MSPs Provide CISO Services to Nearly Half of Their Clients

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MSPs estimate that 46% of their clients, on average, depend on them for CISO functions, according to a Sophos survey, highlighting challenges in compliance management and the need for integrated solutions.

MSPs and CISO Functions

MSPs estimate that 46% of their clients, on average, depend on them for CISO functions, according to a Sophos survey. Many of these managed service providers handle these responsibilities without comprehensive compliance services, often distributing tasks across multiple tools. The majority of providers anticipate an increase in this type of work. For numerous clients, the MSP serves as their primary security leadership resource.

Compliance Offerings and Client Needs

Compliance offerings remain limited in scope. While nearly all providers engage in some compliance-related activities, they note that compliance requirements influence approximately half of their customers’ security purchasing decisions. Sophos evaluated seven compliance services, ranging from identifying applicable regulations to managing full compliance programs, with most providers delivering four to six of these services.

Provider Confidence and Manual Efforts

Over half of the surveyed providers manage clients’ entire compliance programs, yet about 10% of these also offer the remaining six services. Sophos suggests that some of this oversight involves coordinating efforts handled by clients or external specialists. Despite this, providers express confidence in their ability to track compliance across multiple clients. Ninety-five percent report confidence in this task, though only a third describe themselves as fully confident.

Unified Platforms as a Solution

Manual effort remains prevalent in reporting processes. Nearly 90% of providers use software for compliance work, but a significant number utilize multiple tools rather than a single platform. Sophos highlights that many of these tools fail to integrate with centralized reporting systems, forcing staff to manually consolidate data. Providers indicate that security posture reports, which summarize a client’s security status and required improvements, often require substantial manual input.

Sophos’ CISO Advantage and Strategic Insight

Expert Perspective on Strategic Partnerships

Scott Barlow, VP and chief evangelist at Sophos, emphasized that MSPs have the potential to become critical strategic partners for clients. Scaling this role requires a more integrated operational approach, he stated. Consolidating security posture, compliance management, and reporting could enable MSPs to reduce manual data consolidation and focus more on helping clients mitigate risks, enhance resilience, and make informed cybersecurity decisions.

Challenges in Compliance and Security Investments

The survey also revealed that providers face challenges in aligning compliance requirements with security investments. While most engage in some compliance activities, the complexity of regulatory demands often leads to fragmented approaches. The reliance on multiple tools underscores the need for streamlined solutions to improve efficiency. Providers highlighted that a unified platform would not only save time but also enhance the accuracy and consistency of compliance reporting.

Conclusion: The Future of MSPs in Cybersecurity

The findings underscore the evolving role of MSPs in cybersecurity, as they navigate the demands of compliance, risk management, and client expectations. With the right tools and strategies, MSPs can strengthen their value proposition and better support clients in addressing increasingly complex security landscapes.