Why the Logitech MX Master 3S Is the Best Mouse for Cybersecurity and IT Professionals
As someone who spends most of the day pivoting between terminals, dashboards, and remote desktops, I have tried many mice. The Logitech MX Master 3S has remained my daily driver for years and almost everyone in my security team uses one. The reason is the side scroll wheel, which completely changes how you navigate logs, dashboards, and multi-pane consoles.
Overview
The MX Master 3S is not a new release but it is a near-perfect piece of kit for people in cyber security, IT, and engineering roles. The ergonomics are refined, the build quality is premium, and most importantly, the workflow enhancements genuinely save time during incident response, analysis, and admin tasks.
Key Insight: Hardware that reduces cognitive friction, even marginally, compounds over thousands of micro-interactions a day.
The Side Scroll Advantage
If you have ever had to sift through long tables in Excel, side-scroll through Splunk dashboards, or move laterally across Visual Studio Code panes, you will understand why this feature is valuable.
The thumb-operated horizontal scroll wheel gives precise, effortless control that most mice lack. I use it constantly when:
- Navigating event logs in the Azure portal
- Scanning horizontally through SIEM tables
- Moving across wide datasets in Power BI or CSV viewers
Once you get used to it, it is impossible to go back to a standard wheel. It is a small detail that pays off hundreds of times a day.
MX Master 3S vs MX Master 4 - Why I Still Recommend the 3S
Logitech recently released the MX Master 4, which is an evolution but does not bring enough improvement to justify the price difference for most security professionals.
Yes, it has a slightly tweaked sensor and minor comfort updates but the core experience is virtually identical, with the same side scroll wheel, similar ergonomics, and equivalent performance in daily use.
Note: The MX Master 4’s main upgrades are primarily software-level, not physical.
More importantly, the MX Master 3S has now dropped in price, often available for £70–£80 in the UK compared to £120+ for the 4. From a value perspective, it is the smarter buy. The 3S is mature, fully supported, and proven in enterprise environments.
Logitech MX Master 3S
Precision wireless mouse with electromagnetic side scrolling. A game changer for navigating long documents, code, and security analysis workflows.
Check Amazon for the current pricing
Affiliate Disclaimer: If you decide to buy through my links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). It helps keep the channel going! I only recommend tools and products I genuinely use and trust.
Practical Scenarios in Cyber Security Workflows
Here is how the MX Master 3S fits into a typical day in security operations:
| Task | Typical Pain Point | MX Master 3S Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Reviewing wide CSV exports | Constant horizontal scrolling | Effortless side scroll wheel |
| Navigating SIEM dashboards | Small click targets, constant tab switching | Customisable buttons and scrolls |
| Editing scripts | Jumping between long lines of code | Smooth horizontal navigation |
| Multi-system triage | Keyboard-mouse switching fatigue | Flow across multiple devices |
Workflow Highlights
- App-specific profiles let you tailor buttons for VS Code, Splunk, Outlook, and more.
- The side scroll allows fast horizontal navigation through logs and dashboards.
- Multi-device support with Logi Flow lets you move seamlessly between workstations.
Tip: Pair it with Logitech’s Logi Options+ software to customise gestures per application.
Common Pitfalls
- Over-customising gestures across too many apps can lead to muscle memory clashes. Start simple.
- Some enterprise-managed laptops block peripheral driver installs. Confirm Logi Options+ is approved.
- Avoid wireless interference by keeping the receiver within 30cm if using 2.4GHz mode.
Best Practices
- Use Bluetooth Low Energy mode to connect up to three devices, ideal for switching between workstations or jump boxes.
- Enable SmartShift so the main wheel automatically switches between ratchet and free-spin.
- Periodically back up your configuration in Logi Options+ so your shortcuts are consistent across devices.
Key Takeaways
The Logitech MX Master 3S remains the best all-round mouse for cybersecurity and IT professionals. It is durable, comfortable, and its side scrolling capability directly improves productivity in technical workflows. The arrival of the MX Master 4 has made the 3S an even better value.
Final Thought: In a field where milliseconds matter and context switching is constant, the right mouse is part of your operational efficiency stack.
Logitech MX Master 3S
Precision wireless mouse with electromagnetic side scrolling. A game changer for navigating long documents, code, and security analysis workflows.
Check Amazon for the current pricing
Affiliate Disclaimer: If you decide to buy through my links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). It helps keep the channel going! I only recommend tools and products I genuinely use and trust.
