Businesses are keen to adopt new solutions but are also specifically prioritising data security... and here lies a conundrum and opportunity.
Businesses want the value delivered by these new solutions but with limited risks attached and they see too many complications and hoops to jump through to achieve the latter and ensure wraparound data security for all of their solutions. This is halting their purchases and growth.
We in the industry know that all these businesses need to do is engage with both MSPs and systems integrators, but businesses are busy and drowning in choice.
They do not want to be the middleman between the MSP and integrator. They want one contact who has had all the necessary conversations and can offer their business a holistic and integrated approach which covers all data security concerns.
Businesses want a super-provider, and who can blame them?
Identifying challenges
So, what challenges are businesses facing? First is a lack of expertise. Many businesses don’t just lack the internal expertise to develop and maintain a strong security posture, they also lack enough knowledge to feel comfortable choosing providers. They are also struggling to keep pace with threats.
The rapid evolution of threats means that yesterday’s security measures aren’t effective and businesses are unsure what will be a future priority. What’s more, they then have resource constraints, and building an in-house security team is expensive.
From hiring skilled professionals to investing in cutting-edge tools, the costs can quickly spiral beyond the reach of many organisations.
Businesses are also grappling with fragmented systems. As businesses adopt multiple technologies and platforms, integrating them securely becomes a significant challenge and they feel that there are too many variables and hoops to jump through.
This leads to dealing with compliance complexity. Navigating the intricate web of local, national and international data protection regulations can be daunting, particularly for businesses operating across borders.
Solving those challenges
So, who amongst us can step in as a super-provider? Whilst large enterprises often make the headlines for high-profile breaches, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) now feel like easy prey and are highly focused, so this requirement will carry right the way through the market.
Despite recognising the importance of data security, many businesses struggle to implement effective strategies internally due to well-recognised challenges. Given these challenges, the case for businesses partnering with managed service providers (MSPs) and system integrators is clearly compelling.
The case for strategic collaborations in our industry between these entities to help customers withstand the threats of tomorrow and gain a large foothold is more compelling even still.
Whilst MSPs and system integrators are the two key players in the ecosystem, they perform distinct functions, and their collaboration could be instrumental in building and maintaining a robust data security framework.
MSPs function as external IT providers, specialising in delivering continuous IT support, maintenance and security services to businesses.
System integrators, on the other hand, focus on designing and implementing cohesive IT infrastructures by connecting disparate systems, applications and tools.
Their role is critical in ensuring that all components of a business’s technology ecosystem work harmoniously, reducing inefficiencies and potential vulnerabilities.
Creating a synergy
The good news is both entities can complement each other in one super-provider. The collaboration between MSPs and integrators creates a synergy that significantly enhances a business’ data security posture.
Collaboration can help proactive defence to meet secure design. MSPs excel at monitoring, maintaining and responding to threats, while integrators focus on building secure systems from the ground up. Together, they can create a well-rounded security ecosystem.
MSPs and integrators can also close security gaps together. Integrators identify and address vulnerabilities during system design and upgrades, while MSPs continuously monitor for and respond to emerging threats, ensuring long-term protection.
They can also facilitate seamless implementation. Integrators lay the foundation for modern technologies, and MSPs take over the ongoing management and optimisation, ensuring that no security measures are overlooked during transitions.
By working together, MSPs and integrators can also help with compliance and best practices. Integrators ensure initial compliance during system setup, while MSPs maintain compliance through regular audits and updates.
Another benefit could be resource efficiency. Integrators streamline IT systems to reduce redundancies, while MSPs focus on operational efficiency and cost-effective management. Crucially, collaboration can lead to disruption-free transformation.
Integrators are particularly valuable when businesses adopt modern technologies or undergo digital transformation, as they ensure smooth transitions.
Winning the race
MSPs and integrators can together provide businesses with the dual advantage of a secure, well-integrated technology environment and ongoing vigilance. They can confidently tell customers they’ve got all angles covered.
Collaboration is happening organically anyway, but the provider who decides to make this collaboration its key focus and differentiator will, in my opinion, win the race with customers.
This article was included in our March 2025 print issue. You can read the magazine in full here.