Threat intelligence is the most sought-after security service for managed service providers, according to new research.
The Kaspersky ‘MSP market focus in 2021: IT security challenges and opportunities in the new normal' report found the majority (91%) of managed service providers (MSPs) in APAC are planning to add new services to their cybersecurity portfolio, with threat intelligence being the top choice (49%).
Cybersecurity is one of the most prominent areas of growth for MSPs, according to various industry experts. It presented the biggest opportunities for growth in 2021, together with remote workforce setup – with 65% of MSPs reporting security service revenue growth as a result.
As for threat intelligence, which was the top interest of MSPs surveyed, “it is a key aspect of security architecture that helps security and risk management technical professionals detect, triage, and investigate threats,” according to Gartner.
According to the research, the most interesting threat intelligence services for MSPs in APAC are APT reporting and threat data feeds (33% each). This allows MSPs to keep up to date with the most recent investigations, threat campaigns and techniques of APT actors. This is followed by threat lookup (25%) which helps to improve incident response.
"Managed service providers understand the business need to combat security risks in an increasingly complex environment," says Mikhail Kolchin, head of MSP business at Kaspersky.
"Today, when a reactive approach to cybersecurity is not enough, MSPs have to seriously address the choice of threat intelligence service providers,” he says.
“High-quality threat intelligence implies a range of characteristics, such as possession of a rich context that creates intelligence from data and provides additional value.
"It also implies support from a recognised team of experts with proven experience in uncovering complex threats, and the smooth integration of services into a company's existing security operations.
Other services that MSPs across APAC look for include malware analysis (49%), security assessment (42%) and targeted attack discovery (37%).
Kolchin says expanding their portfolio with cybersecurity services can help MSPs strengthen their position in the market which has become quite competitive. In 2021, most APAC providers (87%) reported an increase in client base since 2019, and two fifths (43%) see competition from other MSPs as the most serious business challenge.
This competitive environment also determines the requirements for cybersecurity vendors. When it comes to choosing a vendor for the service, the number one criterion for MSPs in this region is competitive pricing (51%), followed by quality of protection in tests (41%) and the ability to offer additional services (36%). These should allow MSPs to build the best threat intelligence offering for their customers.