DORA and NIS 2: Regulatory Compliance as a Competitive Advantage for MSPs

The evolution and growing impact of cyberthreats are increasingly impacting the economic and social fabric. From attacks on business infrastructures to political disinformation campaigns and ransomware targeting critical environments such as hospitals or transportation networks, the impact is no longer just technical; it’s systemic.

According to EY, cyber threats are expected to reach 10.5 trillion euros in 2025. In response, the European Union has introduced a stronger and more ambitious regulatory framework. On the one hand, the NIS 2 Directive expands the scope and obligations of cybersecurity for operators of critical services. On the other hand, the DORA regulation introduces specific requirements to ensure the digital operational resilience of the financial sector. While there are differences, both regulations share a common goal: strengthening prevention, response, and recovery capabilities in the face of cyberattacks that could compromise Europe’s economic stability.

For many organizations, adapting to these requirements can be overwhelming. However, for managed service providers, managed service provider (MSPs), these new European regulations present a clear opportunity for growth, strategic positioning, and value creation for their customers.

The Opportunities DORA and NIS 2 Present for MSPs

These regulations address the need to strengthen cybersecurity at all levels. MSPs are uniquely positioned to offer specialized services without requiring clients to scale up their internal teams, making them strategic allies. To meet these requirements, MSPs can incorporate key elements that help structure a coherent value proposition aligned with regulatory demands:

• Security Assessment: MSPS must understand their clients’ cybersecurity posture. Initial assessments help identify critical assets, detect vulnerabilities, and evaluate incident response capabilities. This phase should include simulations and controlled audits to test existing procedures. Based on these insights, MSPs can build a realistic roadmap toward regulatory compliance. This optimizes security investments and enables personalized service delivery, strengthening customer relationships and positioning MSPs as strategic partners.
• Strengthening Internal Controls: Controls such as MFA, endpoint protection, and network segmentation are not optional; they are the first line of defense. MSPs must support clients in consistently deploying these mechanisms according to their exposure level, improving detection and response capabilities without overwhelming internal resources. This also opens doors for upselling and new business opportunities.
• Implementing Security Policies: Many organizations have security policies on paper that are not implemented in practice. MSPs can make a real impact by establishing clear guidelines, conducting regular testing, and running simulations to verify the effectiveness of these policies in daily operations, providing better control over client security.
• Supply Chain Risk Management: Cyberattacks through third parties are increasingly standard and damaging. Organizations must look beyond their perimeter and demand equivalent security guarantees from suppliers. That’s why it’s crucial to assess third parties based on risk criteria, require SLAs aligned with the new regulatory frameworks, and continuously monitor compliance to reduce blind spots in the supply chain.
• Preparing for Regulatory Scrutiny
  One of companies' biggest fears is not knowing whether they can demonstrate compliance during an audit. Traceability and reporting, therefore, become critical factors. MSPs can deliver peace of mind by providing centralized dashboards that consolidate real-time metrics, log security events, and maintain an auditable trail of actions. Enhanced reporting capabilities - such as automated compliance reports, incident summaries, and policy adherence logs - enable MSPs to prove compliance effortlessly during audits. These tools not only ensure transparency with regulators but also reinforce client trust and accountability.

DORA and NIS 2 are more than just regulations; they're an opportunity that MSPs should seize. Those who adapt quickly won’t just comply; they will unlock new business lines such as compliance audits and consulting. Positioning themselves as regulatory experts also helps MSPs stand out from the crowd and gain ground in sectors where compliance is mandatory. Now is the time to go beyond being just a technical provider and become a key strategic partner in protecting, scaling, and securing your customers’ businesses.

Learn more in our webinar: Understanding the Opportunity: DORA and NIS 2 Compliance for MSPs.