When SMEs are breached, the ripple effects can be devastating. A single misconfiguration could compromise broader distribution networks and partner systems. This interconnectivity means an attack on one SME can spread across the supply chain, underscoring the importance of a robust cybersecurity posture at every tier.

What roles do Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in this region play to help SMEs stay secure, and ensure their business continuity and resiliency?

Industries handling vast amounts of sensitive data—financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, telecom, and energy—are particularly vulnerable. Ongoing digitisation in these sectors creates an expansive attack surface for AI-powered threats. To counter this, we’ve seen a shift toward automated security. Tools like Kaseya 365 mitigate cyber risks like ransomware through real-time monitoring, patching, and rapid threat response. For many businesses, this automation approach not only counters complexity but also helps avert IT burnout in the face of ever-escalating attacks.

DG: MSPs are increasingly the first line of defense for SMEs, delivering enterprise-grade security without the heavy overhead of in-house cybersecurity teams. In Kaseya’s 2025 State of MSP Look Ahead, it found that more than two-thirds of MSPs saw an increase in AI-driven attacks in the last 12 months. Despite this, client apathy toward cyber risks remains a challenge, with many small businesses failing to understand the importance of investing in security.

To ensure SMEs are ready to face ongoing cyber risks, MSPs are doubling down on proactive education about evolving threats and harnessing AI-powered security tools to detect, respond to, and prevent threats for SMEs in real time. While education is important, MSPs are also investing in platforms and tools to bolster protection for SMEs without breaking the bank.

When it comes to ensuring business resiliency, MSPs support SMEs through digitisation, migrating workloads onto the cloud. To date, more than half of top MSP earners have fully migrated their clients’ workloads — helping SMEs modernise while maintaining data integrity and system availability. MSPs also help SMEs scale securely by offering flexible solutions tailored to their evolving needs – especially as they grow into different stages of their business. MSPs guide SMEs on compliance and risk management in highly regulated industries, and continuously align their adoption of tech solutions with existing business goals.