Over four in ten UK businesses (43%) and three in ten UK charities (30%) experienced a cybersecurity breach or attack, according to the 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey1. Cyber risks also topped the 2025 Gallagher Business Risk Index for medium- and large-sized businesses.
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Author: Sam Cheshire

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As cyberattacks become increasingly prevalent; many organisations are hiring Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to remotely manage their IT systems and handle day-to-day IT responsibilities. However, finding the right MSP for your organisation requires an understanding of how well their offerings align with your bespoke requirements.

This article discusses:

  • Why businesses need MSPs to manage risk exposure
  • How to choose the right MSP
  • Key cybersecurity questions to ask MSPs
  • A 5-step checklist for selecting an MSP

Managing risk exposure: The need for MSPs

UK businesses are operating in a complex digital environment. However, often internal teams in many organisations may lack the expertise needed to keep the IT environment secure at all times.

MSPs can help manage this risk exposure by:

  • Ensuring systems are adequately configured and secured
  • Conducting regular updates to maintain year-round security
  • Bringing in specialist knowledge to oversee IT systems and security measures
  • Providing access to advanced cybersecurity tools and devices that may otherwise be prohibitively expensive to manage in-house
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MSPs play a crucial role in establishing trust. The top providers implement robust security protocols and disciplined governance, recognising that their actions directly affect insurability and loss exposure.
Sam Cheshire, head of cyber UK retail at Gallagher

How to choose the right MSP

While having an MSP can be highly advantageous for your company, it is essential to find the right fit. Selecting an incompatible MSP can increase the likelihood of data breaches and create gaps in the system that attackers can exploit. This may also affect your organisation's ability to obtain cyber insurance.

On the other hand, choosing the right MSP has many benefits. They can help you stay aligned with evolving threats while maintaining compliance with UK regulations.

A good MSP will be proactive in assessing risk and improving controls, enabling insurers to be confident in offering favourable cybersecurity coverage.

5-step checklist for selecting the right MSP

  1. Define your business requirements: Check that all of your needs have been mapped and identify the services you want
  2. Evaluate their security practices: Ensure the MSP has robust security measures, including encryption, firewalls and regular vulnerability assessments
  3. Check their credentials: Look for certifications such as ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials or SOC 2 compliance
  4. Review the contract: Ensure the agreement includes clear terms on data ownership, service levels and liability
  5. Ask for references: Speak to other clients to understand their experience with the MSP

Key cybersecurity questions to ask your MSP

Finding the right MSP to assist with your business operations is crucial. To do this, there are some critical areas to investigate:

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