The Next In-Demand MSP Service: Managed Antivirus

Managed antivirus services are emerging as one of the new high-demand areas for managed service providers (MSPs). The managed services industry, already worth $207.4 billion and posed to grow to more than $300 billion in the next five years, is preparing for this influx of interest in managed antivirus solutions and vying to position themselves as the leader on the subject.

To do that, you’ll need a clear understanding of what managed antivirus is, why your customers and prospects are looking for it, and how your MSP can benefit by providing managed antivirus solutions. In this article, you’ll gain a brief overview of all these subjects and a review of Acronis’ own integrated backup, disaster recovery, AI-based managed antivirus, remote desktop, and security solution: Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud.  

Before you offer managed antivirus solutions, explore:

• What managed antivirus is
• How MSPs benefit from managed antivirus solutions
• Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud: modern managed antivirus and more

An antivirus solution is a vital aspect of IT operations that detects, prevents, and removes malware before it can access or compromise computer systems. Managed antivirus solutions are the logical extension of that operation for organizations that lack the experienced personnel, time, or resources needed to manage on-premises or cloud antivirus software on their own. MSPs are increasingly providing antivirus installation, solution monitoring, scan scheduling, threat response and recovery, and more, all through on-premises or cloud-based antivirus solutions.

As the security challenges facing MSP customers have evolved, managed antivirus solutions have become essential for MSPs looking to provide the IT capabilities and coverage that small-to-medium organizations demand. As a result, many MSPs have begun to make this shift: delivering managed antivirus solutions and refocusing their service offering to a distinctly security-first approach. In doing so, IT Channel experts foresee a major shift from MSPs to MSSPs (managed security service providers) – and seeing key opportunities for growth along the way.

By delivering managed antivirus solutions, MSPs are tapping into an in-demand market and ensuring that their customers’ private, business critical data and systems stay secure in the face of a flood of sophisticated new cyberthreats. 

In the age of COVID, the added protection managed antivirus solutions provide is crucial both for the defense of your MSP organization and the safety of your customers. In 2020, cybercriminals saw a unique opportunity in the chaos caused by COVID-driven remote work migrations. Nearly one-third of companies (SMBs and enterprise organizations) reported cyberattacks striking at least once a day. At the same time, MSPs became primary targets for industrious cybercriminals who realized that a single successful MSP hack can grant them access to an entire portfolio of customers. Experts predict that this trend will continue through 2021.

What’s more, as the news has been filled with reports of cyberattacks on businesses and MSPs, alike, demand for comprehensive, reliable managed antivirus has been on the rise. Research indicates that as much 90% of SMBs would hire a new MSP if it provided the right cybersecurity solutions.  

Leading MSPs using endpoint protection solutions and delivering managed antivirus solutions are simply better equipped to defend against the wave of modern cyberthreats – and the significant expenses that they can trigger. Assuming that those MSPs are using modern cloud antivirus solutions that integrate completely with the rest of their IT environments, that is.

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is an all-in-one cyber protection solution designed exclusively for service providers. Integrating next-generation cybersecurity and cloud-based antivirus with best-in-industry backup and recovery and MSP-ready protection management solutions, Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud equips MSPs with the technologies needed to avoid downtime and data loss while protecting customers from cybersecurity threats and potential vulnerabilities. 

Through proactive vulnerability assessments, patch management, and AI-based static and behavioral heuristic antivirus capabilities, MSPs can rely on Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud to keep their customers business-critical data, applications, and systems safe. What’s more, by delivering this comprehensive managed antivirus, backup, management, and more to your customers all through a single solution you can streamline your productivity, reduce IT stack complexity, and increase your MSP business growth for years to come.