Definition
A Managed Service Provider (MSP) is a company that manages, remotely and continuously, all or part of its customers’ information systems. Its role consists of outsourcing the supervision, maintenance, security and sometimes the complete management of IT infrastructures, according to a subscription or recurring service model.
Why are MSPs crucial?
- Pooling of skills : MSPs allow SMEs to access technical expertise equivalent to that of large companies, without recruiting expensive internal teams.
- Operational continuity : by providing 24/7 monitoring, they reduce downtime and anticipate critical incidents.
- Built-in cybersecurity : MSPs play a central role in the distribution of security solutions, often via white-label SaaS platforms.
- Scalability and cost predictability : their model is based on recurring contracts (SLA) offering budgetary visibility and a scalable service depending on the size of the client.
Technological issues
- Automation of operations : MSPs rely on orchestration and monitoring tools powered by artificial intelligence to anticipate outages and threats.
- Local cybersecurity : the integration of detection and response tools (EDR, MDR, XDR) is becoming a standard for protecting distributed networks.
- Interoperability : the proliferation of cloud and SaaS services requires unified management of identities, access and data flows.
- Regulatory pressure : directives like NIS2 now impose compliance requirements on IT service providers equivalent to those of their end customers.
MSP vs MSSP: what’s the difference?
| Criteria | MSP (Managed Service Provider) | MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) |
|---|---|---|
| Perimeter | Global management of IT infrastructures | Management dedicated to IT security |
| Services | Maintenance, cloud, helpdesk, backup | Threat monitoring, SOC, incident response |
| Target audience | SMEs, ETIs, communities | Companies with high security requirements |
| Example of offer | Supervision and updating of positions | 24/7 monitoring of attacks and anomalies |
The future of MSPs
MSPs today position themselves as the missing link between software companies and enterprise customers. The increasing integration of AI, the rise of cyber threats and regulatory complexity reinforce their strategic role. Eventually, they will become hybrid trust platformscombining automation, compliance and human support.
