MSP Cybersecurity Trends 2025: What the Data Says (and How to Act)

Quick answer: In 2025, MSPs face a surge in ransomware, faster vulnerability exploitation (especially on edge devices/VPNs), and third-party exposure that now shows up in nearly 1 in 3 breaches. Pair baseline controls (MFA, EDR/XDR, patch/vuln management, immutable backups, logging) with tight vendor governance and BYOD guardrails; use cyber insurance as an accelerant to fund and prove the stack. Verizon

Who this is for: MSP/MSSPs and IT leaders who want a clear, up-to-date playbook to protect clients—and win deals—using controls aligned to CIS v8.1 plus today’s insurance requirements. CIS

Table of contents

• Ransomware & extortion: still the #1 business-breaker

• Vulnerability exploitation & edge devices: patching vs. reality

• Third-party & supply-chain: partner risk doubled

• People, infostealers & BYOD: the messy middle

• GenAI data leakage: quiet, costly, preventable

• Cloud & SaaS: configuration, identity, and least privilege

• The 2025 MSP control set (CIS v8.1 aligned)

• Insurance as an accelerant (and proof)

• 90-day roadmap (with internal links to your own guides)

• FAQs + schema

Ransomware & extortion: still the #1 business-breaker

Ransomware is present in 44% of breaches in the latest DBIR—up from 32%—with SMBs disproportionately hit. Median paid ransom dropped to $115k, and 64% of victims didn’t pay (a good trend, but only if resilience is real). Verizon

What to do now

• Make immutable, offline, tested backups table stakes.

• Enforce MFA everywhere (privileged + remote + SaaS).

• Standardize EDR/XDR with 24/7 response.

• Pre-wire isolation playbooks (EDR network containment, identity suspension, restore steps).

• Add a client-facing runbook for exec approvals and comms.

Internal link prompt: link “Quick Wins” and “Top 10 SMB Risks” pages where you talk MFA/EDR/Backups.

Vulnerability exploitation & edge devices: patching vs. reality

Exploited vulnerabilities are now the initial access in 20% of breaches—a 34% YoY jump—driven by edge devices and VPNs (22% of exploitation actions). Only ~54% of those vulns were fully remediated across the year; median time-to-patch: 32 days. Verizon

MSP moves

• Prioritize internet-facing assets and appliance CVEs (firewalls, VPNs, hypervisors).

• Track TTM/MTTR on high-risk CVEs; publish a client-visible patch KPI.

• Where possible, replace VPN with ZTNA and harden device mgmt planes.

Third-party & supply-chain: partner risk doubled

Breaches involving a third party doubled—from 15% to 30%. That includes vendors, MSP tools, and hosted dev environments. Verizon

MSP moves

• Keep a live SBP (Security Baseline Profile) per tool (RMM, PSA, backup, email security).

• Enforce SaaS least-privilege (no standing global admin), SCIM/SSO, and token governance.

• Maintain a vendor kill-switch list (API keys, OAuth apps, service accounts) for incident response.

People, infostealers & BYOD: the messy middle

The human element sits around ~60% of breaches. DBIR analysis shows 46% of compromised systems with corporate logins were non-managed—classic BYOD spillover. Verizon

MSP moves

• Block password reuse; enforce FIDO2/Passkeys where possible.

• Harden browsers and deploy credential theft protections.

• Move email/SaaS to continuous risk-based access (step-up MFA, session controls).

GenAI data leakage: quiet, costly, preventable

About 15% of employees access GenAI services on corporate devices, and many use non-corporate emails—policy gaps that can leak sensitive data. Lock it down via CASB/DLP and SSO. Verizon

Cloud & SaaS: configuration, identity, and least privilege

Cloud incidents still skew toward misconfiguration and access mistakes, not just “elite” attacks. Focus on CSPM/CNAPP, SSPM, and identity governance for admins and machine identities. (Reinforce this with your vCISO guide and Quick Wins posts.)

The 2025 MSP control set (CIS v8.1 aligned)

CIS v8.1 adds Governance emphasis—great framing for MSP programs. Here’s a condensed, sellable stack: CIS

• Identity: MFA (all), PAM for admins, conditional access, passkeys.

• Endpoint: EDR/XDR + isolation playbooks; macOS & Linux parity.

• Vuln/Patch: Risk-based SLA; appliance & edge CVEs prioritized; proof via reports.

• Data & Recovery: Immutable/offline backups, quarterly restores, RPO/RTO documented.

• Email/Web: Advanced phishing defense, link isolation, DMARC enforcement.

• Network: ZTNA over VPN where feasible; segment high-value apps.

• Logging & Response: Centralized logs, endpoint + identity telemetry, tabletop per client.

• Governance: Supplier reviews, BYOD policy with MDM, acceptable use + GenAI control.

Insurance as an accelerant (and proof)

Carriers increasingly require MFA, EDR, secure backups, and logging; delivering and verifying these controls can lower premiums and speed bind. (Link to your Coverages page and ConnectWise/N-able integration announcements to show “click-to-quote” inside RMM/Asio.)

90-day roadmap (and where to link internally)

Days 0–30

• Enforce tenant-wide MFA; roll out EDR/XDR; freeze VPN expansions; publish client patch SLAs.

• Internal links: “Quick Wins” → MFA/EDR; “Top 10 SMB Risks”.

Days 31–60

• ZTNA pilot; immutable/offline backups + quarterly restore test; identity hardening (PAM, break-glass).

• Internal links: “vCISO Guide” for governance/roadmaps.

Days 61–90

• SSPM on M365/Google; CASB/DLP for GenAI control; vendor kill-switch runbook; client tabletop.

• Internal links: “Coverages” + “ConnectWise/N-able integrations” to tie controls → faster quotes.

FAQs

What’s the biggest change for MSPs in 2025?
The speed and share of vulnerability exploitation—especially against edge devices/VPNs—plus a doubling of third-party involvement in breaches. Verizon

Are losses still rising?
Yes. The FBI’s IC3 logged $16.6B in reported cyber and fraud losses for 2024 (a 33% jump) and noted ransomware complaints up 9% for critical infrastructure. Internet Crime Complaint Center

Which controls most improve insurability?
Verified MFA, EDR, immutable backups, logging, and patch SLAs—mapped to CIS v8.1 governance.

References (data you can cite in sales decks)

• Verizon DBIR 2025 Executive Summary – incidents, breach counts, ransomware (44%), vulnerability exploitation (20%), third-party (30%), BYOD/infostealers, GenAI usage. Verizon
• FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report – $16.6B losses (+33% YoY), ransomware complaint uptick for critical infrastructure. Internet Crime Complaint Center
• CIS Controls v8.1 – governance updates to the control set MSPs use to frame programs. CIS
• CISA/NSA guidance on memory-safe languages – directionally useful for vendor governance talking points. CISA