a year, eyes on glass, providing level one triage and analysis through level three. So the ability to also respond for a customer on their behalf,” says Bandos. 

Why Critical Start’s Human-Driven, Technology-Agnostic Approach Matters  

Critical Start sets itself apart by combining human-driven analysis with advanced technology, handling all alerts with expert care. This technology-agnostic approach allows organizations to integrate Critical Start’s MDR services into their security infrastructures. 

Bandos highlights this point: “Our human-driven MDR services are backed by a Security Operations Center (SOC), Cyber Research Unit, Cyber Incident Response Team, and our MOBILESOC®, which provides remote threat containment capabilities.” 

By prioritizing flexibility, Critical Start can adapt to the specific needs of each organization so the right tools and processes are in place to defend against evolving threats.  

Transform Your Security Operations with Critical Start  

Organizations need more than tools to stay ahead of cybersecurity threats — they need an experienced partner. Critical Start’s MDR service transforms security operations by offering complete visibility, reducing alert fatigue, and providing expert, round-the-clock protection.  

Ready to enhance your security operations? Contact Critical Start today to discover how our MDR services can provide the protection, visibility, and expert response your organization needs.