Discover the top cybersecurity services every Managed Service Provider (MSP) should offer in 2025. Learn how to stay ahead of evolving threats, meet client expectations, and grow your business with a security-first approach.
Cybersecurity is no longer a premium add-on, but a business essential. As threats evolve, so do client expectations. Failing to meet those expectations for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) could mean more than lost revenue, but lost trust.
In 2023, 61% of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) experienced a successful cyberattack, according to a study by BlackFog. The research also revealed that 87% of these businesses faced multiple attacks within the same year, with an average of nearly five successful breaches per organization. The primary consequences included business downtime (58%), loss of customer trust, and data exfiltration.
Furthermore, a report by ConnectWise highlighted that 94% of SMBs have experienced at least one cyberattack, a significant increase from 64% in 2019. Alarmingly, 78% of SMBs are concerned that a severe cyberattack could potentially put them out of business.
Despite these alarming figures, many SMBs are not adequately prepared. The same ConnectWise report indicates that 76% of SMBs lack the in-house skills to address security issues properly, underscoring the critical need for external cybersecurity expertise.
This gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity for MSPs. Clients are not just seeking reactive solutions; they demand proactive security measures, continuous monitoring, and strategic guidance. MSPs that fail to provide comprehensive cybersecurity services risk losing clients to competitors who can meet these critical needs.
In this blog, we’ll break down the core cybersecurity services every MSP must offer today, why offering them is no longer optional, and how to structure your offerings for long-term client retention and trust.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity involves protecting systems, networks, and data from digital threats such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. It goes beyond firewalls and antivirus software, requiring a holistic approach with people, processes, and technologies working together to safeguard digital assets.
For MSPs, cybersecurity is an essential service that requires continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, and proactive threat response. It includes securing endpoints like laptops and mobile devices, protecting data as it moves across networks, ensuring cloud security, and managing access control through identity and access management (IAM). Compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA also forms a key aspect of cybersecurity.
As cyber threats increase and SMBs become prime targets, cybersecurity is no longer optional. For MSPs, offering robust cybersecurity services is essential to meet client needs and maintain trust.
Cybersecurity Services that MSPs Need to Offer to Customers
As cyber threats continue to escalate, MSPs must evolve their service offerings to include comprehensive cybersecurity solutions. The modern business landscape demands not just IT support but proactive, integrated cybersecurity services. MSPs who provide these services not only help safeguard their clients but also gain a competitive edge. Here are essential cybersecurity services that every MSP should offer to ensure their clients’ protection:
Threat Detection and Response
The first step in defending against cyberattacks is detecting them quickly. Cyber threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks evolve daily, and the longer an attack goes unnoticed, the more damage it can cause. That’s why threat detection and response are essential for any cybersecurity strategy.
MSPs need to implement systems and technologies that can continuously monitor their clients’ networks for suspicious activity. This allows for immediate identification of potential threats. Once a threat is detected, it’s crucial to act swiftly to contain and mitigate the impact. This involves not just removing the threat but also investigating how it infiltrated the system and implementing measures to prevent similar attacks in the future.
In addition to automated tools that can identify known threats, MSPs should also use advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect new and emerging threats that may not yet be cataloged in traditional databases. Threat detection and response services help businesses stay one step ahead of cybercriminals, preventing costly downtime and security breaches.
Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are essential for understanding the vulnerabilities within a client’s digital infrastructure. Many businesses make the mistake of assuming their systems are secure without thoroughly evaluating them.
A risk assessment allows MSPs to perform a deep dive into their clients’ IT environment, identifying weaknesses in areas such as outdated software, unpatched security holes, and unsecured network entry points. By regularly performing risk assessments, MSPs help businesses stay ahead of potential threats and ensure their cybersecurity protocols remain up to date.
Moreover, risk assessments allow MSPs to recommend specific actions that clients can take to address vulnerabilities. This might include updating outdated software, reconfiguring firewall settings, or enhancing employee training on cybersecurity best practices. By providing this insight, MSPs ensure their clients understand where they stand in terms of security, and they can help them make informed decisions to reduce potential risks.
Security Operations Center as a Service
For businesses that lack the resources or expertise to handle security monitoring in-house, a Security Operations Center (SOC) as a Service (SOCaaS) provides a vital solution. SOCaaS offers 24/7 monitoring of an organization’s systems by a team of cybersecurity experts who are trained to detect, analyze, and respond to threats in real time. This service allows MSPs to offer round-the-clock protection without their clients needing to hire an internal security team.
A SOC continuously monitors networks, systems, and data flows to identify suspicious activity or signs of a breach. When an issue arises, the SOC team acts quickly to neutralize the threat, often preventing significant damage. For MSPs, offering SOCaaS not only provides immense value to their clients but also positions them as trusted partners who can provide the highest level of security. This proactive service is essential in an environment where cyberattacks can occur at any moment, and businesses are increasingly looking for comprehensive solutions to stay secure.
Threat Intelligence
In the constantly evolving world of cybersecurity, knowing what threats to anticipate is just as important as defending against them. Threat intelligence refers to the collection, analysis, and sharing of data related to potential cyber threats. By providing threat intelligence services, MSPs can give their clients real-time insights into emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
This service involves gathering information on the latest cybercriminal tactics, new malware types, and zero-day vulnerabilities, all of which can be crucial for businesses to understand. Armed with this intelligence, businesses can proactively defend themselves against cyberattacks, rather than waiting until they’ve been targeted. Threat intelligence also allows MSPs to help clients implement more targeted security measures based on the types of threats they’re most likely to encounter. This ensures that businesses are prepared for whatever comes their way, rather than reacting to threats after the fact.
Backup and Disaster Recovery
One of the most critical elements of any cybersecurity strategy is having a reliable backup and disaster recovery plan in place. Data loss, whether from ransomware attacks, hardware failure, or human error, can be devastating for businesses. MSPs should ensure that their clients have automated, encrypted backups of critical data stored securely, with rapid recovery options available.
The key to effective disaster recovery is minimizing downtime and ensuring that businesses can continue operating even in the face of a breach. MSPs should offer backup and recovery services that allow businesses to quickly restore lost data and resume normal operations. This not only protects against data loss but also reduces the impact of cyberattacks, as businesses can restore their systems to a pre-attack state. Furthermore, disaster recovery plans should be tested regularly to ensure they work as intended when an actual incident occurs.
For MSPs, offering backup and disaster recovery services is crucial for ensuring business continuity and providing peace of mind to clients. This service is often seen as a safety net that guarantees businesses can recover from even the most severe cybersecurity incidents with minimal disruption.
Four Reasons MSPs Need to Offer Cybersecurity Services Now
As cyber threats become more sophisticated and pervasive, MSPs face increasing pressure to integrate cybersecurity into their service offerings. Failing to do so not only jeopardizes client trust but also risks losing business to competitors who can meet these growing demands. Here are four compelling reasons why MSPs must prioritize cybersecurity services:
Cybersecurity Concerns Are Top of Mind for Your Customers
Businesses are increasingly aware of the risks posed by cyber threats. With the rise in ransomware attacks and data breaches, organizations are seeking providers who can offer robust cybersecurity solutions. According to Infrascale, 30.2% of businesses consider cybersecurity a top priority when selecting an MSP. By offering these services, MSPs can address client concerns and establish themselves as trusted partners in safeguarding digital assets.
If You Don’t, Someone Else Will
The demand for cybersecurity services is growing, and clients are actively seeking MSPs that can provide comprehensive protection. MSPs can “white label” their security services, allowing clients to receive cybersecurity solutions under the MSP’s brand, even if the MSP doesn’t have an in-house security team. This approach enables MSPs to meet client needs without significant upfront investment in security infrastructure.
You Maintain the Relationship
By offering cybersecurity services, MSPs can strengthen their relationships with clients. Providing comprehensive security solutions ensures that clients remain dependent on the MSP for their IT needs, reducing the likelihood of clients seeking alternative providers. This continuity fosters long-term partnerships and enhances client loyalty.
Buy Yourself Time
Cybersecurity services not only protect clients but also provide MSPs with more time to respond to potential threats. With proactive monitoring and threat detection, MSPs can identify and mitigate risks before they escalate into significant issues. This proactive approach minimizes downtime and ensures business continuity for clients, while also safeguarding the MSP’s reputation.
Cybersecurity Best Practices for MSPs
To ensure strong protection for their clients and maintain a high standard of service, MSPs must implement a range of best practices in cybersecurity.
Establish and Follow a Formal Security Framework
A well-defined security framework is essential for maintaining consistency and ensuring that security measures are followed across all client systems. MSPs should adopt frameworks like NIST or ISO 27001, which provide guidelines for implementing and managing security controls. By following a structured approach, MSPs can ensure they are addressing all critical areas of cybersecurity.
Assess Vulnerabilities
Conducting regular vulnerability assessments allows MSPs to identify and address potential weaknesses in their clients’ systems. This proactive approach helps reduce the risk of successful cyberattacks by identifying unpatched software, insecure configurations, and other vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Define and Follow a Schedule to Keep Systems Patched
Keeping software and systems updated is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to prevent cyber threats. MSPs should establish a regular patching schedule to ensure that clients’ systems are always up to date with the latest security patches. This helps to mitigate risks posed by known vulnerabilities.
Manage Third-Party Risks
Third-party vendors and contractors can be entry points for cybercriminals, especially if they have access to critical systems and data. MSPs must assess and manage these risks by ensuring that third-party vendors follow the same cybersecurity best practices and have proper security protocols in place to prevent potential breaches.
Equip Both Your Employees and Customers with Knowledge
Employee and client education play a crucial role in preventing cybersecurity breaches. MSPs should regularly train both employees and customers on best practices, including how to recognize phishing attempts, manage passwords securely, and avoid unsafe behaviors that could lead to data exposure.
Perform Continuous Threat Monitoring
Continuous monitoring helps MSPs detect and respond to emerging threats in real time. By utilizing advanced threat detection tools and maintaining vigilance 24/7, MSPs can minimize the risk of cyberattacks escalating into major incidents. This ensures that clients remain protected at all times.
Plan for Disaster Recovery
No security system is foolproof, which is why having a disaster recovery plan is critical. MSPs should work with clients to create comprehensive recovery strategies, ensuring that data can be restored and systems brought back online as quickly as possible following an attack or other disruptive events.
Integrate Cybersecurity Services Today
Cybersecurity is crucial for your clients, and taking action now can prevent future headaches. By integrating these best practices into your MSP services, you’re not just protecting systems, you’re also building trust. Make cybersecurity a core part of your service offering and stay ahead of the curve.
