MSSPs adopt AI to combat cybersecurity talent shortages

Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) are facing challenges in scaling their services due to a global cybersecurity talent shortage and an increasingly rapid threat landscape. As cyberattacks occur frequently worldwide, traditional annual penetration testing is becoming obsolete, particularly for cloud-native applications and APIs that change daily.

To address these issues, some providers are turning to AI-powered automated penetration testing. This technology allows MSSPs to increase testing frequency and expand security coverage without a proportional increase in headcount.

Furthermore, the industry is seeing a shift in competitive dynamics. While large Systems Integrators (SIs) offer scale, they are often criticized for rigid contracts and a lack of agility. Smaller, more agile MSSPs may find opportunities by providing more responsive services that can keep pace with threat actors who are increasingly using AI for reconnaissance, malware generation, and exploit development.