How Managed Security Services reduce your customers' cyber risk

The rising demand for Managed Security Services

Cybersecurity is no longer just a concern for large enterprises. SMBs are increasingly aware of the threats they face, with 39% reporting data loss due to cyberattacks in 2023—a worrying increase of 13% since 2021. This rising tide of attacks, evidenced by a 37% average increase in daily cybersecurity warnings, has forced businesses of all sizes to prioritise cyber resilience.

Moreover, as organisations accelerate their digital transformation efforts, they’re investing heavily in IT but often lack the resources and expertise to manage their technology stack effectively. The result? An increasing reliance on IT service providers for not just solutions, but ongoing security support.

This is where Managed Security Services come into play. The global Managed Security Services (MSS) market is projected to reach $67 billion by 2025, driven by the need for comprehensive security solutions that go beyond mere technology deployments.

This demand is creating a golden opportunity for IT providers to attract new customers and deepen relationships with existing ones. In fact, Canalys research reveals that 64% of IT channel partners expect their cybersecurity business to grow by at least 10% this year, underlining the urgency to evolve and meet this demand.

The risks of not providing Managed Security Services

For IT providers, failing to offer a holistic suite of Managed Security Services isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s a potential business risk.

Many IT providers currently offer a limited portfolio of security solutions, typically centred around technology deployments like firewalls, anti-virus software, email security, and VPNs. While these tools are essential, they are only as effective as the people and processes managing them.

Without offering services such as Firewall-as-a-Service, Managed Detection and Response or SOC-as-a-Service, you may be leaving your clients vulnerable to attacks that would be mitigated with continuous oversight and expert intervention.

But the risk doesn’t end there. IT providers themselves are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. Growing threats include “island hopping,” where attackers use an IT provider’s infrastructure to attack end customers, and “credential stuffing,” which exploits the broad access IT providers have to their clients’ systems.

These attacks underscore the importance of not only protecting your clients but also safeguarding your own business against sophisticated threats.

Moreover, as clients become more aware of their cybersecurity needs, they are likely to seek out providers who can offer comprehensive Managed Security Services. This means that if you don’t expand your service offerings, you risk losing clients to competitors who do.

Managed Security Services Providers are continually growing their range of services, so even if they don’t represent a competitive threat for you today, this is likely to change soon.

Seizing the opportunity in Managed Security Services

Delivering managed security services in-house is complex. The evolving threat landscape requires specialised expertise and substantial financial investment in skills, infrastructure, and 24/7 monitoring capabilities.

The good news is that there are simple and effective ways to overcome these challenges. By leveraging partnerships with specialised providers, you can quickly offer managed security services without the heavy investment in infrastructure and expertise.

These alternative solutions allow you to tap into expert knowledge, access end-to-end support, and go to market rapidly. At the same time, you can build your own skills and enhance your security posture, providing peace of mind that both your clients and your business are protected.

The journey from MSP to MSSP

Whether you’re looking to attract new clients or expand your service offerings to existing ones, our innovative Managed Security Services Distribution (MSSD) model provides everything you need to confidently offer and deliver managed security services to your clients,

Don’t let your clients or your business be left vulnerable— contact us to find out more.

Chris William is VP Group Professional Services at Infinigate.