Insights from Industry Experts and Cynomi Executives
As we approach 2026, the cybersecurity industry is bracing for a year of transformative change. The accelerated adoption of AI, evolving business models, and a tightening regulatory environment are converging to redefine how cybersecurity services are delivered, managed, and perceived.
To help MSPs and MSSPs prepare, we’ve gathered insights from Cynomi’s leadership team and a panel of respected industry experts to provide a forward-looking perspective on the trends that will define cybersecurity in the coming year. These predictions are grouped into four categories: strategic shifts for service providers, the dual role of AI, the expanding scope of compliance, and the emerging threats and opportunities that will shape the year ahead.
1. Strategic Shifts for MSPs and MSSPs
The business of cybersecurity is changing. Success in 2026 will depend less on technical prowess alone and more on business acumen, strategic guidance, and the ability to demonstrate measurable value. This requires a fundamental shift in how providers position themselves and deliver services.
The most significant change is the move from a technology-centric to a business-centric model. The vCISO role, for instance, is evolving from a technical advisor into a strategic partner who connects security initiatives directly to business goals.
“The vCISO role is shifting from a technical advisor to a business enabler. By 2026, the most successful cyber advisors will be judged not by system protection alone, but by their ability to connect security strategy with business outcomes including growth and operational resilience, becoming indispensable partners in success.”
David Primor, CEO at Cynomi
This evolution extends to the entire MSP and MSSP business model. The traditional “all-in-seat-price” is becoming outdated as clients demand more flexible, outcome-focused partnerships. The providers who thrive will be those who can adapt their offerings to meet these expectations.
“MSPs need to shift from selling ‘all-in IT’ to becoming outcome-focused, co-managed partners who use AI to radically improve internal efficiency. The winners will treat AI like infrastructure to streamline operations, curate lean accountable stacks, and deliver measurable business results instead of tickets and tool lists.”
Wes Spencer, Co-Founder at Empath
At the heart of this transformation is the idea of the MSP as an educator. With cybersecurity spending increasingly coming from outside the traditional IT department, providers must learn to communicate value in business terms to stakeholders in finance, operations, and legal.
“In 2026, MSPs who act as educators, powered by structured cyber advisement, will capture the exploding non-CISO cybersecurity budget. The providers who win will be the ones who teach, not just sell, by using real data and clear frameworks to deliver tangible, advisory-first outcomes.”
Erin McLean, Chief Marketing Officer at Cynomi
2. AI as a Double-Edged Sword
AI is undoubtedly one of the most powerful forces shaping the future of cybersecurity. It offers unprecedented opportunities for efficiency and advanced defense, but it also introduces a new class of threats and risks that service providers must learn to manage.
On one hand, AI is set to revolutionize security operations. We are moving from AI that generates content to AI that acts intelligently across data to manage and remediate threats. This will empower providers to scale their services and deliver better outcomes.
“We’ve seen a significant shift from generative AI to agentic AI, where systems intelligently act on data to manage and remediate cyber risks. This evolution will fundamentally reshape cybersecurity operations, allowing service providers to scale smarter and deliver stronger client outcomes.”
David Primor, CEO at Cynomi
AI-powered tools will augment, not replace, human expertise. They will act as “copilots,” extending the reach of security professionals and enabling even smaller MSPs to offer sophisticated, enterprise-grade services.
“AI-powered copilots, enriched with real-world CISO expertise, are set to amplify the capabilities of vCISOs and cyber advisors in 2026, not replace them. This technology will democratize high-level cybersecurity, allowing smaller MSPs to scale enterprise-grade services with greater speed and effectiveness than ever before.”
Dror Hevlin, CISO at Cynomi
On the other hand, the widespread adoption of AI tools creates a larger and more complex attack surface. As organizations rush to integrate AI, they often overlook the associated governance and security challenges.
“The massive shift in information security management is being driven by the rushed adoption of AI across the data lifecycle. The scope of data management is changing rapidly, introducing numerous third parties with little visibility or audit capability. This makes governance, compliance, and overall security posture management far more difficult.”
Alexandre Blanc, Cybersecurity Consultant and Influencer
“Data governance will separate the losers from the winners. Companies that survive and thrive for the next decade will take hold of unmonitored SaaS sprawl and shadow IT (shadow AI) that are the ticking time bomb for SMBs that ignore it. As AI-driven tools explode across departments, IT and security will lose visibility and control, while attackers gain new footholds inside the app layer. The next breach won’t come through the endpoint. It’ll walk right in through someone’s connected assistant.”
Jesse Miller, Creator of the PowerGRYD vCISO System
This creates an urgent need for vCISOs, MSPs, and MSSPs alike to guide their clients through this new landscape, balancing the drive for innovation with the need for robust security.
“While the risks tied to AI are already present, they will only intensify as these tools become more accessible. Service providers must stay ahead of this curve, tracking AI adoption and implementing practical measures to reduce exposure. Third-party risk management has never been more prevalent than it will be in 2026 with AI disruption across your customers. Your role will be to balance their innovation, and its potential risks with robust security and governance.”
Reut Roich, VP of Product at Cynomi
3. The Expanding Compliance Catalyst
Compliance is a continuous, dynamic, and business-critical function. For SMBs, meeting regulatory, procurement, and supply chain requirements is now a condition for survival, creating a significant opportunity for you, their service provider.
New regulations, such as NIS2 across the European Union, are driving a wave of new clients toward service providers who can navigate the complex compliance landscape.
“Compliance requirements will continue to increase with the full implementation of NIS2 (EU) and the Cyber Security & Resilience Bill (UK), driving a steady stream of new clients to MSSPs.”
Stephen Parsons, CEO at VISO Cyber Security
As a result, SMBs are increasingly looking to outsource their compliance management. Partners that can simplify this process and offer continuous monitoring will deliver immense value.
“2026 will be the year MSPs stop pretending that compliance is a checkbox and finally start monetizing full-stack risk management as a continuous service. The surge of expectations from clients, insurers, and regulators will force MSP clients to embed policy, control, and cyber governance into their stack… or get left behind. Those who own the strategic relationship will win the renewal and offset incumbents who don’t.”
Jesse Miller, Creator of the PowerGRYD vCISO System
The pressure is also coming from the supply chain. Large enterprises are pushing their security requirements down to their smaller vendors, making robust security programs a prerequisite for doing business.
“Client-driven audits will surge, especially for professional services SMBs. They may not be regulated, but their clients are, and they will be scrutinized. Expectations for building a third-party risk management security program will be higher than ever before.”
Carlos Rodriguez, Founder and CEO at CA2 Security
4. Emerging Threats and Opportunities
Beyond broad strategic shifts, 2026 will bring specific threats and opportunities that demand attention. These range from the risks posed by untrained users to the need for MSPs to lead by example.
One of the most immediate threats comes from within organizations. As AI tools like ChatGPT become commonplace, untrained employees can inadvertently expose sensitive data.
“As AI becomes a business accelerator, the greatest risk lies in untrained users who don’t understand how prompts are processed and responses generated. Without proactive education to strengthen these human firewalls, SMBs risk exposing sensitive data, intellectual property, and other critical assets.”
Thomas Bergman, Cybersecurity Practice Lead at Burwood Group
This highlights the risk of “Shadow AI,” where employees use unapproved AI tools without oversight. This is a governance challenge that extends beyond the IT department.
“Shadow AI is a key emerging risk. Organizations must have a plan to address AI governance and educate users across all domains, including HR, finance, and legal, not just IT.”
Donna Gallaher, CEO at New Oceans Enterprises, LLC
In this environment, service providers must practice what they preach. To be trusted advisors, they must demonstrate impeccable security hygiene themselves.
“MSPs and MSSPs must examine their own incident response plans and recognize they are not immune to cyber threats. They should lead by example, conducting risk assessments that go beyond compliance to demonstrate true resilience.”
Thomas Bergman, Cybersecurity Practice Lead at Burwood Group
Ultimately, the greatest opportunity lies in moving beyond reactive security and compliance checklists. The future belongs to providers who use intelligent tools to proactively manage business risk.
“In 2026, vCISO services will pivot from framework-focused checklists to the continuous management of business risk. The true advancement lies not in mere automation, but in intelligent systems that help professionals prioritize actions that create lasting value.”
Reut Roich, VP of Product at Cynomi
Charting the Course for 2026
The year ahead offers abundant opportunities for those ready to adapt. The successful service providers of 2026 will be strategic partners, skilled educators, and masters of secure, AI-driven efficiency. By embracing your evolving role and focusing on delivering measurable business outcomes, you will not only weather the coming transformation but lead your clients to a more secure and prosperous future.
Partnering for Future Success with Cynomi
As 2026 brings new challenges in AI adoption, compliance complexity, and strategic risk management, leveraging the right platform is essential for staying ahead. Cynomi is a Service Provider Growth Enablement Engine, empowering MSPs and MSSPs to navigate this transformation with a unified, comprehensive cybersecurity and compliance management hub. Powered by AI and infused with seasoned CISO expertise, Cynomi enables providers to scale cybersecurity services, automate continuous compliance management, and deliver data-driven insights that align security with business goals. By standardizing workflows and leveraging intelligent automation, Cynomi helps you move beyond reactive measures to become the strategic, outcome-focused partner your clients need to thrive in the years to come.
Learn more at www.cynomi.com.