MSPs Adopt Vertical Strategies and Integrated Platforms

Research conducted with Omdia found 89% of managed service providers have adopted vertical-specific market strategies and are deploying integrated platforms after more than half of MSPs identified governance and compliance as the main barriers to AI adoption.

The study shows governance and compliance outrank several technical concerns. Fourteen percent of MSPs cited data and security management as their top barrier, 14% pointed to value realization, and 13% identified technical expertise gaps. A 2025 Moody’s analysis referenced in the research reported many organisations lack formal rules to govern AI use.

MSPs described using integrated platforms to centralise data protection, governance and compliance controls rather than relying on multiple point solutions. Providers said platform approaches deliver consistent management and auditing functions and can be configured to meet regulation in sectors such as healthcare, finance and the public sector.

Regulatory change reinforced the shift. The EU AI Act is in force and the UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is progressing toward law, increasing compliance duties for organisations that deploy advanced AI. The study also cited a report estimating fewer than half of autonomous software agents are subject to governance controls and that about 3 million ungoverned agents exist across the UK and US.

Robin Ody, practice leader for MSP Analysis at Omdia, noted the operational burden on customers: “One of the bottlenecks for end-customer AI adoption today is the operational burden of data governance and compliance, which has become more complex and essential as AI continues to spread.”

Research participants said pairing platform-based tools with vertical-focused service delivery simplifies enforcement of sector-specific rules and reduces the need for high levels of customisation when serving regulated customers.

Analysts and vendors cited in the Omdia study estimated the market opportunity for packaged data protection, AI governance and compliance services could reach several billion dollars in the coming years. The report states MSPs that combine platform-driven offerings with clear vertical expertise are likely to capture demand from organisations seeking controlled routes to adopt AI.