Evaluating cybersecurity vendors is a critical decision for MSPs. The right cybersecurity company can help scale your security services, improve margins, and reduce operational complexity, while the wrong choice can lead to integration headaches, poor client outcomes, and revenue loss.

This guide is specifically designed for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) looking to evaluate cybersecurity vendors effectively. You’ll learn how to assess vendor solutions based on multi-tenancy, RMM/PSA integrations, automation, SLAs, and partner-friendly pricing models - key factors that impact your bottom line and client satisfaction.

Key Takeaways

• Define your cybersecurity service goals and assess vendors based on their ability to support MSP-specific needs like multi-tenancy and seamless integration with RMM/PSA tools.
• Choose vendors with proven experience serving MSPs, strong SLAs, and scalable pricing models that align with your revenue structure.
• Ensure vendor solutions reduce manual workload through automation, AI-driven threat detection, and proactive support, so your team can focus on growth, not firefighting.
• Implement effective cybersecurity measures by integrating security tools into existing processes and establishing long-term partnerships with security vendors to ensure strategies remain relevant and responsive to changing needs.

Identifying Your Cybersecurity Needs as an MSP

Before evaluating vendors, define the specific cybersecurity needs and assess the cyber risk for your MSP business and your clients. Unlike general businesses, MSPs require scalable, multi-client solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing operations.

Key Considerations for MSPs:

• Multi-tenancy: Can the vendor’s solution efficiently serve multiple clients from a single dashboard?
• White-labeling: Does the vendor allow you to brand the solution as your own?
• RMM & PSA Integrations: Does it integrate with ConnectWise, Autotask, Datto, Atera, or your existing stack?
• Pricing Models: Does the vendor offer MSP-friendly pricing (per-client, per-endpoint, monthly subscriptions)?
• Compliance Needs: Do your clients require HIPAA, CMMC, or SOC 2 compliance support?
• Vendor's Expertise: Does the vendor have a proven track record in cybersecurity, with industry-specific certifications and adherence to best practices?

By answering these questions, you can filter out vendors that don’t align with MSP workflows and focus only on those that help scale your business efficiently.

Evaluating Vendor Expertise and MSP Track Record

Once you’ve defined your needs, the next step is to evaluate potential vendors based on their experience working with MSPs and their cyber security measures.

Key Vendor Selection Criteria:

• MSP-Specific Experience: Does the vendor have a proven track record of serving MSPs and MSSPs?
• Client Case Studies: Have they helped MSPs improve security offerings, reduce costs, or increase efficiency?
• SLAs & Support Response Times: How quickly does the vendor respond to incidents that impact your clients?
• Security Incidents & Response: What is the vendor’s track record for managing cyber incidents?
• Cybersecurity Measures: How well does the vendor integrate security tools into existing processes and establish long-term partnerships to ensure adaptable and relevant security strategies?

Pro Tip: Avoid vendors that cater primarily to large enterprises unless they have a dedicated MSP program with tailored support and pricing for SMB’s.

Compliance and Industry Standards

For MSPs serving regulated industries, selecting a cybersecurity company is non-negotiable. Your chosen vendor must meet the compliance standards relevant to your clients.

Key Compliance Factors for MSP Vendors:

• Certifications: Does the vendor hold SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, or HIPAA certifications?
• Regulatory Alignment: Does the vendor help with documentation and audits for compliance-heavy industries?
• Third-Party Risk Management: How does the vendor handle third-party integrations to avoid compliance gaps?
• Cybersecurity Measures: Does the vendor integrate security tools into existing processes and establish long-term partnerships with security vendors to ensure their cybersecurity measures remain relevant and responsive to changing needs?

Integration Capabilities with RMM, PSA, and Security Tools

Cybersecurity measures and seamless integration are essential for reducing complexity and streamlining MSP operations.

Checklist for Vendor Integration:

• Pre-built integrations with ConnectWise, Autotask, Datto, NinjaOne, Atera, or other RMM/PSA platforms. SIEM & SOC compatibility for managed security services. Automation support (can security alerts auto-trigger remediation actions?). API accessibility for custom integrations.
• Cybersecurity measures to ensure the vendor's security strategies are adaptable and seamlessly integrated into your existing processes.

A vendor that lacks direct integrations or requires excessive customization adds unnecessary friction and labor costs—avoid them.

Scalability and Adaptability for MSP Growth

Your cybersecurity vendor must support long-term scalability and effective cybersecurity measures as your MSP grows.

What to Look for in a Scalable Vendor:

• Flexible pricing tiers that adjust as your client base expands.
• AI & automation features that reduce manual security tasks.
• Cloud-native solutions to support remote monitoring and incident response.
• Advanced analytics and reporting to demonstrate value to your clients.
• Effective cybersecurity measures that integrate seamlessly into existing processes and adapt to evolving business needs.

Pro Tip: Choose a vendor with a roadmap for AI-driven security automation—this helps future-proof your services and reduce operational overhead.

Support, Responsiveness, and SLAs

Strong support and SLAs, along with effective cybersecurity measures, are crucial, as vendor downtime or delays can directly affect your MSP’s client contracts.

Must-Have Support Features:

• 24/7 SOC support with MSP-first response SLAs.
• Dedicated MSP partner managers (not just general customer support).
• Proactive threat intelligence & real-time alerts.
• Effective cybersecurity measures that integrate seamlessly into existing processes and adapt to evolving business needs.

Third Party Risk Management

Managing Risks with Vendor Partnerships:

Effective third-party risk management is crucial for MSPs to mitigate cyber risks associated with vendor partnerships. As MSPs often rely on third-party vendors to deliver their services, ensuring these vendors have robust security measures in place is essential to protect critical assets and sensitive data.

When evaluating vendor expertise, consider their experience in managing cyber threats and their compliance expertise. Assess their adherence to industry standards and conduct a thorough assessment process to evaluate their security measures, including network security, data encryption, and incident response plans.

It’s also important to consider the vendor’s reputation and expertise in managing cybersecurity challenges. Review case studies, customer testimonials, and industry certifications to gauge their reliability. Additionally, evaluate their ability to provide 24/7 support and monitoring, as well as their incident response plan in the event of a cyber attack.

By carefully evaluating vendor expertise and implementing effective third-party risk management strategies, MSPs can minimize the risks associated with vendor partnerships and ensure the security of their critical assets and sensitive data. This, in turn, helps protect customer data and maintain the organization’s reputation.

In the context of cybersecurity, third-party risk management is critical to preventing cyber attacks and data breaches. Working with cybersecurity vendors who have the necessary expertise and security measures in place reduces the risk of cyber threats and ensures the security of your network and data.

Ultimately, effective third-party risk management requires a comprehensive approach that includes evaluating vendor expertise, implementing robust security measures, and maintaining ongoing monitoring and support. By taking a proactive approach to third-party risk management, MSPs can minimize the risks associated with vendor partnerships and ensure the security of their critical assets and sensitive data.

Cost-Effectiveness and ROI for MSPs

Cybersecurity measures must be both effective and profitable for MSPs.

Key Financial Considerations:

• Does the vendor offer per-client or per-endpoint billing?
• Are there minimum contract commitments or pay-as-you-grow options?
• What’s the total cost of ownership (TCO) vs. potential ROI?
• How well do the vendor's cybersecurity measures integrate with existing processes and adapt to evolving business needs?

Pro Tip: Avoid vendors with rigid pricing models that don’t align with MSP revenue structures.

Continuous Monitoring, Threat Detection & AI Automation

The ideal cybersecurity vendor should provide cybersecurity measures, including real-time threat intelligence and AI-driven automation.

Top Vendor Features to Look For:

• Continuous monitoring across all client environments.
• AI-driven threat detection with automated remediation capabilities.
• Security event correlation to detect and mitigate multi-vector attacks.
• Real-time reporting to demonstrate security effectiveness to clients.
• Cybersecurity measures that ensure seamless integration and adaptability, establishing long-term partnerships with security vendors to keep strategies relevant and responsive to evolving business needs.

How CyVent Helps MSPs Scale Cybersecurity Services

At CyVent, we specialize in helping MSPs select the right cybersecurity company without spending endless time evaluating options.

Tailored cybersecurity solutions for MSPs, fully vetted and AI-powered. Seamless integrations with leading RMM/PSA tools for easier management. Flexible pricing models that support MSP profitability and scalability. 24/7 SOC support and expert guidance tailored to MSPs’ unique challenges.

Partner with CyVent Today

If you’re an MSP looking to streamline cybersecurity offerings, increase revenue, and reduce operational headaches, partnering with a cybersecurity advisory company like CyVent can help.

Schedule a confidential consultation today to explore how we can support your growth with the right vendor solutions.

Cybersecurity is complex, but choosing the right vendor doesn’t have to be. Let’s talk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors should MSPs assess when evaluating cybersecurity vendors?

MSPs should evaluate vendors based on multi-tenancy support, integration with RMM/PSA tools, scalability, automation capabilities, compliance standards, SLAs, and pricing models.

• Cybersecurity measures: Ensure that the vendor's security tools can be seamlessly integrated into existing processes and that they offer adaptable solutions to keep up with evolving business needs. Establishing long-term partnerships with security vendors can help maintain relevant and responsive security strategies.

How can MSPs ensure vendor solutions align with compliance needs?

Check for certifications like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA. Ensure the vendor provides documentation, audit support, and compliance alignment for regulated industries. Effective cybersecurity measures should be integrated into these processes to ensure that security strategies remain relevant and responsive to changing needs.

Why is automation critical in cybersecurity solutions for MSPs?

Cybersecurity measures reduce manual workload, speed up threat detection, and enhance response efficiency, allowing MSPs to scale services while maintaining profitability.

What are the key pricing considerations when selecting a cybersecurity vendor?

Look for MSP-friendly pricing structures such as per-client or per-endpoint billing, pay-as-you-grow options, and discounts for scaling operations. Additionally, consider the cost-effectiveness of integrating cybersecurity measures into your pricing strategy to ensure robust protection while maintaining budget flexibility.