Why Resilience Is the New Cybersecurity Standard for MSPs

Why Resilience Is the New Cybersecurity Standard for MSPs

In the early days of managed services, the goal was simple: keep the bad actors out. Firewalls, antivirus software, and perimeter defenses were the digital moats designed to protect client data. But the threat landscape has changed. Today, relying on prevention alone isn’t just optimistic—it’s risky.

With ransomware attacks growing more sophisticated and frequent, the conversation has shifted from if an attack will happen to when. For managed service providers (MSPs), this reality demands a new cybersecurity standard: resilience.

What Does Resilience Mean?

Resilience goes beyond blocking threats. It’s the ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents with minimal disruption. When a client is hit, their business shouldn’t collapse. They should bounce back quickly—with confidence in you as their trusted partner.

Why SMBs Are at Greater Risk

Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) often believe they’re too small to be targeted. That misconception is costly. In fact, SMBs are prime targets for cybercriminals.

• Ransomware is everywhere: According to the 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, ransomware is involved in 44% of all attacks—a 37% increase from last year.¹
• SMBs are hit hardest: Ransomware appears in 88% of SMB breach incidents compared to 39% at larger organizations.¹
• The cost is rising: IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report shows the global average breach cost is $4.88 million. Worse, breaches involving unmanaged data sources take an average of 292 days to identify and contain.²

For MSPs, these numbers highlight a critical truth: you can’t promise 100% prevention. What you can deliver—and differentiate on—is resilience.

Building Resilience: The Three Pillars

Cyber resilience isn’t a single product. It’s a strategic framework aligned with standards like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0. Focus on these three pillars:

1. Prepare (Before an Incident)

   Preparation is the foundation. Identify risks and implement safeguards before threats materialize:

   • Maintain a complete inventory of hardware, software, and data assets.
   • Conduct ongoing risk assessments—not just annual audits.
   • Train users regularly with phishing simulations and security awareness programs.
   • Define governance policies so roles and responsibilities are clear during an incident.
2. Respond (During an Incident)

   When defenses fail, speed matters:

   • Use continuous monitoring tools like endpoint detection and response (EDR) and managed detection and response (MDR).
   • Develop tailored incident response playbooks for scenarios like ransomware or email compromise.
   • Isolate infected endpoints immediately to prevent lateral movement.
   • Communicate transparently with clients throughout the event.
3. Recover (After an Incident)

   Recovery is where resilience proves its worth:

   • Ensure backups are immutable, encrypted, and tested regularly.
   • Prioritize restoration of critical systems to minimize downtime.
   • Conduct post-incident reviews to strengthen defenses for the future.

Common Gaps MSPs Need to Close

• Backups that aren’t tested for recoverability.
• Lack of EDR/MDR, leaving blind spots for advanced attacks.
• No documented incident response plan.
• Ignoring shadow IT applications that bypass security controls.
• Underestimating the human element—training matters.

The Resilience Checklist: 10 Steps to Secure Clients

Use this checklist to assess your resilience strategy:

1. Up-to-date automated asset inventory.
2. Multi-factor authentication enforced everywhere.
3. EDR/MDR deployed on all endpoints.
4. Automated patch management for OS and third-party apps.
5. Immutable, air-gapped backups tested monthly.
6. Documented and tested ransomware response plan.
7. Quarterly phishing simulations and security training.
8. Principle of least privilege enforced.
9. Vendor security posture verified.
10. Cyber insurance coverage aligned with security measures.

Resilience Is Your Competitive Advantage

Adopting a resilience-first mindset isn’t just about avoiding disaster—it’s a powerful differentiator. Clients want more than IT support. They want a partner who ensures business continuity.

Shift the conversation from “we block threats” to “we keep your business running no matter what.” That positions you as a strategic advisor, builds trust, and opens the door to higher-margin services.

The threat landscape will keep evolving. A resilience-based strategy will always stay relevant.

Building a resilient service is the ultimate differentiator for modern MSPs, but it requires a security stack that can prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents seamlessly. N‑able delivers on this promise by providing an integrated ecosystem that operationalizes resilience. Our solutions, including Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and 24/7 Managed Detection and Response (MDR), equip you to rapidly contain threats and minimize impact during an attack. Paired with our immutable backup solutions that ensure fast and reliable recovery, N‑able empowers you to move beyond prevention and deliver true business continuity. By unifying these critical functions, you can build a scalable, profitable service that keeps your clients running, no matter what comes next.

Citations:
¹ https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/2025-dbir-data-breach-investigations-report.pdf
² https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach