In a very competitive environment, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) need to constantly find new ways to differentiate and provide more value to clients. With cybersecurity becoming a high priority for many businesses, now is the best time for MSPs to start expanding their security offerings.
One of the most effective ways to do this is by adding penetration testing services, which enable MSPs to proactively identify vulnerabilities, strengthen client defenses, and build trust as a comprehensive IT partner.
Here’s why penetration testing is a smart addition to an MSP’s service lineup.
Gaining a competitive advantage with offensive security
Offensive security is a highly sought-after approach in cybersecurity, as it goes beyond a traditional, defensive-minded mindset to proactively challenge and remediate weaknesses in an organization’s systems.
This “offensive security mindset” enables MSPs to proactively stress-test their clients’ environments, uncovering vulnerabilities that a typical security engineer might miss.
Many MSPs are already jumping on this trend, so those who delay risk falling behind competitors who offer a more robust cybersecurity portfolio. Adding penetration testing now allows MSPs to stay relevant, meet client demand, and position themselves as trusted, proactive partners in securing client systems.
Expanding revenue opportunities with penetration testing
Adding penetration testing creates new revenue possibilities that fit into different business models. Here are a few ways MSPs can incorporate this service:
- Standalone Testing: Offer penetration testing as an independent service, especially valuable for industries requiring regular testing for regulatory compliance.
- Bundled Services: Integrate penetration testing with services like compliance assessments or security awareness training to create a more comprehensive offering.
- Partnering Through a PTaaS Model: With a Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) model from a trusted provider like OP Innovate, MSPs can resell high-quality testing without the cost of an in-house team. This creates recurring revenue while keeping costs down.
By incorporating penetration testing into your service portfolio, you can generate consistent revenue while meeting the increasing demand for advanced cybersecurity services. This will diversify your income sources and position your MSP as a comprehensive security partner.
Many clients, particularly in highly regulated sectors, require regular penetration tests to maintain compliance. By offering these services, MSPs open the doors to highly lucrative contracts with clients who prioritize security and are willing to invest in regular assessments.
Help your clients get cyber insurance
As cyber insurance requirements become more stringent, MSPs are finding value in adding penetration testing to ensure that both their own networks and those of their clients meet insurance standards. Cyber insurance underwriters are increasingly focused on service providers who handle sensitive data for multiple clients, as this poses a higher risk to insurers.
Penetration testing capabilities help MSPs strengthen their own networks and conduct comprehensive tests that align with insurance underwriters’ requirements. This approach not only enhances the MSP’s compliance capabilities but also supports clients in meeting similar insurance standards, creating a new revenue stream for MSPs and providing clients with a clear path to achieve or renew their cyber insurance policies.
Leveraging automation for more scalable and efficient pentesting
Traditional penetration testing is time-intensive and expensive, limiting its accessibility. However, automation has changed the game, enabling MSPs to offer penetration testing at scale.
With automated tools, such as OP Innovate WASP, MSPs can conduct continuous vulnerability assessments that provide real-time insights and adapt to new threats as they emerge.
Automated pen testing offers numerous advantages:
- Speed and Efficiency: Automated tools can scan networks in real-time, identifying vulnerabilities quickly.
- Cost Savings: Less human involvement reduces costs, allowing MSPs to offer affordable testing services to a broader client base.
- 24/7 Monitoring: Automated tools work continuously, providing around-the-clock vulnerability assessments.
- Actionable Insights: These tools generate detailed reports with prioritized actions, enabling MSPs to address the most critical vulnerabilities first, and share findings with clients.
With OP Innovate’s WASP platform, MSPs can overcome the typical limitations of penetration testing—time, cost, and scalability—while enhancing service quality. WASP’s continuous, automated assessments provide real-time updates on vulnerabilities, enabling MSPs to deliver value faster and more affordably.
OP Innovate: Your trusted penetration testing partner
Founded in 2014, OP Innovate is one of the market’s leading penetration testing providers. We have a deep understanding of the threat landscape, and boast an impressive team of certified and experienced testers that will thoroughly assess your systems, identify all vulnerabilities, and provide actionable recommendations to help you remediate them.
In 2019, we launched our own Web Application Security Platform (WASP) to revolutionize the way organizations identify and remediate vulnerabilities. WASP integrates advanced automation with manual penetration testing, ensuring continuous application security and real-time vulnerability management, all within a single, easy-to-use platform.
Now, we’re extending this expertise through a re-selling model, allowing MSPs to offer our trusted penetration testing services under their own brand. By partnering with OP Innovate, MSPs can access our CREST-certified services, providing top-tier security assessments for their clients without needing in-house resources.
This partnership model empowers MSPs to enhance their service offerings, attract security-conscious clients, and establish themselves as proactive leaders in cybersecurity.
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