As soon as reserved for giant enterprises, cybersecurity has turn into a prime precedence for companies of all sizes. SMBs are driving surging demand for vCISO companies to deal with rising threats and tightening laws. And with AI, service suppliers can deal with these wants extra effectively and at scale.
These are a few of the findings of the 2025 State of the vCISO Report, commissioned by Cynomi, the main AI-powered vCISO platform. The report supplies an in-depth look into the evolving vCISO market and the broader superior cybersecurity companies ecosystem.
Now in its third 12 months, the report highlights how the SMB safety companies panorama is shifting quick. It exhibits how a once-supplementary service has now turn into foundational. It additionally explores the transformative function of AI in shaping cybersecurity supply.
Beneath, we spotlight key findings from the report, protecting what SMBs are demanding, how MSPs and MSSPs are responding, and the rising potential of AI-powered vCISO companies.
We extremely suggest exploring the total report for deeper, actionable insights and a transparent view of what lies forward for safety service suppliers.
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3x Improve in vCISO Adoption amongst MSPs and MSSPs
As cyberattacks develop in frequency and class and regulatory pressures intensify, SMBs are turning to vCISO companies in report numbers. This surge in demand isn’t stunning: vCISO choices present a versatile, cost-effective approach for organizations to entry high-level cybersecurity experience with out the overhead of a full-time government.
What’s stunning is the tempo of adoption. A hanging 79% of suppliers now report excessive demand amongst SMBs for vCISO companies, surpassing curiosity in different choices like compliance readiness and cyber insurance coverage help.
Service suppliers are shifting shortly to maintain up. In only one 12 months, vCISO adoption amongst MSPs and MSSPs has skyrocketed by 319%, leaping from 21% in 2024 to 67% in 2025.
And the momentum isn’t slowing. 74% of remaining suppliers say they plan to launch vCISO companies by 12 months’s finish.
Demand for superior cybersecurity companies is reaching report highs. And with AI, vCISO suppliers are chopping workloads and dashing up supply like by no means earlier than.Â
In case you’re an MSP or MSSP contemplating or already providing vCISO companies, this report is a must-read.
vCISO Enterprise Advantages Are Clear and Widespread
Assembly this rising demand presents a big income alternative for service suppliers. The report finds that MSPs and MSSPs who meet SMB wants and develop a vCISO providing, can see important concrete enterprise good points.
These embody improved upsell of further services (41%), elevated margins (40%), a bigger buyer base (39%), the power to entry new prospects, and direct increase to recurring income.
Simply as importantly, vCISO companies ship actual safety worth to finish clients. This transforms suppliers into trusted strategic, long-term enterprise companions, not simply short-term distributors.
*Query allowed a couple of reply and because of this, percentages will add as much as greater than 100%
Curiously, these advantages seem like widely known, even amongst suppliers who haven’t but launched vCISO companies. Many cite differentiation, upsell potential, and improved profitability as key motivators for future adoption.
This broad consciousness aligns with the robust momentum anticipated amongst MSPs and MSSPs planning to introduce vCISO choices later this 12 months.
Obstacles Stay, However They’re Operational, Not Strategic
What’s holding again MSPs and MSSPs from adopting vCISO companies quicker?
Amongst suppliers but to launch vCISO choices, the largest hurdles are issues about profitability or ROI (35%), excessive preliminary funding (33%), and lack of expert cybersecurity personnel (32%)
Nonetheless, these limitations are logistical, and never conceptual. The worth of vCISO companies is evident, and know-how is more and more positioned to assist bridge these gaps (see beneath).
With nearly all of non-adopters planning to launch by the top of 2025 or early 2026, it’s evident {that a} market-wide shift is already in movement.
AI Is Altering the vCISO Recreation
Unsurprisingly, and but remarkably, the affect of AI has not skipped the vCISO ecosystem.
Right this moment, 81% of MSPs and MSSPs already leverage AI or automation of their vCISO supply, with one other 15% planning to undertake throughout the subsequent 12 months.
AI is getting used to automate, improve and supply companies like reporting automation and insights, remediation planning, compliance readiness and monitoring, danger and safety assessments, job prioritization, and extra.
The affect? Quicker, extra environment friendly and scalable deliveries. The common workload drop is 68%, with 42% of suppliers reporting an 81–100% discount in guide workloads.
This shift allows groups to help extra shoppers with out compromising high quality, proving simply how dramatically AI is enhancing day-to-day operations and driving new ranges of effectivity.
What’s Subsequent? AI-Enabled vCISO Scale and Strategic Progress
With each present and deliberate AI adoption gaining momentum, the route is evident: AI is changing into the usual for driving cybersecurity effectivity. As adoption accelerates, its affect on the standard, velocity and scalability of vCISO companies is ready to develop exponentially, reshaping how cybersecurity is delivered.
Trying forward, AI is now not simply the area of early adopters. Relatively, it’s changing into central to the expansion roadmap for practically each service supplier available in the market.
Able to discover the total report? Obtain the total State of the vCISO 2025 Report.
Sponsored and written by Cynomi.
