New data reveals growing demand for managed compliance services as partners, investors and customers require proof of NIS2 readiness
CyberSmart, a leading provider of cyber risk management solutions for MSPs and SMEs, revealed the findings of its latest research report: The CyberSmart NIS2 Survey. The report found that managed service providers (MSPs) are facing a significant new revenue opportunity as organisations across Europe struggle to meet NIS2 requirements.
The CyberSmart NIS2 Survey, conducted with 670 business leaders across the UK and EU, found that just 16% of organisations required to comply with the directive consider themselves fully compliant, despite the October 2024 deadline having passed.
Crucially for the channel, demand for compliance support is already being driven by the market. More than four in ten organisations (42%) report being asked to prove NIS2 compliance by partners, 41% by investors and 36% by customers or prospects. In the UK and Ireland, investor scrutiny is even higher, rising to 58%.
Compliance gap creates managed services opportunity
While compliance levels remain low, the research suggests MSPs are well positioned to fill the gap. The primary barriers cited by organisations are practical rather than strategic: budget constraints (20%), lack of guidance on implementation (16%) and insufficient internal expertise (11%).
This points to a growing reliance on external providers, like MSPs, to operationalise compliance requirements.
At the same time, three quarters (75%) of organisations believe compliance offers a competitive advantage, with over a quarter (27%) viewing it as significant. This indicates a strong customer willingness to invest in solutions that enable compliance.
“Our research found that only 16% feel fully compliant, despite growing board-level ownership, real budget allocation and a clear belief that compliance matters. It may look like organisations are ignoring NIS2, but in reality, they’re struggling to implement it,” said Jamie Akhtar, CEO and Co-Founder of CyberSmart. “There’s a clear gap between what the regulation requires and the internal resources most businesses have available. That’s where MSPs have a real opportunity to step in and deliver ongoing compliance support.”
Shift from projects to recurring compliance services
The findings also highlight a broader shift toward long-term, managed compliance services. Businesses are increasingly navigating multiple overlapping frameworks, including NIS2, DORA, the EU Cybersecurity Act and GDPR.
As a result, 42% of respondents say there are too many regulations to manage, 35% cite significant overlap and 27% believe there is too much emphasis on compliance requirements overall.
This growing complexity is accelerating demand for partners who can provide continuous, multi-framework support rather than one-off compliance projects.
“NIS2 is part of a wider trend where compliance is becoming continuous, not a one-time exercise,” Akhtar added. “MSPs that can package compliance into a repeatable, managed service will be best placed to capitalise on this shift.
Board-level ownership unlocks larger deals
Encouragingly for the channel, cybersecurity compliance is increasingly being driven from the top. The research found that 60% of organisations have assigned responsibility for compliance to the board or C-suite, with CEOs most commonly accountable (34%).
Meanwhile, 95% of respondents say their board has at least some understanding of the legal and reputational risks of non-compliance. This growing executive awareness is expected to translate into larger budgets and more strategic engagements for MSPs offering compliance-led services.
Trust and supply chain pressure reshaping buying decisions
Beyond regulatory requirements, NIS2 is also reshaping how organisations assess risk across their supply chains. With partners, investors and customers increasingly demanding proof of compliance, cybersecurity is becoming a core component of commercial trust.
This shift creates further opportunity for MSPs to support customers not just in achieving compliance, but in demonstrating it on an ongoing basis.
To read the full report, visit: https://cybersmart.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/NIS2-Survey.pdf
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