AI and cybersecurity go hand in hand. If you’re an MSP that is reselling Copilot for Microsoft 365 or any other product with AI features built in, focusing on cybersecurity is a must. While providers have a responsibility to ship products that are safe for installation, it is an MSP’s job to help their clients set the right cybersecurity foundations in place.
Both AI and cybersecurity will continue to dominate industry conversation, so considering how they work together and considering the unique challenges that AI may present in keeping client networks and tools secure is paramount. As an MSP, it’s important to stay on top of these trends and be proactive in addressing cybersecurity needs with your clients.
11 AI and cybersecurity trends to know for 2025
Increased prevalence of AI-related cyberattacks
Expect wider adoption of AI in the coming year as more businesses adopt cybersecurity protections to create internal AI or external tools that improve productivity. With this adoption comes additional cybersecurity challenges that MSPs must navigate.
Using AI without property security protections in place leaves MSPs and their clients open to AI-related cyber attacks. AI coding and open-source tools or modifications of AI products may leave systems open to greater vulnerability.
CISOs want the right cybersecurity foundations in place before enterprise generative AI adoption
According to Forrester, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) want better cybersecurity foundations in place before enterprises adopt generative AI. While every business needs to have cybersecurity top of mind, enterprise organizations are at a disproportionate risk because they have large amounts of customer data and sensitive information that they are willing to pay handsomely to protect.
Generative AI can pose a cybersecurity risk in these larger organizations, so having the right protections in place, starting with simple measures like zero-trust network access (ZTNA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) and escalating to AI-enabled threat detection software, is top of mind for CISOs before organizations can roll out generative AI internally.
MSPs can serve as cybersecurity consultants or simply trusted resources to help these clients manage their security infrastructures.
AI will play an increasingly important role in cybersecurity
While some AI will create security vulnerabilities, expect to see an increase in tools that help CISOs keep their networks safe. SentinelOne’s PurpleAI, for example, enables users to detect threats earlier, respond faster, and stay ahead of attacks by combining multiple security tools in one. It uses natural language queries to deliver a more optimized and automated cybersecurity experience, eliminating the need for long lines of code when threat hunting.
Expect to see more of these tools hitting the market in 2025. MSPs have to stay on top of these developments for clients. Sherweb continues to work to bring more of these leading vendors into our cloud marketplace.
One of the most in-demand roles for 2025 is “AI Specialist”
MSPs will see this cybersecurity-focused position pop up in many businesses. Although “AI specialist” itself will have many meanings across different functions of an organization, this will be a staple role in information security roles for projects like evaluating potential AI tools and providing internal consulting on the cybersecurity aspects of custom AI models. This is an opportunity for MSPs to add an additional business line and consulting option in 2025 as many organizations will not have the need or capital for a full-time AI specialist.
AI sovereignty is a key concern in many organizations
According to Info Trends, a key concern for many enterprise organizations is AI sovereignty. AI sovereignty is the building and maintenance of organization-specific AI tools that meet its specific needs. Unlike tools like ChatGPT, where all users input their queries into a centralized database that is not owned by a company or institution, sovereign AI is entirely controlled by the organization. This can safeguard proprietary secrets or improve the security of governmental systems, where high-level security clearance may be needed.
For MSPs that work with highly classified and regulated industries and organizations like healthcare and government agencies, expect to have more conversations around sovereign AI and the best technology infrastructure to support these sovereign builds.
We are on the horizon of quantum computing
Although AI only reached widespread popularity a few years ago, many organizations are already gearing up for the next revolution in quantum computing. Quantum computing uses quantum bits that allow for more complex computations at faster speeds than traditional computing. MSPs can expect quantum computing to accelerate the pace of AI and cybersecurity tool development. MSPs should prepare to field questions from clients about it this year and make recommendations on how to prepare tech stacks for this change.
Cyber insurance will rise in popularity
As the settlements for security breaches outpace regulatory fines by 50% according to Forrester, organizations are looking to protect themselves against potential data breaches and mitigate the finance consequences that can arise. Cybercrimes caused $8 trillion in business damages in 2023, so consider providing cyber insurance to your clients to help mitigate the financial impact of any losses.
Sherweb’s MSP guide to cyber insurance can help you get your cyber insurance business line started.
Greater discussion business use cases of AI and associated workflows
According to our cybersecurity fellow, Roddy Bergeron, as AI adoption grows across sectors, MSPs must join the flood of businesses testing these technologies. It’s difficult to advocate for the use of AI to clients without using it yourself. Therefore, MSPs must lead the charge in proactively exploring AI use cases and trying out different AI products to determine which ones are an appropriate fit for their client base.
If you’re not sure where to get started, Copilot for Microsoft 365 recently launched new billing options. Microsoft has several Copilot use case learning paths available and regularly shares Copilot use cases on its blog.
AI-enabled automation of routine tasks
Bergeron says that automation of routine IT tasks, such as system monitoring, maintenance, and software updates, will gain prevalence in 2025. This will improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. Many partners are already using AI in this way to streamline the labor required to do routine tasks in their businesses.
AI-assisted decision making
Although decision making cannot be outsourced entirely to AI, it will become an increasingly important partner next year for organizations of all sizes. Bergeron says that this will be most useful in areas like resource management and strategic planning. MSPs who can understand the business side of their clients/own business will be able to heavily utilize these to make smarter decisions.
Many tools in Sherweb’s product stack include some level of AI integration. Microsoft Dynamics 365, for example, can integrate with Copilot to bring together data from across an organization and assist with complex trend analysis and decision-making.
AI-assisted hyper-personalization
Bergeron says that AI will enhance customer experiences by providing hyper-personalized interactions and services. This includes using AI to anticipate customer needs and tailor responses accordingly. Marketing will also benefit from these developments by creating tailored segments and messages to consumers. MSPs can leverage these developments to automate and personalize elements of the customer service and sales functions in their business.
What does this mean for Microsoft resellers?
Microsoft resellers must adapt to the AI-driven reality that awaits in the coming year. It’s more important than ever for MSPs to prioritize cybersecurity in their own business as well as their clients’ and have proactive conversations with their clients about cybersecurity-related matters.
Cybersecurity protections should be the first step in any conversation with a new client about Microsoft, especially when the client is requesting Copilot for Microsoft 365 licenses. Sherweb’s minimalist security checklist for Copilot can help set your clients up for success by adhering to basic best practices like ZTNA and MFA. Tools like Microsoft Defender also need to be a focus in conversations with clients in the new year.
MSPs must lead with best practices in their own businesses. Set the example that you want your clients to follow to secure Microsoft products as well as the other tools in their tech stack. It’s not simply AI that Microsoft resellers should be thinking about for cybersecurity. Avoid using open-source code written in languages that do not meet robust cybersecurity standards. Keep your clients’ data secure and protected by following the practices you want them to adopt in their businesses.
Want help exploring the ever-evolving AI and cybersecurity landscape?
Sherweb is a leading provider for MSPs with an expanding focus on cybersecurity tools. We host multiple events and on-demand webinars to help you implement robust AI and cybersecurity protocols for the Microsoft suite of products and across your tech stack. Contact us to get a conversation started about how we can help you grow your business with cybersecurity tools and services.
