AI Fighting AI: A New Era in Cybersecurity for MSPs and MSSPs

By 2025, cybercrime costs are projected to hit $12 trillion annually, with AI-driven phishing campaigns playing a significant role according to Forrester’s 2025 Predictions report. It's easy to dismiss AI as the latest buzzword and light the torches to chase it out of town. But understanding its impact—both good and bad—is critical for MSPs.

The Double-Edged Sword

Why is AI-driven crime so costly? I can list some additional compelling research, (feel free to message me on LinkedIn if you’d like to further discuss the numbers), but the moral of the story is that cyber criminals have embraced AI, and are getting pretty darn good at using it. Sophisticated threat actors are using generative AI to craft convincing phishing emails, automate spear-phishing campaigns, and even simulate human interaction in real-time via smishing and vishing campaigns. The nefarious use cases are endless.

Traditional, manual security processes simply cannot keep pace with this scale and sophistication. But there is a silver lining to this story: MSPs can use AI to fight back, offering their clients smarter, faster, and more effective protection. AI-driven email security solutions can detect anomalies, flag malicious intent and content, and even adapt to new attack vectors in real-time, something legacy Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) struggle to achieve.

AI has truly become a double-edged sword for both attackers and defenders. Let’s dive into how AI is reshaping MSP operations for higher ROI, better security operations, and stronger client relationships.

Driving ROI for the MSP

Integrating AI into the security stack isn’t just a defensive move—it’s a smart business decision. AI can significantly enhance the MSP's bottom line by reducing costs and boosting efficiency.

• Reduced Incident Response Costs: According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million, and early detection can reduce breach costs by up to 30%. AI-driven tools and technologies help MSPs identify threats faster, reducing the financial impact of breaches. Imagine detecting a phishing campaign targeting multiple clients within seconds. With AI, an MSP can neutralize it before it causes damage—that’s the type of capability these tools bring to the table.

• Service Differentiation*: Offering AI-powered email security elevates an MSP's value proposition. I have heard MSP partners consistently highlight the AI value drivers ranging from eliminating the need for a full-time employee (FTE) to allowing SMBs to adopt AI that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to implement on their own. Clients are increasingly seeking providers with cutting-edge solutions, and AI can be a competitive edge in winning contracts.
• Improved Resource Allocation: Automating manual tasks means the MSP's security operations team spends less time on repetitive processes and more time on strategic initiatives like client relationship management and service innovation (more on that next).

* This asterisk is to note that unchecked AI can, inversely, negatively impact service if not executed properly. AI, as it stands today, continues to need guardrails to remain as effective as possible for MSPs and their clients. IRONSCALES Adaptive AI is driven by our continuously improving algorithm and our network of over 15,000 organizations which influence and inform our threat intelligence.

Improve Business Operations and Processes

Managing security operations at scale is a daily struggle. If you don’t believe me, feel free to message any SOC analyst about their trials and tribulations juggling multiple clients on any given day. AI empowers MSPs to streamline their operations by automating time-intensive tasks such as threat detection, incident response, and phishing simulation.

• Improve Incident Detection: AI analyzes billions of emails daily, spotting patterns and anomalies humans might overlook. By using AI-driven tools, MSPs can slash the time it takes to identify phishing threats from hours—or even days—to mere seconds, greatly improving MSP operations.
• Scalability without Overhead: With AI-enabled detection and response handling repetitive tasks like email filtering and triage, security analysts can focus on high-priority alerts, delivering more value without increasing headcount or payroll costs.
• Adaptability to Emerging Threats: The ripple effect of novel attacks can be massive due to the discovery process, assessment time, and frequent communication lag. That’s simply not a concern with AI, as LLMs are designed to continuously adjust and pivot security postures when an anomalous event is detected. Detection, remediation, and communication are streamlined and reduced because of AI-driven actions.

Enhancing the Client Security Experience

Clients are looking for security that doesn’t slow them down. Chances are they tried doing it on their own and it didn’t go as planned. That’s why they work with an MSP. AI makes advanced email security accessible and intuitive, enhancing the client experience while improving protection for clients.

• User-Friendly Protection: AI solutions work in the background, requiring minimal input from end users. Once again, I will highlight the need for some guardrails with features like contextual banner warnings and real-time alerts to reinforce employee vigilance. Aim to make security proactive rather than reactive and inform AI with the human eye.
• Tailored Reporting: AI tools equip MSPs with detailed reports that clearly explain threats in both technical and non-technical terms, empowering clients to make informed decisions about their security posture.
• Reduced False Positives: Clients benefit from fewer disruptions caused by unnecessary email quarantines or blocked messages thanks to AI’s precision in detecting genuine threats.

Recommendations for Getting Started 

If an MSP is looking to integrate AI into its security offerings, here are two actionable steps I'd recommend to get started:

1. Evaluate AI-Driven Email Security Platforms: Start by assessing solutions specifically designed for email threat detection and response (hint: you’re reading a blog by one of these vendors currently). Look for tools that offer adaptive learning, automated triage, and seamless integration into existing workflows.
2. Invest in Training and Enablement: AI is only as effective as the people managing it. Equip employees with the knowledge and skills to implement and optimize AI tools. Ensure analysts can explain the value to clients and manage AI-driven insights effectively to improve processes and procedures.

Even small steps, such as adopting AI-powered email tools, can have a dramatic impact on efficiency and security outcomes for your business and clients.

Conclusion

It's no longer a question of if AI is right for the MSP, but a matter of when is the right time to take the leap of faith. Incorporating AI into security operations is essential for businesses looking to protect their clients and grow their business. Embrace AI to fill the gaps in operations, drive efficiency improvements, and offer the advanced protection clients demand.

Malicious GenAI-fueled email attacks are not disappearing anytime soon. So, light the torch and pass it off to our AI-driven CoPilot to keep threat actors out of clients’ environments. 

Ready to take the next step? Schedule a conversation with an IRONSCALES MSP expert today.