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How do MSPs build a profitable security practice?

By , CRO, CybaVerse. Last reviewed

MSPs build a profitable security practice by choosing a delivery model that does not require their own 24/7 SOC, packaging security into clear tiers with outcomes clients understand, and partnering with an MDR platform that works through the channel. The MSP owns the client relationship, onboarding and recovery; the partner provides the platform and round-the-clock analysts.

This guide is part of the CybaVerse Knowledge Hub.

Why are MSPs building security practices now?

Clients increasingly expect their MSP to answer security questions, from insurers' monitoring requirements to supply chain checks from their own customers. The NCSC supply chain guidance encourages organisations to ask suppliers how they manage cyber risk, and those questions often land on the MSP's desk first.

The UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 found that 43% of businesses reported a breach or attack in the previous 12 months. For an MSP, that is both a risk to manage across its client base and a reason clients will value a security service they can understand.

Which delivery model should an MSP choose?

There are three common models. An MSP can build its own SOC, resell another provider's service, or deliver a white-label MDR platform under its own brand. Each model trades control, cost and effort differently, so choose the one that fits your size, skills and client base.

ModelMSP ownsPartner ownsMain risk
Build your own SOCEverythingNothingHiring and 24/7 rota cost
Resell a providerSale onlyDelivery and client contactLosing the relationship
MSP-delivered white-label MDRClient relationship, onboarding, recoveryPlatform and 24/7 SOCChoosing the wrong partner

How do you build the practice, step by step?

Treat the security practice as a new service line with its own plan, owner and launch. The steps below are the ones we see work most often with MSPs adding managed security. Start small, prove the delivery process with a few clients, then scale across the base.

  1. Step 1: Appoint a security owner

    One person owns the service, its runbooks and its quality.

  2. Step 2: Choose your delivery model and partner

    Decide what you will deliver and what the partner will deliver.

  3. Step 3: Design two or three tiers

    Base tiers on outcomes, such as monitoring, monitoring plus remediation, and compliance support.

  4. Step 4: Pilot with a handful of clients

    Choose clients with clear risk and a good relationship.

  5. Step 5: Train sales and the service desk

    Give account managers a short pitch and engineers a clear escalation runbook.

  6. Step 6: Report outcomes every month

    Show each client what was detected, contained and fixed.

Which questions does this cluster answer?

The pages below answer the commercial and delivery questions MSPs ask most when adding security, from white-label models to who speaks to the client during an incident. Use the links to go straight to the question you need.

  • How do MSPs price MDR to clients and still make margin?

How does CybaVerse work with MSPs?

CybaVerse works through MSPs rather than around them. CybaOps is a product-led MDR platform that MSPs see in a demo and then onboard clients onto themselves, backed by our UK-based security operations centre. Partners keep the client relationship and decide how the service is packaged.

  • CybaVerse sells only through partners: MSPs, resellers and distributors.
  • MSPs can run CybaOps across all their customers from one multi-tenant platform.
  • Partners get a portal for deal registration, quoting, sales content and training.
  • Partners can train and certify their teams in the CybaVerse Academy.
  • MSPs can sell CybaOps under their own brand, so their clients see the MSP's name, not ours.
  • CybaVerse offers three MDR packages, CybaCore, CybaEdge and CybaOne, sold through MSPs and resellers.
  • CybaVerse is certified under the NCSC Cyber Incident Response (CIR) scheme at Standard Level. CybaVerse is ISO 27001 certified.
  • Partner programme terms are on the CybaVerse partner page.

Security practice

How MSPs build a profitable security practice

MSPs build a profitable security practice by choosing a delivery model that does not require their own 24/7 SOC, packaging security into clear tiers with outcomes clients understand, and partnering with an MDR platform that works through the channel.

01 You choose

Multi-tenantPartner / MSP CustomerCustomerCustomer+
CybaOps by CybaVerse

Security practice

02 The 6-step path

  • Role-based access
  • UK-based analysts
  • ISO 27001

03 Outcomes

Explore

Hover or tap any part of the diagram to see what it does.

  • Packages
  • CybaCore
  • CybaEdge
  • CybaOne
  • CybaVM
  • Cyber Essentials & CE+

What else do MSPs ask about building a security practice?

These are the follow-up questions we hear most from MSP owners planning a security service.

Do we need to hire security analysts?

Not to start. In an MSP-delivered MDR model the partner's SOC covers 24/7 monitoring and triage. Many MSPs appoint one internal security champion who owns runbooks, client reviews and escalation quality.

Will clients know the SOC is not ours?

With a white-label platform, the service carries your brand. Be open about using specialist partners if a client asks, and explain how escalation and accountability work between you and the partner.

How quickly can we launch?

That depends on your sales cycle and how quickly pilot clients onboard. Plan the launch as a project with a named owner and a short pilot phase.

What should you do next?

Read about the CybaVerse partner model for MSPs and see the CybaOps platform.

See CybaOps from a partner's point of view, across several client tenancies.

Book a CybaOps demo