What is native integration?

Modern MSP operations rely on a wide variety of tools, from endpoint security, backup and disaster recovery to remote monitoring, service automation, and billing systems. Making these tools work together is essential — but not all integrations are created equal. In this article, we explain why.

Broadly speaking, there are two main types of integration:

• Native integration: Services developed and managed by the same vendor, designed to work together on a shared platform.
• Third-party integration: Connections between services from different vendors, typically made possible through public APIs, connectors, or custom-built extensions.

Each approach has its place. However, for core IT operations — especially in security and infrastructure management — native integration provides distinct advantages.

Integrating services is critical to run core IT operations reliably and efficiently — especially in security and infrastructure management where the impact on continuity, compliance and cost of business is profound.

When operations involve multiple tools, third-party integrations are required for service visibility, control and automation, and need to be built and maintained by either vendor or MSP. Securely building, documenting, maintaining, configuring and troubleshooting such integrations across multiple tools is difficult, expensive and can be fragile. Two of the largest factors complicating cybersecurity initiatives include cybersecurity skills gaps and a lack of budget.

To reduce the complexity and cost of implementing, integrating and operating disparate tools, MSPs now consolidate on platforms to deliver services that are natively integrated. With services integrated deeply and out of the box, adding more services and onboarding customers is faster, operations are easier and more efficient and enhanced scenarios improve SLAs with less time to respond, remediate and recover.

At Acronis, native integration means more than just connecting features. It refers to deeply unified services built under one platform, with a single agent, single console and shared data model.

For example, Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud brings together multiple services — remote monitoring and management (RMM), endpoint detection and response (EDR), backup, disaster recovery and more — all within one platform and environment. These components are designed to interact seamlessly without the need for connectors or separate installations.

For MSPs, native integration unlocks three critical benefits:

1. Better user experience and lower management overhead

Managing multiple tools from different vendors can be time-consuming and error-prone. Native integration simplifies operations by reducing the number of agents, interfaces and manual steps. MSPs gain a consistent experience across services, streamlining onboarding, training and day-to-day use.

2. Faster operations and response times

When services are natively integrated, workflows become more efficient. For example, after detecting a threat in EDR, a technician can immediately deploy a patch using built-in patch management — no need to switch tools or reauthenticate. This reduces the time between detection and resolution, improving service delivery and client satisfaction.

3. Greater reliability and quality

Because native integrations are built, tested and maintained by a single vendor, they are more stable and less likely to break due to changes or updates. This tighter control over the integration quality results in fewer compatibility issues and more predictable performance. MSPs benefit from a support experience that covers the full stack of services, not just individual components.

While native integration offers the highest level of consistency and control, Acronis recognizes the value of a broader ecosystem. That’s why we provide CyberApp — a framework that allows third parties to build integrations with the Acronis platform. This enables MSPs to connect external tools while maintaining a unified experience within the Acronis console.

Native integration means more than compatibility — it’s about services that are intentionally built to work together under one roof. With native integration, MSPs gain smoother workflows, faster responses and a more stable environment. And with CyberApp, they can still extend their capabilities with trusted third-party tools, all within a single platform.