Cybersecurity remains a top priority and growth area for MSPs, according to new research from Kaseya, with nearly three-quarters (73%) highlighting the segment as a top revenue driver.
Kaseya's 2024 MSP Benchmark Report surveyed 1,000 MSPs across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, as well as IT professionals and business executives, to gain their perspectives on the current global MSP landscape.
The study found that MSPs continue to focus attention on the threat of cyberattacks, with 78% saying they consider cybersecurity as one of the top challenges for their organization, compared to 67% in the year's report. past.
This increased focus has led to a decrease in the number of SMBs affected by cyber attacks, Kaseya added, with almost two-thirds of respondents revealing that less than 10% of their SMB clients were affected this year.
Additionally, clients are increasingly leveraging MSPs as a valuable cybersecurity resource: 46% reveal that the majority of their clients turn to them for advice on cybersecurity plans and best practices.
“Cybersecurity remains a critical concern for MSPs, driven by two factors: the growing threat landscape and the persistent challenge of demonstrating high-quality security services to all of their customers,” said Mike Puglia, general product manager at Kaseya security.
“This year we have witnessed a greater sense of urgency compared to previous years.
“Even those MSPs who demonstrate cybersecurity proficiency struggle with the strategic dilemma of resource allocation. “Our research underscores the imperative for MSPs to strengthen their efforts to meet the demands of the rapidly growing market.”
Automation and integration
To meet these demands, MSPs are turning to IT management solutions that include built-in automation integration capabilities.
The report found that a resounding 85% view automation as a “must-have” tool for increasing operational efficiency, while 67% of IT executives stated that integration between core MSP applications is “very important” to their operations.
According to the report, 75% said app integration saves time that can then be spent improving other areas of business, such as customer service and revenue, while 70% said it helps boost the efficiency of their technicians. .
AI on the rise
As AI continues to gain prominence globally, IT professionals are looking to technology to address pain points in their job functions, with the report revealing that 33% of participants are looking to leverage technology to streamline their tedious IT tasks. YOU.
15% also said they are turning to AI to help them strategize and grow their business.
However, 37% said implementing AI will be a challenge, while 32% have seen an increase in companies switching from legacy systems to more efficient SaaS and cloud solutions.
In addition to implementing automation, integration, and artificial intelligence, MSPs are also working to ensure their staff is prepared to understand these new technologies.
However, hiring appropriately trained IT professionals was the third most critical challenge for MSPs in 2024, with 12% highlighting it as a concern, ranking behind acquiring more customers (36%) and combating threats advanced security solutions (19%). .
